The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-05-27
Original 9ketfbes.
SKETCHES OF
GRIpEvILLE AND ITS DENIZENS.
n o. VII.
BY L'INCoGNITA.

| Elder Ir0tter having Deeh aiueu Al
by Deacon Maydon, rose to commence
the services. Every eye in the house
and there were not few of them, was
turned upon him as he read the hrs
hymn in a voice and tone not altogether
exempt from his native down-east drawl
and the droll expression, half mirth anc
half pity, that rested upon the counte'
nances of even the sober dignitaries OF
the church, showed that their anticipa,
ticAs of the sermon that was to follow
..sere of no very exalted character, but
here, as is often the case elsewhere, their
expectations were doomed to disappoint.
ment, for SO faithfully and eloquently
did the good man set forth the glorious
truths of the gospel, so glowingly did
be portray the unmeasured sufferings OF
our dear Redeemer, to atone for the
guilt of whole world plunged in sin and
wickedness, and so feelingly did he de-
pict the pifiable condition Of the lost
and hopeless sinner, and the tranquil and
heartfelt happiness of a redeemed re-
pentant soul while all his native pecul-
iarities Of speech and manner seemed
suddenly to have vanished, and the true
nobility Of his mind shone forth all the
brighter for its contrast with the rubbish
like frame in which it dwelt, and till
then remained hidden that before he
had half d,livered his sermon he had
riyctcd the attention Of all his hearers.
The fair votaries Of fashion ceased
studying the costumes of their neigh
bors. the bu iness man left the contem-
plation of his money-making schemes,
and the young lover the gazing at the
chosen of his heart, to listen to the
spirit-stiring strains of Elder Trotter
even the little roguish urchin in the
gallery, whose fingers, face, and nice
Sunday clothes were stained with the
iuicc of his favorite whortleberries,
picked in truant excursion into the
fields that bordered the road to the
meeting house, and who had been for
the last few minutes since his very late
entrance engaged in dropping tack nails
into the woody hair of pious old negro
that sat in the slip just below him, stop
ped in the very midst of his novel en-
ployment (admonished, however, by q
sly twig of his ear from a meddlesome
neighbor) to gaze and listen with mouth
and eyes wide open, at the new minister,
and strange to tell, sat quite still until
the meeting was over. When Elder
Trotter ceased speaking, the tears that
sparkled in the eyes of his hearers told
that the truth which he had uttered hat
found its way to their hearts, and it wa'
with feelings altogether different from
those which they came, that the con
gregation separated and returned tc
their several homes.
"How do you like our new minister
IMr. Goodwell 7" said Deacon Maydon
as the two shook hands heartily in th'
church entry.
" Never heard better preaching in m.
llife," replied Goodwell in his blunt
good-natured way, "Elder Trotter'
very much like a singed chicken, bette
than he looks"
"What an ill-shappen, awkward
looking man that Elder Trotter is ex
cept xhen he is preaching, and then ON
forgets how he looks in listening to tn
eloquence Of his tongue"
This true comment upon the appear
ance Of the much observed Elder wa
uttered by the young schoolmaster
Lionel Gay, as in company with Doaco'
Maydon's family, he was returning hom
tc-o.~. ob,,~cb nj. o. h.1 hot ;,,e