The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-22
Artomus Ward on the Shakers.

ever met I'd hearn tel of ZEN aud I'd
seen 'em, with their broard brim'd ats and
long wasted kotes; but I'd never cum into
immediet contack with 'em, and I'd sot them
down us lakn intellcck, as Id never sene
'em to my Show-leastways IL they cum
they was disguised in witc peoples close, 50 |
didn't no 'em
But in the spring of ls-, got swampt
in the eksterior Of New York State. one dark
and stormy mite, when tho winds Blue pity
usly, and was forced to tic up with the
shakers.
was toilin through the mud, when in the
dim visitor of the iutur obsaryed the CLEANS
of taller candle. Tien hornets Nest to
my of hoss's tail to kinder encourage him,
I soon reeched the place. knoct to the
door, which it was opened unto me by tall
slick.iaced, solum lookin indiyidooal, who
turn'd out to be Elder.
Mister Shaker scd l, 700 see before
yoo Babe in the Woods. so to speck, and
he axes shelter of you.
.Yay,' sed the Shaker. and he led tho way
into the House, another bein sent to put my
hosses and Wagon under kiyer.
A solum icenlle, looking somewhat like q
last years been pole stuck into q long meal
bag, cum in and axcd mo was athurst and
did hunger z To which urbanely ansercd,
few She went on and | cndcyered to
open conyersashun with the old man.
Elder, spcct sed |.
'Yay,' he sed.
Helth's good, Ireckcn ?
'Yay.'
WHAT'S the wages of A elder, when he
understands his bizness-or do yer devote
your services gratooitus !?
Yay.'
If the storm contincrs thcrc'll bc mess
under foot hay?
Yay.'
: It's unpleasant when there's mess uE-
dcrfoot p
Yay.'
III | may be so bold. kind sir, what's the
price of tha: pecooler kind oi wcskit you
wear, including trinpins 2
.Yay.'
pawsd mint, and then, thinkin I'd be
fascshus with him and sec how that would
90, | slapt him on the shoulder, and bust
into a harty larf. and told him that as u
yaycr he had no liyin ekal.
lie jumpt up as if Bilin water had been
squirted into his ears, groaned, rolled his
ewes up lords the scalln and sed: You're u
man OF Elm = lie then walkt out of the
room.
Just then the female in tho meal bag
suck her he'd into the room, aud statid that
refreshments awaited the weary traveller,
and scd II il was yittles she ment, the wary
traveller was agreeable, and ! followed her in
to the next room,
sot down to the table, and the female in
the meal bag poured out come tea. She sed
nothin, and for five minits the only live
thing in that room wis u old wooden clock,
which tickt in subdOOd manner in the cor
ner. This dethly stiffness made me oneasy.
and detcrmind to talk to the female or bust.
So ses ], 'marrisc is asin your rules, | be-
licvc. marin ?
.Yay.'
Its kinder singler,' scz /, putting on
nv most sweetest look. and speaking in n
winning yoise, that 10 fair made US tbow
never got hitchcd to sum likely ieller, (N.
B.-Shc was upurds Of 40, and homely Us u
stump face, hat thawt Id tickil hcr)
don't like men, she sed, very short.
wall, | dunno. sez they'r rather
important part Of the populashun. dont
scarcely sea how we could get along without
EN-
Us poor wimin folks would get along n
crate deal better if there was no men.
You'll excoos me marm; bnt ] don
think that air would work. II wouldn't be
reglar.'
sT'm afrade Of men, she sed.
That's unnecessary. marn. You amt in
no danger. Don't fret yourselfon that pint.
Here, we're shot out from the sinful
werld. Here, all is peas. Here, we arc
brothers and sisters. We don't marry, con-
seouently we hcy no domestic difficulties.
Husbands can't abooz their wiyes-wiyes
don't worrit their husbans. There's no
children here 10 worrit us.-Notbin 60 wor-
rit us here. No wicked matrimony here.
Would thow like to be Sbaker?'
NO ser !, it amt my stile.'
! had now histed in as big lode OF per,
ylshuns rs I could carry comfortable, ana
leaning back in my cheer. eonmenst plcken
nv teeth with fork. The icemaie wen,
out. leaving me all alone with the clock.
baden't sot there long before the Elder Pok-
cd his head in the door. You're man
of sim he sed, and groancd and went away.
Dircckly thar come In two young Shaker
esser.. as putty and slick looking gals us
ever met. Ii 10 troo they was drcst IN
u,eel bags like the old one I'd met preyisly
and thar shiny. silken. har was hid from
site by long by long vito caps, sich as Isup-
pose female ghosts wear; but their eyes
sparkled like diminds, their clceks wero like
roses, and they was charming enui to make
a man throw stuns at his grandmother IL they
axed him to. They commenst clearing AWAY
the dishes, castin sly glances at me oil the
time. got excited. I forgot Betsey Jane
in my rapter, and scz my pretty dcars, how
air your