Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-09-08

the time when he must miss them from their
places. Deacon Jones, and Deacon Smith, and
Deacon Holt, all cast in iha. one mould, which,
if. it did not come over in he Mayhower, GER
tainly followed at no dsiuIt period, like the
communion service, antquated and sacred, set
apart from the world, supposed as they passed
the threshold Of the door to leave behind them |
secular interests and feelings, aud to become
consecraied and holy All but the difference
was, the plate bore the precious elements that
gave spiritual life and joy, and the deacons be-
numbed and deadened the good influences, by
receiving spiritual food into cold and indoleni
hearts, and sitting Sabbath after Sabbath in the
same unbroken apathy, until they froze the very
life blood in their young and benevolent minis
ter's heart.
Ii was no wonder, four years Of such life,
and no rest, no change Il was a good parish,
ovcry body did their duty in paying minister
tax. and attending meeting. Pareon Rogers
had drilled them well in that, but the minister
was sort machine, which was expected to full
fl its part in the engagement as punctually as
they did. A good OF bad sermon, only so it
was sermon little mattered. Mr. Dunning,
if he had no respect ior himself no desire TO
fulfil, in spirit, the commands Of his master,
would have found this very easy place
This morning, these three deacons seemed to
him type Of his congregation, and weary and
worn as he was, no wender that the Bible fail
ed even TO be book Of texts. AS time stole
slowly on, the languor of the day, and his men
tai agony increased in proportion, at last it was
no longer to be borne,--falli,g upon his knees
4. / 4
ed forth his sorrows aud dscouragemeuts to
Him from whom alone in hS extremity could
come help. As he closed low sob fell upon
his ear, he started to find hs gentle wife had
stolen unperceived into the room, and was
kneelinE beside him. In sdft whisper she re-
peaied He that dweeth ID the secret place
of the Most High shall abide under the shadow
of the Almighty. He shall call upon me, and
! will answer him. Twill bewith him in trou-
BILE, will deliver him and htnor him.
God had already heard, AID answered him.
Bless you my wife, he said drawing her tow
ard him. Il / iciH abide under the shadow Of
the Almighty
All through that long, oppressive day, he sat
at his task, but it was no lonker task, for his
J, hear, was strong in hope, aud trust, that in his
own good time, God would deliver and honor
him. The next Sabbath found him prepared
and even the 'old folks, and the stony deacons
fingered after church around the porch, to ask
what made the minister so pale, no minister
could be sick and write such an impressive ser
mon.
He needs vacation whispered young
girl to her mother, as they stood listening to
the many comments.
"A vacation child y
Yes mother, in the cities they give their
minister vacations, and they do not work hall
as hard as Mr. Dunnng.'
But they are rich, and can afford to travel
our minister is poor, and can hardly live by
strict economy at home
so much the more shame to us, answered
the girl with burning cheeks. 1t is hard Il
make man work the whole year around a,
he does we prize him SO little that we shal
: lose him. How sick he looks to-dayi'
1T has been terrible hot answered Deacon
: Jones, Everybody looks wilted.'
But he is the only one who has had ser
mon TO write and preach.
it . For which we pay him the value Of six dol
Of lars Sabbath
lie 'Bnt he has no vacation persisted the girl
y neither does he wish one, he is too jealous il
s. his masters service for that
ST Emma Allsion was silenced, but not convinc
ss ed on her way home she required TO the sub
v ice, with her parents esnin and again, and =
se last fairly aroused her taihers interest and at
he tenton.
ty Squire Allston, as the villagers call him
was an Indifferent man as far as preaching an
er ministers. He was puuctual at church becaus
r. he believed in law and order, and CONSIDERS
st the Sabbath as necessary 10 both. He Away
ID occupied his time when there, ferrelng ou
as some obscure case, or blinking over plea h
te never went to sleep; Ae was far 10 active 70
n that, but he did what was worse, never listened
1t Emma, however, was IN only child he wa
s, accustomed to depend upon her good sense b
ii had given her every advantage of education
&c and for her principles, bis wife was pious VIC
at man, and she must lod out for those. The
III were both members of the church, and he di
u not exactly like 10 come away on commune
fe Sabbath, and leave Them, but he always die
ii and left the urch,-minister and all religion
ly matters TO them. He was good lawyer an
IT. a just man, and 10 state the of vacation
as him, he gave il a lawyers attention, weighe
en- the arguments for and against, dispassionalely
lie and finally summed up all in this brief mar
he ner; t.
Id There is no machine in The world that 20
en- can work all the time without repairs. Til
h, mind, is our thinking machine, and rest an
,ss change repairs il; therefore, il has right
ad them. To have a right, was to have law O
nd its side, and that was enough, therefore NJ
m Allsion settled it, that Mr. Dunnng must have
II, vacation.
or How, and when I asked Emma eagerly.
'ut BY his people making up purse, and nov
lg, while the weather is oppressive and he requir
Or it so much why even the farm horses al
on turned out to grass and no farmer grumbles
res all know in their own experience, that the
his must be rest, where there is work every boo
up but minister finds this in the change of eu
Id plOyment incident TO his occupation; but vii
Il. i =. IL -