The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-15

New Una, or Lady Alice" whose popularity
soieiy rests upon the treatment of topics of
sanity interest and EXTREMIST delicacy by the
author, who has shown himself WORTHY schol.
ar in the school of Sanchez, Lguori, and other
sainted writers, upon subjects occult and diff
cui. 10 manage by most men-in a pious way.
anu now, TINS brings us to the subiect-mat-
reach the Celestial City.
CHAPTER II.
Scenes at q Camp Meeting.
The camp was formed upon and around a
natural hollow, level at the bottom for tire
hundred feet IN diameter. This was Open A
slope, reaching quarter of a mile on all sides,
was covered over with shade-trees and under
growth. The brushwood around the inner cir
e cle ssisd been carefully grnLhed out, and the
thickets and Trees closed in the amphittL..e atre
on all sides. Nothing could be better adapted
for camp-ground. A well of pure water was
dug IN the centre Of the hollow. which proved
to be never.failing. 1t was this hollow that had
gwen to this picturesque spot the name of the
DeviPs Punchbowl." But, when its facilities
Tor camp-groGnd became known, the religion
lists OF Vanity Fair, who regarded it first duty
to hold an annual Feast of Tabernacles" in
the open air, purchased this land, and it was
consecrated by them to this use.
The seats were Of oaken planks, made SIN Doth.
and rose on all sides, with aisles leading to the
ministers stand. On the eastern side of the
hollow was "The Preachers Stand" and in
front OF this an enclosure for converts, known
as 1.-The Pen" This had benches on the
SIDES, and plank floor, which was covered
with clean straw. The preachers stand would
hold ttty persons, if necessary; and two thou
he A.
theatre. All around, under the shadetree
and next the open space, were tents, spacious
enough for one or more families. These rose
three deep, leaving ample space between the
circles; beside these, the covered wagons leach
a temporary home) were sprinkled far and
wide to the summit-level of the land
The number of persons present on Saturday
evening, at six o'clock, was in all about three
thousand, men, women, and children. This
number was greatly increased on the next day,
Sunday, which was appropriately called "The
Great Day of the Feast"
Between the hours of six and seven, the null
titude supped and the younger members of
the camp, girls with and without bonnets, and
young gentlemen in frock coats and straw bats,
were seen climbing the sides of the amphithes-
tire, from whence beautiful prospect of the land
and lake was to be seen. The loneliness Of
this scenery had attracted the attention of Lord
u. and his party as they approached the
Devils Punchbowl; for so it was still familiar
ly called.
The fathers and mothers, in sober dresses of
extreme simplicity, at sunset made their appear
ance, and busted themselves in lighting rows
OF lamps; which, when lit, were hoisted up into
the trees, and formed festoons of light on all
sides. AS darkness grew on, these lamps, and
the mass Of light in and about the ministers
stand, gave new interest to the place. A sig
nal horn, for the evening service, was now
sounded, which rang around the hills, recalling
the wanderers. A great tent disgorged the
preachers, who had been holding a meeting of
conference, who took their places in the ministers
stand, and the seats began to fill up rapidly.
The best of the seats were already
taken 80 Annie and Gertrude went down to the
spring, and then mounted toward the preach
ers' stand. Finding the benches there occu-
pied, and seeing vacant seats in the pen, they
went in, and there they sat themselves down,
to the surprise of all the congregation. Their
fashionable air and dress at once assured the
ssembly of their being entire strangers. A
lovely girl came and took seat beside them,
to them, Ladies, you have seated
yourselves in the pen."
do we intrude upon any one?" asked
Annie.
80 mol only this pen will be wanted by and
by for mourners, but not until after sermon.
You can sit here, if you please, and it is
better seat than any one to be had now, and /
will sit by you," said the girl.
THANK you, my DEAR" said Gertrude. "Who
is to preach this EVENING"" she asked
go! we are to have Brother Softandsweet.
the most eloquent man in al our church-and
he's such favorite |" said the girl, with great
est enthusiasm of manner. He has only re-
turned from long absence few weeks Since"
That our readers may be prepared for the
treat awaiting them, and which filed the crowd |
ed assembly with delightful anticipation, we
will give some account of this popular divine
Brother Softandsweet was small, graceful |
person, whose beautiful complexion, black |
hair, and brilliant eyes, would have won for
him the admiration of ladies, without the ad- |
vantage of being seen in the pulpit; which, at |
least, was a feather in his cap. But his beauty
OF face, graceful manners, and speaking bril- |
lancy of eyes, were all forgotten in the melody |
OF his voice. This was notwithstanding
could be more perfect; nor was it unaided and
alone. He had vivid fancy, and great COM
mand OF words. His thoughts were not strong
presentation of solemn truths with the JUNCTION
OF piety, so much as solemn truths clothed in
hne language, and presented in a graceful
manner. Was hell opened for the inspection
Of his auditors-they were delighted with the
'plendors of the coufagration. Did he open
The gates of Paradise-he knew all about the
place. Had he been one of those men whom
Captain CULVER describes as strrlbrugs, in his
voyages, or, as the daily journals
would say, some of the Oldest inhabitants"
VINO had come down, rejuvenated, he could
not have been more familiar with the place, its
inhabitants, and their occupations. 1t would,
n his case, have been of no avail to have re-
minded him of the authority of one Paul in
such matters; indeed, Paul was regarded as
to the " old side" party, and portions
If his epistles Brother Softandswset ignored
entirely. But, of all things, Brother Softand-
weet was great upon the ladies. These he de-
cribed as "angels, wanting only in wings, to
oar away to their natire Skies" This phrase
vas favorite of his, and was made to tell
lpon all extraordinary occasions.
1t was no wonder he stirred up their suscep-
lble souls, when he spoke of women" last at
he cross, and first at the tomb"-as sweeping
larys," "devoted Salomes," benevolent Dor.
asses" anxious Marthas" No one could, at
UGH time, believe any beings other than
aints and angels belonged to womanhood. The
mind was not able, under the spell of his elo-
uence, to believe, under any transformation,
uch beings of beauty, of sensiblity, of fond af.
ection, of untiring devotion, (gasping and
atching his breath at every epithet, in way
,onderful to witness, and peculiar to the school
I eloquence to which Brother Softandsweet be-
1nged') could supply SO many ensamples of
tone.
There was another reason why this gentle
han was 80 successful in winning the hearts of
ldies. He believed in falling from grace, and
ad had several slides in company with young
ldies, just as he was about reaching the pin