The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-03-31

ing Of the feet, shaking the cloak, and |
humping with drum-ikc sound upon the
bat, | began TO stuff into the box stove (for |
nothing but Russian stoves will keep you
warm in Vormont) plenty of maple wood,
which abonnds in those regions, and which,
after hickory, makes the most delightful fire
in The world. Then, having dried my damp
feet, looked ref ,cingiy into the Goals, an
swered the tea>bell, and, as mere matter ol
course, drank a cup of the vile weed called
tea, then returned 10 my solitary apart
ment, snul1ed the candles, laid out n due
quantity of " sermon paper" wiped the
rusty steel pens, and began TO reflect. What
theme will be most appropriate for the seas
son What can say which viii be edily.
ing and useful on the next Lords Day q
Let me examine the Lessons me see
if can find some sentiment in the Epislle
or Gospel for the day, on which it will be
proper TO enlarge. Such search in the
Prayer Book is never in vain. The course
is marked ou', the place is clear. For not
more equally is the natural ear Distinguish
cd Ivy day and night, cold and heat storm
and sunlight, winter and spring. summer
aud autumn, than is the Year of our
Lord bv times and seasons, which are e.
vents in his lifetime, and which are the very
pcrinds by which 10 direct our course. If
IN this work,day world the daily service Of
tho sanctuary cannot be attended, let The
earnest Churchman at least read, mark,
earn, and inwardly digest, those daily less
sons which the Church, through Holy Writ,
teaches.
Scarce had disposed myself for an eve.
nings york, when was called upon with
a request 10 perform funeral services on the
next day, over the body of poor Irish Ia.
borer, killed suddenly on The line of the
railroad by the blasting of rocks. I he
priest was absent for although there was
numerous body, perhaps several hundred,
of Irish Romanists in that vicinity. lie came
only once in six weeks. During The inler>
val, those poor people were left without
shepherd and as they had regard for the
decencies Of n Christian burial, they some-
times, as on this occasion, request the
Church clergyman 10 be Mt hand. ] will
lngly consented to what appeared to be a
necessary charity although apprehended,
and afierward learned lha, the more rigid
and disciplined oil the sect TOR think that
word properly apples) were indignant, and
kept away from the funeral rites, which
were always considered profanc. Nor could
| disrcspect their scruples, considering The
principles whence they grew.
The snow fell that night to the depth OF
several feet, and when the morrow dawned,
the wind blew hurricane, filling the air
with fine particles of snow, and making the
cold intense. Muiilihg myself as well as
possible, proceeded Two miles 10 the Irish
sbanty where the deceased lay, which was
filed TO ts utmost capacity with a company
Of respectful friends and mourners. 1t was,
indeed, comlorlless abode but for the
poor man who reposed there in his pine rof-
fIn il was as good tenement as the most
sump!uous palace ever reared. When sec
the dead going iiom an abode like this, the
thought comes up that perhaps they have
lost little, and are gaining much; thai the
grave over which the grass grows, and the
trees wave, and the winds murinur, is, after
all, peaceful haven and a place of rest
But when they 90 from marble halls and
splendid mansions, The las, trappings are q
nockery. and t ink only cf VIII they have
left behind.
Standing in one corner of that small cab,
in, among the sobbng relatives, while the
! winds OF winter howled without their requi
EN- for the departed year, began 10 reat
b the Church's solemn office for the dead:
IL am the Resurrection and the Life
saith the Lord he that beIieveih in me
though he were dead, yet shall he live ant
a and whosoever iveth and believcih in me
, shall never die
I Having completed tho reading of thos'
choral words, which form the opening par
4 Of the order of burial, and the masnten
and inspiring words Of 81. Paul, the pro-
cession was formed at the door Of the hoyel
and We proceeded on foot.
Tue wind storm ragged violently, so tha
?, we could scarce see, by reason Of the snow,
r pillar, while the drifts were sometimes VI
to our knees. The walk WIS most dreary
On either hand, the mountains reared lLei
heads lofliy, covered to the summit will
snow; the pine trees and eyergreens which
e skirIed the highway presented the specta
Gle ol small pyramids; every weed whicl
;. be foot struck was glazed oyeri aud The
= bushes in the faint beams Of struggling ligh
sparkled with gems. IT. wild, Titanic de
i file, gigantic icces hung from The oozing
; rocks and as we passed a mill-siream WI
' had the sight oil a frozen waterfall arrested
in is descent, and with all its volume, spray
and mist, as if by the hand of some en-,
chauler changed suddenly into stone
E AL these objects, in my walk through The
mountains had impressed their lessons oil
the magnifcence and glory of God
40, We frost and cold, bless ye the Lord
praise Him and magnify Him forever"
20, ye ice and snow. bless ye the Lord
praise Him and magnify bis name forever
But what new ideas did the same suggest,
associated as they were with this wintry fu>
neral