The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1865-09-29
ARTEMAs WARD.
HIS VISIT TO THE SHAKERS.


The Shakers Is the strangest religious sex I
ever met. I'd hearn tell of 'em, and I'd
seen 'em, their broad brimd hats and long
waistid coats; but I'd never cum into immejit
cantack with 'em, hnd I'd sot 'em down as
lackin intelleck, as I'd never seen 'em to my
Show-leastways,i If they cum they was disgised
in white peoples close, 80 didn't know 'em.
But in the Spring of 18-, Igot swampt in
the interior OF New York State, one dark and
and was forced to tie up with the Shakers.
was toiling through the mud, when In the
dim vister of the futer I observed the gleam
of Q taller candle. Tein hornet'snest to nv
OF hosss tail to kinder encourage him, soon
reached the place. knockt at the door,
which it was opened unto me by q tall sickly.
faced solum lookin individooal, who turned
out to be Elder. .''. 10 - ...-
Mr.. Shaker" !" sed I, you see before you
Babe in the Woods, so to speak, and he axes
"Yay, sed the Shaker, and he led the way
into the house, another Shaker being sent to
put my hosses and waggin under kiver.
last years bean pole stuck into long meal
bag, cum in and axed me was athurst and
did / hunger to which I urbanely answered
!" few" She went out, and endeavored to
open conyersashun with the old man. 2 y
Elder, I spect 2" said l. ,sr, n. .a,--.1 II
Lay, uc btO. r
"Helth's good, Ireckon?" 80, -,
>" What's the wages of Elder when he un.
derstans his bizness; or do you devote your
EHss. '.!1sss ggF"'oiH'us''' 1Hs' p - .~ @
Stormy night, SIR ..,E..5 .. .@,"
"f the storm continuers there1l be mess
underfoot, hay" I'D"
"Yay" g.. ..-. g..
"!ts unpleasant when there's mess under
"Yay."
"If may be 80 bold, kind sir, what's the
price Of that pecooler kind of weskit you wear,
ncloodin trimmins ?" ga '~., s.s q,
Ipawsed mint, and then, thinkin I'd be
faseshus with him and see how that would 60,
Islapt him on the shoulder, bust into hearty
larf, and told him that as yayer he had no liv-
In ekal. a.f a-F 80 ..-.1 Ga9 r.
He jumpt up as if Bilin water had bin squirt
ed into his ears, groaned, rolled his eyes up
sin J" He then walkt out of the room.
Jest then the female in the meal bag stuck
her he'd into the room and statid that refresh
ments awaited the weary traveller, and I sed If
1t was the vittles she ment the weary traveller
was agreeable, and I follered her into the next
room. E.p:"
/ sot down to the table and the female in
the meal bag pored out some tea. She sed no
thin, and for five ninits the only live thing in
thai room was old wooden clock, which tickt
in subdued and bashful manner in the corner.
This deathly stiffness made me oneasy, and
determed to talk to the female or bust. So
sez /, =" Marriage is agin your rule, bleeve,
marm" ..--r- r. -. E.a $50 &, :.
"Yay."f .... ...... ...r .-sE..t
"Yay." - ''--I.-F -. r
It's kinder singler," sez l, putin on my
most sweetest look and speakin in q winnin
voice, that so fair made as thou never got
hitched 10 some likely feller.' IN. B.-She
was upwards Of forty and homely rs q stump
fence, but thawt I'd tickl her. st etE
. - don't like men!" she sed, very short.
"Wall, dunno" sez ], they're rayther
important part of the populashan. don't
scacely see how we could get along without
'em. .|.'t
"Us poor wimin folks would get along a
CRATE deal better if there were no men,"
"YouT excuse me marm, but I don't think
that air would work. It wouldn't be regular.
''Im afraid of men I" she sed. Ia
"Thats unnecessary marin. You amt in no
danger. Don't fret yourself on that pint" :,
Here we're shot out from the sinful world
Here all Is peas. Here we are brothers and
sisters. We don't marry and consekently we
have no domestic; difficulties. Husbans don't
abuse their wives-wivese don't worTit their
husbans. There's no children to worrit us.
Nothing to worTit rs here. No wicked matri-
mony here. Would thow like to be Shaker? 2"
Mo- sez I, ''it amt my stile."
g! had now histed in as big load of per-
vishuns as could carry comfortable, and lean
ing pack In my cheer, commenst pickin my
teeth with fork. The female went out leav-
In me all alone with the clock. / hadn't cot
thar long before the Elder poked his he'd in at
the door. You're man Of sin !'n he sed, and
gr0aned and went away.
Direkly thar cum In two young Shakers, as
putty and slick lookin gals as ever met. Il
Is troo they were drest In meal bags like the
old one ia met prsvisly, and their shiny, silky
hair was hid from sight by long white caps,
sich as Isuppoee female Josts wear but their
eyes sparkled like diminds, their cheeks was
like roses, and they was charmin enough to
make . man throw stones at his grandmother,
if they axed him to. s-st .-g7-- -
They commenst clearin away the dishes.
castin civ glancee at me all the time. I got ~.
cited. forgot Betsy Jane in my raptur, and
see my pretty deans, how air you3" 80
"We air well" they solemnly sed.
"Whar's the old man?" sed I, in soft