Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-10
PETER CARTWRIGHT AT A DANCE.

Saturday night came, and | found myself
among the hills. knobs, and spurs of the Cum
berland Mountains ] Slapped at a decent look
ing tavern, where there was to be that night a
dance.
quietly took my seat in one corner of the
house, and the dance commenced. Isat quietly
musng, total stranger, and greatly desired to
preach to this Ieople. Finally | concluded 10
spend the next day (Sabba'h) there, and ask
the privilege TO preach TO them. had hardly
settled this point in my mind when a beautiful,
ruddy young lady walked very gracefully up to
me, dropped handsome courtesy, and pleasant
ly with winning smiles, invited me out to take
dance with her. l can hardly describe my
thou hts or feelings on that occasion. Howev-
er, in moment resolved on a desperate ex-
pertinent. arose as gracefully as could will
not say with some emotion but with many emo
tions. The young lady moved to my right side
grasped her right hand with my right hand,
while she leaned her left arm on mine. In this
position we walked on the floor. The whole
company seemed pleased at this act of polite
ness in the young lady, shown to a st5anger.-
The colored man, who was the fiddler, began to
put his fiddle in the best order. then spoke to
the fiddler TO hold moment; and added, that
for several wears had not undertaken any mat
ter of importance, without first asking the bless
ing of God upon it, and desired now to ask the
blessing OF God upon this beautiful young lady
and the whole company, that had shown such an
act of pollteness to total stranger.
Here grasped the young ady's hand tight
ly, and said LET us all kneel dow n and pray,
and then instantly dropped on my knees and
commenced praying with all the power of soul
and body that could command The young
lady tried to get loose from me, but held her
Il, 81 Il eli -.
Of the company kneeled, some stood, some fled,
some sat still, all looked curious. The fiddler
ran off into the kitchen saying: Lord a marcy,
what de matter? what is dat mean?'
While prayed some wept aloud, and some
cried for mercy. | arose from my knees and
commenced an exhortaiion, after which sang
hymn. The young lady who invited me on the
floor lay prostraie, crying earnestly for mercy.
exhorted again; sang and prayed nearly all
night. About fifteen of that company proessed
religion, and our meeting lasted next day and
night, and as many more were powerfully on
verted. | organized a society, took tbirty-two
into the church, and sent them preacher. My
landlord was appointed leader, which post he
held for many years. This was the commence
ment OF great and glorious revival of religion
IN that region of country, and several of the
young men converted at this preachers dance
became useful ministers of Jesus Christ
| recall this strange scene of my life with as
tonshment TO this day, and do not permit my
self TO reason on it much. In some conditions
Of society should have failed in others should
have been mobbed in Others should have been
considered lunatic. So far as | did per lit my
self to reason on it at the time, my conclusions
were something like these These are people
not gospel taught or hardened. They, at this
early hour, have not drunk to ntoxication, and
they will at least be as much alarmed at me and
my operations, as | can possibly be at theirs. If
fall it is no disgrace; if succeed it will be a
fuflment of duty commanded, to be instant
in season and out of season. Surely, in all hu-
man wisdom, il was out of season bu, / had
from some cause OF other, a strong impression on
my mind from the beginning to the end of this
affair." Gf it is ended } that should succeed by
taking the devil by surprise, as he had often
served me, and thereby be avenged of him for
giving me so much trouble on my way to Gen,
ers Conference and back thus far. - Ca,twrghfs
AuObiograpLu