Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-11-11
Mise Ell An Y
THE GHOSTLY FATHERS OF RHODE
ISLAND.


An incident related to me when very Young
lr nv grandmother. when she was very old
will illustrate the kind relations which ex
i-t.j among the various religious sects II
r'. aarlv times better than any formal state
meat.
One pleasant afternoon in the month o
September. fine brig. with all her canvas
set to the breeze. was seen gracefully rounding
the southern point Of Goat Island ; at th'
sane time an humble craft was passing tI,
northern point Of the same island. The brig
belonged 10 her father, Stephen Wantor
lwho resided in what is now known as tn,
Socum House, and occupied by John Y
Hammett. ESQ., She was from the Wes'
Indies and was loaded with molassas, Jamai-
ca rum, lemons, lines and other tropical
fruits. The sloop was the Greenwich packet.
having among other passengers, Nathaniel
Greene. the father of General Greene, of rev
dictionary nOtoriety. who was an approved
minister Of the Society Of Friends. he came
for the double purpose OF "A social visit 70 his
friend Stephen WantOn, and to attend the
Friends meeting on the ensuing day. The
arrival Of the brig, and. Of this old and dear
friend, made it a holiday in my great-grand-
fathers family. and they were all prepared
nr good time generally.
The arrival Of Nathaniel Greene was soon
known through the town, and shortly after
,-a tea things were removed, a laundering
knock at the front door announced the arri-
val If visitors, and the two Baptist ministers
fthe town were ushered into the parlor-
Hardly had they taken their seats when the
Jewish Rabbi was announced, and then in
quick succession came others, until at length
every clergyman m town was present. AT
ter the current of conversation had fairly set
tied into a regular flow, another gentleman
maie his appearance, which caused great
tRnkIing in the ewes of each Of the reverend
dvnes-it was DIR. Robert Rodman, the
most celebrated punch maker in the Colony.
There were many great brewers of this drink
10 those davs. and to be at the head of the
fraternity was considered glory enough for
any one man.
The arrival Of DR. Rodman aud of the
fresh rum and lemons from the ship, was. in
'ae united opinion of the Clergy, clear in
lclti0n that the finger of Providence point
cd directly to a bowl of punch
The huge Chime bowl (now in the posses
sion of my mother) and ample materials.
were provided. and the DIR. was never before
9happy as in compoundmg them. There was
not a classical scholar round the table who
could be convinced that Jupiter, OF any OF
the Olympian heroes ever tasted nectar hall
so good as the liquor which was CLOWN. ia
be handsome China bowl before them.
The unity Of spirit which enusued was
not astonishing; like kindred drops, they
melted into one. - Mr. IIonvman Thought
there there was not halt as much virtue in a
sarpice as he had always believed. and Par
,-n CATp became convinced there was not
50 much sin in the government as he bad
been won't to imagine while the Jewish
Rabbi felt a growing conviction that If the
Messiah bad not already come. the noise of
bis chariot wheels was even now heard in
the air (My grandmother's own words
ver', they were as loving as puppies, which
take it comprehends all that can be said on
tie subect)
At length the time for parting came ;
friendly farewells were exchanged, and the
party sallied into the street. The EpiSco-
nlian and the Hebrew interlocked Their
arms with death like tenacity of grasp.
5uced themselves against the side of the
house, and abandoned themselves to wrapt
contemplation of the heavenly bodies. which
were shining so gloriously in the blue vault
above them the others. less devoted TO as
tronomy, betook themselves to the agrcu'
,lral employment of making Virginia fences
rom one side of the street TO the other, with
tle most astonishing vigor. Nathaniel
Greene had been seized with a mild rheu-
matte affection in the knees, which, although
not severe enough to prevent him from g.
lng up stairs alone, vet was bad enough 70
make the assistance of a negro rather con-
venlent than otherwise.
Next morning all the ministers informed
their respective congregations that they
should omit their usual afternoon service
and attend the Friends meeting, recommend
ing them do so likewise The old meeting
house was accordingly filed to repletion at
the appointed hour, and a solemn silence
Io0r settled on the assembled multitude
At length Nathaniel Greene arose stand
ng silently for a moment, his eyes passed
slowly round the gathering, taking in each
individual countenance in his survey then.
raising his voice, tremulous with emotion,
be told them he had delivered his message to
his own brethren in the morning, and now
his concern was for all, especially for the
rising generation Of every name he felt
that the time of his departure must soon
come, perhaps he might never see their faces
more. and the present might be his last lega
cv oflove His text was. BE re temperate
in all things He spoke Of temperance in
the indulgence Of the passions, in the pur-
suit of wealth and of ambition, in eating and
sleeping. and finally, in the use of strong
drinks tellinS them how sinful it was to
abuse 50 great blessing, and that while its
moderate use was to be received with thanks
giving, vet tc abuse it until one could Meth
r stand nor 90 was grievous SIN. disgrace
ial both 10 the gentleman and the Chris
tan
] do not commend the proiuse couviyiah-
9. but the anecdote is interesting as show
ns the freedom of the fathers Of Rhode
Island from sectarian prejudice and bigotry.
NJ wLere else on the face of the broad earth
could such armonious gathering OF men OF
opposite sects be found.
NEw INTERPRETATIONS. Say To the north
give up, and to the south keep not back.
1t, as has been suggested. the first clause Of
ths quotation from scripture refers to fugl-
lives, the last must be allowed to apply to
The bushel Of Browns correspondence of
which Gov. Wise spoke in his late speech,
Why keep back those documents which I'M
llicate numerous parties at the north ?
out with the proof ,-LoroeH Citizen.
When the - underground railroad . mana
gers at Troy come round for a subscription,
a. they do periodically, to an old bunker
qIernocrat' who goes for the fugitive slave law,
Dred Scott decision and everything labelled
.aemoeracy as part of his religion, they get
the following invariable rerly :-''Give
u mcney to help fugitive slace escape? not a
cent lt's illegal, and against the compsom-
Tss ISs ot the constitution . send him back to
virginia send him back and here's v. 10
hatP pay the expenses Of returning him back 10
has mos,ern'