The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-18

II
. at cxhortin' withouta O white handkerchi'
on his neck and money in his pocket"
fact going far to confirm the opinions Of tn
Bishop of Exeter and the Puseyites general
ly, that there can be no priest without tithc
and surplicc.
These people have for several generation
lived distinct from the great mas Of the com
munity, like the gypsies of Europe, whom
in many respects they closely resemble
They have the same settled aversion to labo'
and the same disposition to avail themselves
Of the fruits of fthc industry ofo.hcr. They
lore wild, out-ofdoor life, sing songs, tel
fortunes, and have an instructive hatred O.
" missionaries and cold water"
"The proper study of mankind is man.
and according to my view, no phase of oui
common humanity is altogether unworthy o.
investigation. Acting upon this belief two
or three summers ago when, in company with
my sister, little excursion into the hill
country of New Hampshire, | turned my
horses head towards harrington for the pur-
pose of seeing these scmi-ciyilizcd strollcrs in
their own home, and returning, once for all,
their numerous visits. Taking leave Of our
hospitablc cousins in Old Dee, with about as
much solemnity as we may suppose Major
Taing Parted with his friends, when he set
out in search of dcscrt-girdlcd Timbuctoo,
drove several miles over rough road, passed
the "Deyil's Den" unmOlcsted, crossed q
fearful little strcamlct, noisily making its
way into valley, where it turned lonely,
half.ruinous mill, and and climbing 4 steep
hill beyond, saw before us wide, sandy
level, skirted on the west and north by low,
scraggy hills, and dotted here and there with
dwarf pitch pines. In the center OF this
desolate region were some twenty or thirty
small dwellings grouped together as irresu-
larly as a IIottentot krael.
Unfenccd, unguardcd, open TO all colners
and gocrs, stood that city Of the beggars-
no wall or piling between the ragged cabins
to remind one Of the jealous distinctions o.
property. The great rlea Of It's founders
seemed visible in its unappropriated freedom.
Was not the whole round world their own.
and should they hagglc about boundaries
and title deeds? For them, OH distant plains,
ripened golden harvcsts; for them, in iar-ol
workshops, busy hands were toiling; for
them If they had but the grace to note it,
the broad earth put on her garni,urc OF
beauty, and over them hung the silent mys.
terry of heaven and its stars. That comior-
table philosophy which modern rrancenden-
talism has but feebly shadowed fortl-that
poetic Agrarianism, which gives all to each,
and each to all-is the real life Of this city
of Unwork. To each Of its dingy dwellen
might not DO inaptly applied the language
of one, who, trust, will pardon inc for
quoting her beautiful poem in this conncc-
ton:
"Other hands may grasp the field or forest
PrUud prUprieiOrs IN pOmp may SHINE;
Thou arl wealthicr-all the wOhd j. thle!"
But, look; (! the clouds are brcaking.-
"Fair weather cometh out Of the north.'
The wind has blown away the mists; on the
gilded spirc of John street glimmcrs beam
of sunshine. And there is the sky again,
hard, blue and cold in its eternal purity, not
whit the worse for the storm. In the
beautiful Present, the Past is no longer need
ed. Rcvcrcntly and gratefully let its volume
DO laid aside; and when again the shadows
of the outward world fall upon the spirit,
may not lack good angel to remind me
of its solace-even If he comes in the shape
Of harrington beggar.