Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-09
THE TORY PREACHER AND YOUNG
MAJOR;
Or, Church discipline i'm OIdcu Tima.

The high road is travel worn and dusty, and
every shrub and bush by the waySide seems
weary of the heat, and dropping beneath the
weight of dust. NaUght looks cool save the
dark woods in the distance, and the weary pc
destrian longs to turn aside. cross the little
rustic bridge which spans the brook and rest
awhile under those widespread elms which
stand like sentinels at the entrance of the wood
But the cares OF life call him away, and he must
plOd on amid the toll and dust and fever thirst
of this world, until the evening brings its dark
ness and rest.
Not tar from those trees. at the end of 4
green lane, stands Father Morris cottage 1t
is plastered and whitewashed upon the out-
side. The fragrant hop, with its luxurious To-
liage and light green blossoms, has covered the
gable end Of the house, and ambitiOusly climbed
To the very roof. while the little door yard in
front Is filled with flowers and vines. They
look as IT tended by some more tasteful hand
than that of Eather Morris, who has spent a
great part of his life III the camp and battle
field. Ay, there is the little fairy who presides
over the garden. She has just wheeled her
grandfather arm chair under the shade of the
grapery. and is now seating herself on a stool
by his side. How eareleSSly she brushes those
rich brown curlS from her forehead. and how
cOaxingly she looks up into the old gentleman s
face.
Now, grandpa, 1 We done spinning, and put
all things in order; grandma is asleep in the
ing Society; now wont You tell me story Of
old times l'
Father Morris sat leaning upon his large
ivory headed cane his white hair SO lony that
it almost touched his shoulders, and his mild
blue eye full of quiet enjoyment, as he gazed
upon this pet OF his old age-hiS fayOrite
granddaughter He patted her gently on the
head, and was about to comply with her re-
quest, when the sound of the village bell was
heard, and Its slow, mOnOtonOus tones told Of
death. Alice StOpped-the smile passed from
her cOuntenance-and turning her head in the
direction whence the sounds came. she raised
her fore finger toward her grand father. as if To
say, don't speak, and commenced counting
the strokes OF the bell 1t was a long time she
thus stood, while the old gentleman, who was
deaf, sat watching her cOuntenance attentive
ly. Turning towards him a length, she said
''Ninety-eight. 1t must be old Major Stafford.
Grandpa, grandpa she repeated in
louder tone, "It must be the Major, for there
is no one else in town so old
But the old gentleman had fallen into a rev.
erie. From the length Of time which the bell
tOlled he knew for whom it rung those sad
notes, and MS heart was now busy with the
past. Memories Of other days, Of days when
the blood circulated swiftly through his youth
ful limbs, and he could boast of health. strength
and vigOr-scenes Of strife and tumult battle
fields and council chambers, Of tyranny resist
ed, and independence achieved. AL these
were connected with thoughts Of his friend
who had just passed from earth. What a de-
positOry of relies must old man heart be .
Not buried POmpeii or Herculaneum present
more subjects Of thought than one human heart.
could we look beneath the lava, rubbish and
dust with which years and intercourse with
the world have covered it. The crust is often
deep and hard to be penetrated, but now and
then an opening Is made, and We have a glance
at the depths beneath. IL was thus now Wi tn
18th apl sbax Ill L.,
there, and looked at the shattered hopes
which, like beautiful ruins, were scattered
over that life, and at the stranded wrecks
upon the shore, would have exclaimed anew &:
- All is vanity and vexatiOn of spirit" But
poor Alice thought only of losing her story.
Seeing the mood of her grandfather, she sat
down by his side, and leaned her head upon
his knee. The trembling hand was by the
power of habit involuntarily laid upon it; but
the touch recalled bis wandering thoughts and
he said:
- 1 must follow soon, Ally. My old compan-
iOns-in-arInS are almost all dead. Ny armor
Is worn and rusty. and / must soon lay il aside
bat will not disturb your young heart with
sad thoughts. Go bring my pipe, and | will
tell q story of old times, but il shall be about
this same Major Saff0rd-I can think of no one
else this afternoon
I'd rather hear about something else -
thought Alice, but size never thwarted her
grandfather wishes
30 lighting his pipe from the embers Of the
kitchen FIRE, she returned with her knitting
work, and resumed her seat
- 1Ou see, Ally. said the old man. after
taking few whifs from his pipe, and knock
ing the ashes therefrom, holding it i'll Lis hand
moment and glancing at his snug little cot
tage aud garden, which rustled amid the shrub
berry like birds nest in the green leaves Of a
tree, You see, Ally, matters were not always
aS pleasant and peaceful as now. Ia the earl Y
settlement Of Vermont, there were stirring
times amid these green hills. and ii was not
without many bloody fray and fierce battle
that We settled down quietly under our own
vine and hg tree, as the minister says in his
prayer
You had to fight the Indians, suppose, -
said Ally.
= Ten times worse than that, dear child we
had TO tight the York tories. L cannot explain
II all to you, for IL is "A long story. and would
puzzle Your little head but to make ii short.
We see, the folks over the Hudson thought they
had u claim to the lands this side, and they
sent out To England and obtained, rs they said
royal authority 10 the claim. Then they sent
officers here with parchment rolls. and papers
they called deeds, and threatened to turn US
out Ot our homes. and from the lands we mad
with 30 much labor cleared.
" Well, The Green Mountain boys with Ethan
Allen at their head, determined to resist and
you know, tUr you have often heard me tell,
how they fought.
= But speaking Vi those times reminds me OF
what 1 meant to tell You when / begun, that
IS sort OF love story, in which the Major and
myself were interested -
At these words, Alice dropped her knitting
work, though il not in the seam needle.
and looked up with much interest In which
you were Interested did you say. grandpa ~
." les, child, when | was young and foolish.
and easily taken with pretty face; and the
love part would not be worth repeating now
only as connected with the courage of the Ma
jor
oh, tell the whole, grandpa don't like
halt stories.
- Well well dom interrupt me and will
proceed l said the coHra0e 0f the old major
Ii requires some courage to enter "A battle field
and stand there a mark 10 be shot AT by the
enemy. and feel that your body may be food
for earri"n; but to defy the minister in his pull
Pat, WITH all his church 10 back him, requires
more still
thought IL was love story. grandpa
- Have patience, child and In come To the