Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-06-12


pray for Two long Lours before grea
heap of gunpowder, with lighted can
die splitting and fzzing close to the pow,
der, while that iron faced, Withholding
ugly, red capped brute, with bis horrible
flint and steel, threatened Us all with al
immediate passage into eternity ! Oh
how | wish some tiger or bear had taken
a fancy to him when he lay wounded on
the field of battle but nothing in nature
could stomach such an ugly monster
even a shark would have been disgusteC
at such meal. And our money, for
sooth, must 90 to build Methodist meet
ing house Bah 1t is truly horrible
The fellow has played the old soldier on
us with vengeance, aud we shall be the
laughing stock of the whole country
We washed ourselves, and sat down
to good supper. Good cheer and good
wine gave US better sight than we could
reasonably have expected. Young spir--
its soon recover their elasticity.
" The affair, however, was not yet end
ed. Reports were spread that three men
disguised as black demons, with horns
and tails, had entered the cottage of the
Old Gardener, who had not only terrified
them, but had frightened them out of a
good sum of money, which he intended
to devote to the building of new Meth
odist meeting house. 1t was given out
that on the following Sunday, the Old
Gardener intended to preach a sermon,
and afterwards solicit subscriptions for
the meeting house, when he would relate
the remarkable manner in which lie had
been providentially assisted with funds
for the building. Our modification was
complete. Tom, whose hatred of Meth
Ou4oib WIS ilOot ihtCHoCJ oNOiS uC NOuId
blow up the meeting house as soon as il
was built. Our curiosity, however, was
excited, and we all three determined to
hear our adventure Of the night related
by the Old Gardener, if we could contrive
to be present without being suspected.
"Sunday evening arrived. The meet
ing house was crammed to sufocaion,
and with the dim lights then burning in
the chapel we had no difficulty 10 conceal
ing ourselves. The sermon was short,
but the statement of our adventure was
related most minutely and c;rcumstan-
TALLY in the old mans quaint, homely,
and humorous phraseology. This eve
ming be seemed to excel himself, and was
exultingly humorous. The old fellows
face glowed with satisfaction. "I never
said be, saw black faces pray with great
er apparent devotion. have some doubt,
however, he silly observed, if their
prayers were quite heavenward. They
sometimes turned their faces towards the
door, but lifting of the flint aud steel
kept them quiet
"IIe then added, with knowing shake
Of the head, and an exulting laugh, But
they had not smelt powder like the old
soldier whom they came 10 rob. No, no
ii was a large beap-ay, large enough to
frigLten brave old General Give himself
The candle was lighted, the flint and steel
were ready. You may ask, my friends,
if | myself was not afraid. No, no, my
dear friends shouted he; this large
heap of apparent gun powder was--it
was my stock, my whole years stock OF
leek-seed"
"The whole congregation somewhat
irreverently laughed even the saints al
most shouted; many clapped their hands. !
was for a moment slupefed at the an
nouncement, but at last could hardly sup
press my own laughter
We subscribed to the fund, to avoid
suspicion, and left the meeting. After
the sermon we joined each other, but
could not speak. We could barely /
chuekle, Leek seed and then roarcd /
with laughter.
"It was a good joke, though not ex
actly to our taste. 1t has, however, more
than once served for subsequent amuse
ment.
The chapel was built with the money |
collected by the Gardener. Time and |
now induce me to think |
that there has been no detriment to NOR
ality or religion by the erection of the
meeting house, which the high church
party namel-"Tho Leek-seed Chapel
-.-~-~-.-
SLEEP OvERCoMEs ALL MEN.-Tbe
most violent passion and excitement can
not keep even powerful minds from sleep.
Alexander the Great slept on the field OF
Arbela, and Napoleon upon that Of Aus
terlitz. Even stripes and torture cannot
keep off sleep, as criminals have been
known to give way to it on the rack
Noises, which at first serve to drive it
away, soon become indispensable to its
existence thus a stage coach stopping
to change horses, wakes all the passen-
gers. The proprietor of an iron forge, I
who slept close to the din of hammers,
forges, and blast furnaces, would wake if
there was any interruption to them du-
ring the night, and sick miller, who had