Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-03-04

image OF Berry, when we parted there. I
searched for the bush of arbor vite from
whence she had pulled the small branch; it
was grown to the height of a mans head
lreachedu to gather another from its boughs,
when beheld newly dug grave. The
fresh red earth was piled up on either side,
there were short pieces of plank hard by
The grave awaited its victim. There was
funeral about to take place. Who could be
dead! 1t was the general battle-ground for
the neighborhood, so that conjecture had a
wide scope to choose from. A sense of sad
ness came over me, which could not dispel.
L had resolved to surprise all at home by
sudden arrival and not revealing myself
see if any, and who first, would know me.
As drew near the house, perceived hor-
ses and carriages in front of it. / readily
OWNED the reason. There was religious
assemblege there. There were few church
es then erected in our vicinity, and the veal
thiest and most hospitable farmers were used
to open their doors, on Sundays, for the neigh
bors to come and attend church at their homes.
My father'swasn a famous meeting place ofthis
kind
Charles, the hostler, much older-looking
than when saw him last, came out to as
sumo the charge of my horse. He did not
guess who was. gave him the saddle
bags to cary into the house and not daring to
converse with him lest should betray my
self and mar the little plot had conceived,
walked slowly into the porch.
The porch and the parlor were filed with
people of both sexes, who had grown ou. of
my remembrance. seated myself on one of
the vacant benches which had been provided
for their accommodation, and gazed eagerly a.
round for the forms and faces Of those most
| loved.
The Rev. Mr. Blackburn was The minister
who oficiated. He was tall, solemn man,
with long white locks hanging over hisshoul-
ders. His voice was deeply sonorous, and
impaired wonderful force to the startling i'm
agery he was won't TO employ in his extern
poraneous sermons. He rarely gesticulated.
His eyes glowed like fire, and he seemed
earnest to the verge of insanity. He was
standing in the doorway and obstructed my
view into the parlor. But having often heard
| of this singular orator and divine, he became
even in my extraordinary situation, an absorb
ing object of interest.
Some of my readers may have heard of a
curious effect Of this mans oratory which,
passing from the sphere of his immediate in
f1uence, perpetuated itself in the form of a
religious epidemic or mania, under the op-
probious name bestowed by scoffers of f'CUM-
BERLAND JERKS" Thousands of persons,
excited by his elo1uence, have been seized
with various kinds of physical convulsion,
as twitching of the muscles, galvanc motions
of the limbs, rigidities. Some would fly at
their utmost speed, as from an invisible enemy !;
others would shout, and rave, as ifthey were
exquisitely happy, or overborne by the recol-
lection of hideous crimes some would laugh
hysterically ;some would weep inconsolably; ;
some would be stricken dumb, speaking not
for days. Irreligious spectators, carried a.
way by an inscrutable sympathy, would be-
come equally affected, in spite os their strug
giles and in opposition to their will. Attacks
of this unparalleled monomanla would fire.
| tl, c. xx,ifh
sion: Those who considered these remarka-
Bile phenomena as the result of divine inter-
position, entitled them capitalization.
! On this occasion Mr.. Blackburn was speak
ing of the frailty of life, the evanescence of
things earthly, and the dura bility of heaven
ly joys, with solemn pathos peculiar to him
SELF He took the career of a pure hearted
5eing-a young female-and painted amid
the untoward events Of this world, and the
approaches of death, till her faith ended in
vision and the fruition of eternal blessedness
almost forgot my search, moved by his
feeling eloquence. All present were touch
ed. | observed tears pouring down the
cheeks of young and aged they could not
have manifested more sympathy had he por-
trayed an actual existence that had just clos
ed. And the emotion his simple. though
earnest words awoke, was not of that wearie-
ed and mysterious chara cter, which have
described it was natural, unconscious, and
commendable.
He sat down after readings familiar hymn,
which the audience united in chanting. 1t
was then saw, and by instinct recognised,
my parents and sisters. My heart yearned
towards them; was impatient for the con-
clusion of the services to rush into their
arms! a
Time lad yet further thinned my fathers