The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-02-12
FOR The Onion and Journal.

KEW. Mr.. NICHOLS DwxLLiSo-hoUsE
ENTERED, under circumstances leading
strongly to the suspicion Of a secret and
decp-laid scheme Of no ordinary charac-
ter hereabouts. 1t would be commonly
supposed that house-breakers, and the
lightfngered gentry generally, notwith.
standing the folly Of their accustomed
iniscalculations, would have shrewdness
enough not to modest the dwelling Of a
minis,er,-out Of regard at least to the
canon law by which such households are
understood to be protected. Nor can We
think, even now, that without some ex-
traordinary provocation, or reference u
some Interior design, they would invade
the ~storied halls" Of theology, and the
place Of parchments which they would
need no advertisement to assure them
corld b. "of no value to any but the
owners"
In order to put all who may be inter
ested duly upon their guard in future,
will state, Mr.. Editor, in few words, the
lacts OF the case; and how the thing was
done, l DO not fear that in consequence
Ut this explanatory statement the same
expedient will be ever adopted by any
III disposed persons, to the injury oil my
brother ministers, for in truth the break.
en in went out, as might have been sup
posed, no richer in this worlds goods
than when they came, but left, on tn,
contrary, II roll Of valuables, which it Is
not expected they will call for, amount
ing to the goodly sum Of seventy-seveu
dollars am, twenty five &C its!
On Tuesday evening last, the 9th inst
| was visiting by invitation, with my
wife, at the house Of u neighboring par
ishioner, when notice was suddenly
brought us that our presence was needed
a, home of course We took almost Fenci
leave of the kind friends whose compan!
We were exceedingly enjoying, and man,
were the surmises; both fearful ant
hopeful, with which our somewhat pre-
cipitatc retreat was alternately darkenet
and cheered. Our amazement can be bet
ter imagined than described when OF
reaching our dwelling, which we had LET
as we supposed securely locked and bolt
ed, We found it in evident possession o
bodies and spirits-how many, or whom
we knew not (; nor were We in the lcas
degree enlightened as to the fact, until
entering with the promptness with which
without any Boosting OF special courage
any parents and housckeepers would hav
done under similar circumstances, we dis
covered that our whole house--trom din
ing room to parlor-from front to rear
and all the way up stairs, was completed,
in the hands of our - friends. Neve
was house more fairly taken by storm
bv storm without, for the snow was tall
| ing thick and iast--"fairly," rs need b
no farther explained, within. We fell @
coursc,-wc, who should hare bee" tn
host,-to using the only instruments an
powers with which nature had provides
$, for proper treatment ofthe host "dee
that was cncampcd-tor as. We open
ed our eyes in "cross batteries upo
them, which We followed mp with 'o
lcys of we'll aimed verbal missiles an
then we came to hand-to.nand comba
in which, though the victory was not d'
clared, we think the truth was it was o
both sides, for it must needs bc coniesse
that our evil was overcome by the'
good, and yet it is clearly in evidenc
that they retired gradually at last, (onl
however too soon) leaving us in peacef'
possession to sleep-(thst is to try t'
with eyes and thoughts wHking,) upo
the field.
1t was truly, Mr.. 4 litor, in the liters
and best sense Of the word, surp'Tsing;-
it wond be how so many shonld come a
any time wit out our knowing it, and es
pccially on such an inclcment night a
this. As it has all, however, now unfold
cd itself to our minds, and the snrpris
has passed away, We open our hearts L
all our kind friends present on that hap
ply occasion, and others who desired bu
were unable to attend, in gratitude ant
love that will nerer pass o'ray. And w
can only say in addition that so, we hop
and pray, all their misgivings and fears
which may gather along life's changing
paths, may be turned into the morning
brightness and JOY, which unions lik'
these of pastor with his people beautiful
ly and significantly symbolic.
T. G. NICHOLS.
|