The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-11-14
Peter Cartwright at a Dance.

Saturday night came, and found mysel
among the hills, knobs, and spurs of the Cum
bcrland Mountains. stopped at decent
: looking tavern, where there was to be tina,
night dance.
quietly took my seat in one corner of the
: house, and the dance commenced. sa,
{ quietly musing, a total stranger and greatly
desired to preach to this people. Finally ]
concluded to spend the next day (Sabbath)
there, and ask the privilege to preach to
them. l had hardly settled this point in my
mind, when beautiful, ruddy young lady
walked very gracefully up to me, dropped Il
handsome courtesy, and pleasantly, with win
ming smiles, invited me out to take dance
with her. can hardly describe my thoughts
or feelings on desperate experiment.
arose as gracefully as l could will not say
with some emotion but with many emotions.
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 polltcncss in the young lady, shown to a
stranger. The colorcd man, who was the
fiddler. began to put his fiddle in the best
order. | then spoke to the fiddler to hold a
moment; and added that for several Years |
had not undertaken any matter of Importance
without first asking the blessing of God upon
it. and desire now to ask the blessing of
God upon this beautiful young lady and the
whole company, that had shown such an act
of politcncss to total stranger.
Here l Srasped the young lady's hand
tightly and said let us all knccl down
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 tight Presently she fell on
her knees. Some of the company kncclcd
some stood, some fled. some sat still all
looked curious. The fiddler ran off into the
kitchen saving: Lord marcy. what de
matter? ? what is dat meano'
While prayed some wcpt aloud, and some
crlcd Tor mercy. ! arose from my knees and
commenced an cxhortation, after which I
sang hymn. The Young lady who invited
me on the floor lay PROSTATE. CRYING earnest
ly for mercy. cxhortcd again sang and
PRAYED nearly all night. About fifteen of
that company prolt>>cd religion, and our
meeting lasted ncNt day and night, and as
many more were powerfully converted.
organized society, took ,hrtytwo into the
church. and sent them preacher. Nv land
'o'" was appointed leader, which post nc
held for many years. This was the COM
mcnccmcnt of 4 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 Jcsus
Christ
recall this strange scene of my life with as
tonlshment to this day, and do not permit
myself to reason on it mnch. In some con-
dltons of society | should have failed: in
others should have been mobbcd in others
should have been considered a lunatic. SO
far did permit myself to reason on it at the
time. my conclusions were something like
thc>c:-lhcse are people not gospel taught
or hardened. They. at this early hour, have
not drunk to intoxication. and they will at
least be rs much alarmed at me and nv opc-
ratlons, as can possibly be at theirs. i'll
fail it is no disgrace if succeed it will be
afulment of duty and command,to be instant
III season and out of season. Surely, in all
human wisdom. it was out of season: but
had from some cause or other, a strong i'm
pres: ion on my mind from the beginning to
the end of this affair, (if it is cndcd) that
should succeed by taking the devil at surprise
as he had often served me- and thereby be
avenged of him for giving me SO much trouble
on my way to General Conference and back
thus far.-Catwriyfs Autobiography.
MENTAL CONCENTRATION.-Thc blindfold
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