Smyrna times., 1855-03-07

SiA ni'htus MS spirit was oVer]oyed by the ad- |
mission of seventeen souls to the communion |
and fellowship of the church. The quiet and |
retirement of the village were beneficial to h 8 !
health, and things appeared to be working har-
monlously in this goolIy heritage Hourly |
arose the incense of his hearts offering to the
throne of the heavenly grace
About this time an incident occurred to ari |
tate the prevalent peace of his mind. The
grocer with whom he head dealt in the city,
upon lf1s removal theretrom, offered to continue
TO sell to his old patron at the same rates and
forward gratis to Port Augusta. The liberal
proposal was accepted; orders were sent from
time to time, and the parcels came duly by Mr..
Lexis packet. That gentleman observed this
procedure with jealous eye "IIe had alwav,
deducted five per cent from the ministers bill,,
and would extend his generosity, rather :han
tolerate city importation. lie didn't care any,
thing about a profit on Mr.. G.lbcrt's ncccs<a
rles but 1t was his duty to pltrouize h 5 con.
grcgaton: it bound pastor and people more
hrmly together and increased their svmpathiey." ="
lie might have added p0id The pc1c rent. for
grand secret of his demur He had never
handed over forty dollars in hard money for anv
church purposes-hc had sent out timber from
his lumber yard, and hay from his wcIl-illed
barn and nerer waS ScrupulOus about the ,nea.
sure, but silver in his parsmonous ill had al
ways lain dormant, and would continue 10. nntil
he amassed a sufficient sum te erect an iron
foundry or purchase 800 shares in the projected
railroad!
An intimation of Mr.. Lexis dissatisfaction
reached the good pastors ears, and he repaired
Immediately TO our merchant, and promised,
"When my present supplies are exhausted,
will see if | can purchase as adyantageousy in
the country" The indcinteness of this at
tempt at compromise offended the dignity of
Mr.. Lex. lie said, 1t is altogether a matter
of ndltf renee to me, perhaps it were better
uot 10 patrOnlze home-industry" The circum-
stance troubled the mind of Mr. Gilbert: he
would at once have sunderad the contract be-
+ tween himself and the grocer; but lust now.
with the extra exp anses Of Sarah, who was
completing her education at Belle Vue Semi
rent expenses, and he was persuaded he exer-
clsed economy in buying at city pr.ceS, with
the privilege, which he enjoyed, of discharoinr
the debt when the state OF his finances would
best allow. Consequently, after consulting his
wife, Mr.. Gilbert continued to pursue the even
tenor OF his way" though at the sacrifice of
the good feeling Of the most important man in
the parish. Mr.. Lex and fImily were always
in their seat at church, and listened attentiv,ly
to the word of truth it fell from the lips OF
It's holy eXpouader; altcra time, however, their
salutations asSunrd IA cold, formal nature, aud
finally recognition ceased altogether. More
over, this last turn of affairs produced an eyre
giuus change in Laura Bet net: she deserted
the parsonage, avoided its inmates, and enter
tained the most invetcratc hatred for "the min
ister's audacious daughter" Her dislike for
Maria now appeared great her regard had
been III the outset.
A year rolled away and the Gilberts began
to tread thorny path. Mr.. Lex was the most
influential bccausc the most fluent man among
"the judcious heads :" his colleagues were in
varlably induced to succumb To his arbitrary
dad vigilance, he, at leagth, succeeded IN de-
signaling what he called dertrriuus flaw"
IN the unhappy pastors general character, and
he nagnircd lis impo:tanca. The wIiherinr
rumor reacecd It's vIclim-hls physical health
d, from perpieXity of .mind, began to suitr. He
tapp0lnted Il dey for II conference with the heads
aud Mr.. Lex came di0Ret He was very de-
mure, limited that Mr.. Gilbert was not what he
had been represented, and hurried away" to
examine lot of cedar shingles that were re-
CURED to repIen,sh hi. stock"
In opposition the popular opinion, to their
, credit be II recorded-many having minds OF
their own, noble and unbiased by prejudice,
clnng to their faithful pastor with unchlled
ardor. But what Is drop Of reason opposing
an ocean Of passion
, When it was known that George Compton
, had offered his hand to Maria Gilbert and was
accepted, the ire of the Lex tribe, and espeei-
ally that OF Laura Bennct, knew no hounds
Alter FIVE weeks spent in lndCcslon and vacl-
\ latlon, she determined To secure the effects
which had belonged to the deceased sister prior
| to her nnion with "the JnconsciOnnhe Comp
Eton." and beat a hasty retreat toward Mary
land. Ordering the carriage, she drove the
T. old horse furiously to Silver Lake farm upon
g arriving at which place. she was informed that
AIR. Compton, had gone away early in the mora
ing and would bsabsent till evening. Beckie
Green was busy il, the spring house about a
. hundred. yards distant from the dwelling, and
b 'Ltura was unable to find the key which un-
r locked the door of the second story apartment,
> into which she wished to penetrate. Deter
mined not TO be defeated in her enterprise, and
apprehensiye thatan appeal to the hOusekeeper,
: who, She knew, still cherished in memory the
)i old conhmely would involve her in a difficulty
!. that might delsy, perhaps Illustrate her design,
!, she snmmoned Boaz, and requesting hun to
: bring u ladder that lay along the garden fence
= and place it against the portico, she divcsted
g herself Of bonnet and shawl, and begun to as
!. ctnd. .o7om io< eSHsesq sii 1s.IEgs a.aY3s
r Fsi'aMy stars, Miss iLerry. you must be gOin'
a disnrranged y said the astonishedq African
hers, ,lets me bold the, ladder statuary relse