The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-18
MistRllanfuns.
Our Old Church and its Congregation.

anu nOIy us tnat WHICH rests in tho ooui VI"
a quiet Sabbath morning in the country
Everything partakes Of it. The birds do not
sing loudly the winds do not wall harshly |;
the trees shake their branches quietly and
with musical murmur. The sky seems
nearer the earth, aud the sunshine falls with
a soitncss and balmy sweetness that tells Of
heaven.
Possibly townsman might not feel it
thus but even the dweller in cities cannot
altogether escape the influence Of the quiet
which reigus everywhere and surprised and
awed by the stiffness to which he is unac-
customed, his soul gradually, but certainly
yields to the holy spell which Is over all the
world around him.
We rise at the usual hour, and breakfast
separately. I do not think we have taken
coffee together, at home, on Sunday, once
in two years. If there is company at the
Hall, they End their way to the breakfast
room, at their own hour, and take care of
themselves during the day. But Joe and
myself always meet on the lawn after break.
fast, and usually stroll little way from the
house into the wood, and sit on the grass, or
on the rock seat near the riverside, and
talk quietly, in lower tone than other
days. One habit We have that may be
mentioned; it is, never to appear in dressing
gowns or slippers, or in careless dress, on
a Sunday, at any hour.
Towards the church time we hear the
sound Of the village bell Ginning musically
across the forest and over the farms; and
at the regular hour the horses stand saddled
before the door, and the carriage, If there is
any ono 10 usc it, and we ride slowly down
tho avenue. Sometimes we DO not ride, but
walk the few miles to the village, and then
we leave the road, and find our way among
the flowers and along the brooksidcs, no,
lettering, but fastening through paths to the
most beautiful scene Of all - the village
congregation.
If VIC ride, it is along the country road
half way through the forest, and the re.
mainder By fields Of grain or waving grass.
Wagon load after wagon load Of the females
in The congregation pass along the same
track. The long farm wagons, each holding
three or four seats, with six or eigh. persons,
are never used except on Sunday, or Of an
afternoon visit on week day.
There is remarkable uniformity in the
dresses Of all the different people that you
see in these vehicles. Black silk dresses
abound among the elderly ladies, and pure
white muslins the prevailing style for the
children AMI girls. The young ladies, and
the matronly young wives Of farmers, have
peculiar style Of bonnOt and shawl, from
which few vary; while the men, young and
old, are attired in the same heavy cloth dress
coats, with high thick collars, which push
their hair to the tops of their heads and
destroy the equilibrium Of their hats.
Each party We pass grccts us pleasantly,
and we exchange inquiries about the e'sai, mir i,r
lies, and family affairs, and part without a
good bye, or even bow, for are we not all
on pilgrimage together, and all going to
the same house!
The bell is tOlling us we enter the long
village street, and each little white gate is
thrown open for the exit Of small compa.
ny, dressed in gaycr apparel than the farmers
wear. We enter the church door reverently.
May il never be otherwise.
That old church is the holiest spot on
earth to US and those square pews are the
dearest resting-places for our weary bodies
and souls that we shall ever end this side Of
Heaven.
We were children together, Joe Willis
and l, and our fathers and mothers used to
sit in those pews adjoining each other; and
Joe and l held whispered consultations un
der the curiOusly-elevated rail that separated
US There lay the very books they had used |;
the cushion, now old and faded, but still the
same the pulpit unchanged in any particu.
lar, even 10 its high soundinr.board and the
window, half in each pew, was there, with
the same old sunshine stealing in on US dur.
ing sermon time. Outside the window was
evidence of change. There lay the sleeping
congregation, except only those who were
buried in the north graveyard, and the old
pastor reposed with his poople.
Across the church was tho sea, occupied
bv Judge Wills mill Aha de,,b os .Ios,s
n,bor VIII, ~. - ..ar -. rs.,.
IN Tho oldcn ,;ms wa nsoI .~ - .si -" c,hhs,h