Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-03-27
PETER CARTWRIGHT AT A
DANCE.


4" Saturday night came, and found
myself among the hills, and knobs, and
spurs Of the Cumberland Mountains.
stopped al decent-looking tavern, where
there was TO be that night dance.
l quietly took my seat ia one cornerof
the house, aud the dance commenced I
sat quietly musing, total s,angcr, and
greatly desired to preach TO this people.
Finally, I concluded to spend the next
day (sabbath) there, and ask the privi-
lege to preach to them. ! had hardly
settled this point in my mind when
beautiful, ruddy young lady walked very
gracefully up to me-, dropped handsome
courtesy, and pleasantly, with winning
smiles, invited me out 10 take dance
with her. can hardly describe my
thoughts or feelings on that OCCASION
However, in moment resolved on
desperate experiment. Tarose as grace
fully as | could viii not say with some
emotion, but with many emotions. The
young lady moved to my right side; l
grasped her right hand with my right
hand, while she leaned her left arm ON
mine. Ii this position we walked on
the floor. The whole company seemed
pleased with this act Of politeness in the
young lady, shown to a stranger. The
eolored man, who was the fiddler, began
to put the fiddle in the best order. I then
spoke to the fiddler to hold moment,
and added, that for several years had
not undertaken anything Of Importance
without first asking the blessing of God
upon il, and l desired now to ask the
blessing Of God upon this beautiful young
lady and the whole company, that had
shown such an act Of politeness to total
stranger.
Here grasped the young lady's hand
tightly, and said let us all kneel down
and pray, and then instantly dropped on
my knees, and commenced praying with
all the power Of soul aud body that /
could command The young lady tried
to get loose from me, but | held her
: tight Presently she fell on her knees.
Some of the company kneeled, some
stood, some fled, some sat still, all looked
curious. The fiddler ran of into the
kitchen, saying Lord n marcy, what
de matter? what is DAT mean 2
While ] prayed some wept, and wept
out aloud, and some cried for mercy. /
arose from my knees and commenced an
exhoriation, after which ] sang a hymn.
The young lady who invited me on the
/ floor lay PROSTATE, crying earnestly for
mercy. exhorted again / sang ard
prayed nearly all night. About fifteen
OF that company professed religion, and
our meeting lasted next day and next
; night, and as many more we're powerful
ly converted. / organized a society, took
thirty-two into the Church, and sent them
: preacher My landlord was appoint
j. ed leader, which post he held for many
years. This was the commencement of
'' a great and glorious revival Of religion
= in that region Of country, ard several Of
r the young men converted at this preach
i er's dance, became useful ministers Of
+ Jesus Christ.
e ] recall this scene Of my life with as
- tonishment to this day, and do not permit
e myself to reason on il much. In some
e conditions Of society should have failed;
d in others ! should have been mobbcd in
! others ] should have been considered "a
3 lunatic. So far as / did permit myself
a to reason on il at that time, my conclu-
sions were something ike these These
.e are a people not Gospel taught or hard
a ened. They ut this early hour, had not
2 drank to iutoxieation, and they will at
ir least be as much alarmed at me and my
operations, rs ] possibly can be Al theirs.
10 If fail, it is no Disgrace If | succeed,
E. il viii be the fulliliment Of duty COM
le manded, to be instant IN season aud out
le Of season. Surely, in ali human wisdom,
II was out Of season; but ] had, from
a some cause or other, a strong impression
u on my mind, from the beginning TO the
end Of The affair (if Il is ended,) that ]
.e should succeed BY taking The devil at
surprise, as he has often served me- aud
h thereby be avenged Of. him for giving me
.s SO much trouble on my Way 70 General
. Conference and hack thus far
gg- Pops says; " a man should never
be ashamed to own that lie has been IN
!, the wrong which Is but saying, IN oilicr