National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-11-01
David and Molly Crossman.


town, during the famous second ad
vent excitement of 1923, lived Da-
vid and Molly CrOssman, a simple
hearted old couple, with their little
grandson 'Jakey.'
They were far from church, and
rarely went to service even in fine
weather, as they had no horse. In
the winter the blocked roads and
bitter winds, joined to the unusual
severity of DaviTs rheumatism, kept
1 them confined pretty closely to the
house.
| David and Molly were both very
religious, and consequently of the
sort to mourn deeply any religious
privation. Their inability to go tC
meeting on the Sabbath only added
to the fervor OF their household de
votion. They had, much to theil
qualification, enjoyed this season, q
partial substitute for church-wOr.
ship, in the evening meetings which
had been held at various times in
private dwellings near them, and
once or twice in their own.
These meetings were led by preach
ers and exhorters of various demon
nations, all of them thoroughly i'm.
bued with the doctrines of Miller
iSm,' and in most instances far out
doing Mr. Miller in their sensational
style and extravaganza of statement.
Theimmediatc effect was startling.
the near coming Of the Lord Jesus.
fortified by prophecy and described
in the gorgeous rhetoric Of the Rev
elatiOns, was received by the honest,
Biblc-loving population with silent,
undisputing awe, and in many eases
with implicit faith.
Among these last were David and
Molly CrOssman. All the hunger
ings and thirstnigs of their simple,
dcvout 81 irits seemed to be met in
this new Gospel of the coming of the
Lord. Now more than ever their
conversation was in heaven and
they mingled their daily meet and
drink with rcvcrent mention of the
great day
One burden sounded through all
they talked, or sung, or prayed, and
trembled in every greeting to those
who crossed their threshold: THE
world will end on the 11th of April.
Prepare to meet thy God.
This strange excitement, begin
ming in the fall, continued all win
ter, till nearly the whole parish, like
many Others at the time, came un-
der the half spiritual, halfsentimen-
tai spell, and fell into an agony of
expectancy that deepened $50 much
the more as they saw the day ap-
! proaching.'
David and his wife, who were new
er distinguished for being extensive
~ 'forehanded,' i'll their earthly af-
fairs, now easily adopted the fanat-
acism of casting themselves on Prov
idence,' and in their glowing hope
of speedy inheritance for their
souls, began sadly to neglect their
bodies.
Their growing inattention to the
comforts and interests of this life
could not but be noticed by lit
tie Jakcy, who. though bound OF
course to believe all his grandpa and
grandma told him about the second
coming. retained Yet lively sensi-
billity to good living and rousing
fires.
About the middle of February
came on the coolest snap of the
whole winter,and poor David'S wood
small log. What was to be done &?
1t was in vain that the family tried
to make Il single billet send ont the
heat of u stout armful. In vain
they strovc to exc out their dimin-
ishing supply with chips In vain
Molly set the table nearer, and eve.
ry day little nearer the fireplace.
In vain she thrust her chair into
the chimney corner. In vain 'bed
time was moved up an hour earlier
and rising time down an hour later
into the day. In vain Jakey was
dispatched TO neighbor A., and to
ncighbor g., and then to neighbor
f., and then to neighbor F., and
finally to neighhor W. The snow
was too deep, and the cold too SC
we're, and David's wood.lot was too
Difficult. to be got at nobody could
do any thing then with team or OK.
Jakcy troze his ears in his cXer.
, tons to improve matters, and then
7 gave it up. Day after day went by
and still the cold did not materially
abate. 1t crept into the house hk,
!. "A strong man armed, and left its ic,
, tracks upon the cellar stairs ant
e window .sills, and stood on the nail
heads in the floor and wainscot.--
The 'irosts of age began to have
II more truth than poetry to the ole
G couple. How ardcntly they wiShc'
l. for spring and the glorious llth q
G April.
At last, driven TO stir himself i
spite of his rheumatism, David too
y his axe and hobblcd to his orchard
= and after tremendous labor aad
: good many resting spells, manage
|, to cut down an applctrcc.
What did it mattcr' The Lor
was coming, and they would nev'
10 have any use for applctrccs.
10 The new addition of fuel va
W brought in, handful by handful, {
as the old man at intervals carved
toilsomcly out h e body II
boughs of the fallen strcakcdswec
| ~ Al "A