The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-04-06

borhood. of Wheeling, and was now on
his way to some Of the villages west Of
Lexington, on the west bank Of the Ken.
lucky river, to perform, beside the translu.
cent streams and under the venerable trees
of that fine region, those picturesque SOL
emnities of his sect to which they love to
point as manifold emblem of publication
from moral pollution, and of the resurrec-
ton from the death of sin and the sleep
OF the grave. He told me chequered
history Of religious awakenings in some
places, and hundreds gathered into the
fold, and of backslidingss and indifference
in others.
| Afterward the conversation passed to
other subjects. could not help speaking
Of the exceeding richness ofthe vegetation
in that country, as compared with that of
the Atlantic coast. b,r4t ,.ra ..r...
"Yes,' replied my companion, "the
land is land of milk and honey, and the
clouds drop fatness upon it. unworthy and
sinful as we are, who make it our abiding
place. God maketh his sun to shine on
the evil and unthankful, and sende,h rain
on the just and the unjust. But are you
from the Atlantic S,ates?' @ '''''
asa am" CESS d "a" Hs."
e"From New England?" inquired he
speaking more quickly than he had before,
and, with something on his countenance
more like smile than had seen him
wear. e. ''i' ''
!"No, from New York" aifi a9taaaat
- His countenance relapsed again into its
former gloomy expression. 81" said he,
sam from New England"
"Your friends probably live in that part
Of the country" said |, availing myself Of
that freedom of interrogation OF which he
had set me the example. 4e ..,fstsea
"Friends, if you WILL" answered he,
IL may have there, but relations none.
There lives not in all the United States.
though they are my native country, sim
gle human being with whom | can claim
kindred. God has cut away, by terri
Bile, but, as | willingly believe, merciful
dispensation, all the ties of an earthly ma
ture tha, bound me to my fellow creatures;
the members OF the Church of Christ, and
they only, are nov my fathers and moth
ers, and sisters and brethren. ''A i''h 'ssi''
-e"You allude. i perceive," said 1, "to
some remarkable event of your life. 81 May
take the liberty of inquiring what it is?'
"Formerly," he replied, ...its gave me
great pain to speak Of it, but have rela-
tied II often, and it does SO no longer; and
moreover. am convinced that it is sinful
on my part TO conceal the dealings oi
Gods providence with. me from those
/ who are willing to hear what they have
Ebeeu< - s.
You must Know, then, that my father
was was a. native OF the island of Nan.
tucket, and the only son q of an emigranl
pair from St. John s, on the coast Of New.
ioundland. Ny mother was from Wales
She was but child when her father took
passage for this country, with her and tw {
brothers older than herself The vessel in
which they came was wrecked off Cape
Cod, and all on board perished except my
mother and four Of the crew, who were
picked up by the fshermen Of Hy annis
She was received in one of the most veal
thy families on The Cape, and was brough
up by the good people as if she had beer
one Of their own children. ..,
"My father had been a seafaring mar
| in early life, and had risen to the com
mand of merchant vessel. At the age
of thirty-f he became acquainted witt
my mother, who was some fifteen year
younger than himself. and made her pro
posals of marriage. which she would &C
cept only on condition that he should qui
the sea. which had been the grave of he
family. He made the promise she requir
. ed, they were married, and removed to tn
interior, where my father bought a farm
3 and settled as an agriculturist. "a
"Our residence was on the highlands
: west OF the Connecticut river. There wa
= little decayed old dwelling on the farr
when my father came to live there, he caus
!, ed it to be pulled down. and had a nea
q white cottage built upon the spot. In thi
: cottage was born, and here I;passed tn
earliest years Of my life, and. speakin
e with respect to temporal comforts and en-
u ioyments. the happiest. 1t was a lovel
!. spot. lovely then, but now no longer So
$ tits bare and desolate-the bosom of de,
r truction has swept 1.-THE winds. God
s ministers, were sent against it, to raze il
: walls and root up its shades, and slay il
i inmates.
y al sometimes think that the distinctnes
;. with which that abode Of my youth and il
II dear inhabitants rises before my imagint
e ton is device of the enemy to tempt mi
Z and to shake my resignation to the d.
s crees Of the Almighty. A young orchar
n sheltered the cottage on the north.we
\ and back of the orchard rose a woode
/ hill. On the south side Of the house we
l. our. garden, which bordered on cles
1T prattling brook To the east were ric
. meadows and fields Of grain, and pasture
J. where i gathered Strawberries and locke
n for birds'-nests. all sloping away gent
for considerable distance. after whic
te they sunk down out Of sight into the dee
N glen, of river, whose shallow murmu
D. were often heard by us as we sat und
u, the wild-cherry trees before our door. I
le the east Of the river spread wide tract
ID country, in full sight from our windows
OF farm -houses painted red and white, wi
I'd their orchards, and corn-felds, and WOO
m lands. steeples Of distant churches, and
blue horizon OF woods bounding the seen
u aTime went by pleasantly until n
n tenth year. Childhood is the only seast
n Of life in which happy years do not pa
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