The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-18
FRIDAY, MAY IS, 1855.

hearts OF those who listened, ill unchecked
tears gave evidence Of the power Of mel
ody. That opening note was all tha,
heard for as she glided through the mag
ni6cent strains with which Handel ha,
clothed tha, sublime passage, my spiri
fled 10 The old church in the village, and
was listening the last words ever heard
there from the lips Of The old pastor.
Blessed be his memory' And blessed too
be the memory Of those who were hi.
friends and companions, his counsellors
and supporters. or Solomon Peirson
have spoken. He has gone 10 his reward
So, loo, has William Denton, good and
an honest man. We can never enter the
church again without thinking of him.
He was never tall, and in his old age, he
was so bent down as 10 seem almost deform'
ed. He used 10 come into church by the
middle aisle, and always paused momen,
after he entered, in silent prayer Then,
with a quaint swing This body, and an eye
singularly turned toward the pulpit he
would walk up and take his seat in the
elders pew, and sit there, molionless as a
statute, until the benediciion.
He was a man Of peculiar intellectual
power aud had accomplished more reading
and study than all the res, of the congrega.
lion together.
William Benton has long ago joined the
congregation in the graveyard, and rests in
hope with his wife Alice.
John MacLean was another Of The elders,
who died when was but boy. He was
a Stem, harsh man, one OF class, I am
thankful 10 say, now almost extinct. Re-
ligion with him was duty, and no, a pleas.
ure. l, could scarcely be called bigo,ry,
but II had no grace or beauty. II lent no
ssn,lencss 10 the man, gave no ,inge OF
heaven 10 his soul. On the contrary. he
who would otherwise have been harmless,
inofensive being, became terror 10 the
young, and almost an enemy 10 The DID,
He had no friends, no allies in life, but
walked undisturbed along his own path,
proud Of his own professed humility. No
one had fault 10 find with him, and none
were ever heard 10 speak well OF him.
The iron banded and iron hearted farmer
was advancing towards the primo Of lifo,
when his wife died, leaving him four sons,
who grew up TO be strong men, and were
married and settled on farms near the vii
iagc. Not many years afterwards no mar
ried slight, pale girl 10 distant city,
There was mystery about the matter; and
it was said that she was poor, and had mar.
ried him for home and support, not for
love. Others thought it was no, SO, and
that she loved him. Certain tits that in the
few years sho lived with him, harsh, cold
and stern as he was, she had learned to love
! IN with all the trusting faith of woman.
It was beautiful picture in the lie OF the
hard man, that clinging love of his young
wife, and like all very beautiful things, /,
soon faded, for she died.
But even this aillic,ion served only 10
harden his features and his heart. She left
him two children, son and daughter,
whom he brought up with iron rule. They
were like flowers blooming out among rocks,
those two children springing up into youth
with all their natural beauty, and purity,
and freshness Of character unchanged, and
almost unaffected by the stern subsection
under which they were KEPT.
Allan was slightly formed boy, with
keen, quick, black eye, and lhough,h'
cast of countenance. Jessie, the youngest,
was like him, bat maidenly and beautiful.
They used to walk down the road under the
elm row, every Sunday morning 10 the
church, and sit together in the corner pew
behind that in which their father sat in
rowning gloom. Ailer her mothers death,
Jessie shed many tears and was very lone.
some, fdrIl ddrlshn Maclean was no, man to
win love from his children. 16ey ieS.Ss
him, and had none OF that affection for him
which makes home happy. They ,rem.
bled when he came in, for he seldom spoke
pleasant, words, and usually found fault
with Jessie and scolded Allan, aud sa,
gloomily before the fire all The evening.
AT nine o'clock he called all the household
in for prayers, and then saw that every light
in the house was ou, before he retired.
One night, when the bell rang for pray.
ers, all were present bu, Allan, and he was
no, 10 be found. Jessie proiessed ignorance
OF his whereabouts, and none OF the ser.
wants had seen him since dark A irown
gathered on the Elders face as he com.
menced, and his voice was more harsh than
usual.
While he was yet reading, Allan entered
and took his seat in silence. His father
paused and looked a, him.
"Where have you been till this time W
81 have been a, Mr. Whites, sir, spend.
ing the evening""
Now Mary White was one o. the pret-
lies, girls in the neighborhood, and smile
passed over Jessio's face at this explana-
ton. But smile during prayer time was
an objectionable offence, and the anger Of
the parent descended on both Of them in
tones Of thunder.
Allan had long been growing impatient
Of his fathers severity, and his condition
now bordered on madness. He rose from
his chair while his father was speaking.
His face was pale, and his eye aeshed wild.
ly. He walked across the room 10 Jessie,
stopped low and kissed her, with Good
bye. Jessie. and without plauciny towards