Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-09-02
4 Country Scene and Touching Incident.


what he saw and heard in country town.
4
Passing acrost the piait, we paused at the
cate Of house which stood under large
oak tree, 10 enquire after he health Of an old
man, the Oldest man IN the neighboFhood,
whose years are well nigh exhausted. They
t7.d Us sadly that he was no better. They
need not have told rs. There was look a.
bout tue place which told US the same be-
fare we saw them. There is always a
something ab0u, the country that indicates
the sadness Or happiness Of the country folks.
Tie fist sound that we heard on approach
irg. was the creak Of the well-pole, and it
was mourufn sound, different from its
usua tone Of cheer. For, there is music IN
the creaking pole Then We heard gate
swinging and the rattle of the chain, and
there was something unusually lone and sad
about that Then there was flock Of geese
ca the road near the house. and they were
all silent as We passed. and the old turkey
on the wall looked and stretched his head
out, amt his long red neck was gi3tterlng
in the sun. but he uttered none OF his
accustomed exclamations of pride. The
shutters Of the windows were closed There
was not one open on all the end Of the house
toward the road. la sAoft, there was an in
de,crliabte something about the place
which you, who have lived in the country,
wi.l IN !erstand. and which you who have
never lived there, cannot be male to under
stand. which indicated that those in the
house were in deep atfiictlon OF some sort
either bidding adieu to one who was going,
or looking a, the vacant place of one who
had gone. to land of greeuer fields and
purer waters,
We dli not 90 in, but remained al the gate
while Willis entered, bearing the kind wish
9, Of all our party. and as we drove on after
ward. We were somewhat saddened by his
description Of the wan features and long
white hair Of the good old man. who was so
soon to depart from the scenes that he had
loved fgr ghteen years.
And is ii all over -
"Al over Philip. All the freshness Of
youth, the strength Of manhood, the wisdom
OF maturity, the teebleness of age, all are
over: and in their place has come calm, a
raDose. 50 deep. 90 profound, that TO look on
the old man as he lies there this morning,
YOU would not think he could be reused by
the trumpet oi the angle"
And how died he q
AS the good man always dies. He call
ed hls family about him at the gray dawn OF
the Sabbath morning, aud they came, from
fearful watching some from deep slumber
after last nights tears: and he spoke to them
words - sublime and holy import, and when
his voice grew feeble he looked at them,
ana thvy said his face was radiant with
light he say but they saw not, only as thus
r4H4cted and at length, as the first sun
RAYS came acrost the hill, and through his
window ant lit the room with Sabbath lus-
TIRE, he broke out in hymn. and sang with
bcoken voice but not unmusicaI,
'Oh happy harbor OF Gods saints,
and then died.
What said nothing after the hymn!n
Nothing. but he looked steadfastly into
heaven. a. if he saw Stephens vision: and
his white hand beat time to some uuheafd
music long after he had ceased to sing.
Susan asked me in her simple way if | did
not think he was listening TO the angels
singing: and smiled at her idea but told
her | thought they did not measure the
song by tune, in the choir that he was then
ready 10 join"
There is memory Of the old church in
which he worshipped so years, connected
with the old man who will De buried to-mor
row that seemed TO me very touching when
heard It related last night. Sixty years
aro there was voice in the choir that
thrilled his heart every Sunday morning so
thai he listened to it more than to the words
OF The song. He was stout, strong man.
and vet he was child in the presence of
that country maiden, and he loved her with
exceeding love. He served her father, not
50 long as Jacob for Leah. vet with no less
cess One day the farmers family had gone
rt1s INT MI
net having room in their wagon, they had re-
turned leaving Lucy 10 be sent for. And
toward evening, the old man, the young
man | should say-how strange this tale OF
his youth seems to me who have always
known him as old--the young man was sent
for her, and living taken her into the wagon
with him, started to return.
Five miles OF the road were accomplish
81, when the gloom Of tempest surrounded
them, and storm burst on them with terri
tile fury. There was no shelter for a mile,
save the old church, that stood alone on the
hill, and thither he urged his horse. with
difficulty and no small danger.
They reached the door which was never
closed; for the house Of God, ia those days
was always left open, and the girl found
shelter, while lie secured the horse in safety
under a she'd and returned TO her.
He had never told her Of his love, and
now was a fair opportunity. In the wild
flashes Of the lightning, the little church
cleaned on, on the valleys that it overlook
ell, like a silent calm mother TO keep all
safe ia the war of the elements No one
who caught sight of it that night, dreamed
that it was occupied but there were two
hearts in il that commenced to beat in uni
son that night. at the altar were they pledg-
ed their love TO each other. They were not
afraid, not terrified, though the tempest was
fearful, and though every window cleaned
luridly in The constant flashes of the light
ming. With arms folded around each other,
they knes at the altar of the old church,
and spoke 10 each other of the future. The
storm passed on, and they knelt there still.
Il was holy night, TO which IN after years
their souls REQUIRED with never ceasflg joy.
es-sneer-laugh-bl aspheme that holy
love, poor miserable dog Of the worlds
whipping who have never felt the blessed
ness Of pure, warm, woman love, but known
that for sixty years of Sabbaths that man
woFshpped God at the same altar, he never
forgot that night, nor failed to thank God
for the tempest.