Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-07-21

the proprietor called out -
Hartford go up stairs and get my
baby"
Hartford turned out to be one of
the girls, who Immediately disappear
ed, and soon returned bearing in her
arms an undressed, sleepy child, wrap
ped in a shawl, This was the iuve-
nile prodigy. His father took him
up in his arms, with a glow of pride
and affection upon his face, and said !:
"Now gentlemen, you are writer's,
philosophers and preachers; but I'll
show you that my baby knows as
much as any of you. He's hell on
reading, writing, praying and fighting"
And without more ado, he stood
the sleepy little fellow upon the floor
and began to catechise him in ancient
history, both sacred and profape, and
then in modern history, geography,
the political history of the United
States, etc., with a result that astound-
ed US all. Suddenly he exclaimed,
"Chester give US a song"
And Chester, for that is the child's
name, gave US song.
"Now Chester. give US break
down" The orchestra played break
down, and Chester danced it with
precision and yigor, and his mother
looked on with delight.
"Now Chester give US a prayer"
And the child recited first the Lords
prayer, and then others in succession,
mixed with which were such ribaIdry
and profanity on the fathers part as
cut US to the heart. And here it was
that we got a glimpse of the pre-emi-
nent wickednesS of the man-wicked-
ness to him unknown, and all the
worse because of his unconsciousness
OF it; wickedness which is leading
him to train up that idoIized boy in
way and in an atmosphere which will
yet make him an object of loathing
even to his own heart.
For that dance house child there
seems to be no spiritual hope. The
sacred and the prolane are so inter
mingled in his childish understanding,
that he will never be able to tell which
is sacred and which profane; and his
nature being dogged and combative,
be will grow up in the highest possible
type Of wickedness, if be grows up at
all. Ofthe thousand of painful cases
wherewith We have met in this city,
that OF little Chester Allen gives US
about the keenesL pang.
After the infant phenomenon had
been sent back to bed, his father ask
ed our party if we wouldn't "mix IN
and have a dance with the girls.
"Itil do YOU good" said he, "to trip
it little on the light fantastic. Be
sides like TO 90 the fair thing bl
distinguished visitors. I'm fond of
literary people and especially of cler
gymen. Eve three brothers myself
: who adorn the sacred calling; anC
the grit and grace runs thro' our fam
Ky, like the Tigris and the Jordan
: through the Holy Land. Go in, gen
tlemen, the girls shan't hurt you. II
watch over you like d hen over hel
: chickens, and you shall leave my prem
i8es as virtuous as-you came in Ha
ha! Come what shall it be?
On being assured that we would
not "trip it on the light fantastic, he
asked us if we (that is, our party
would not favor the girls with the
song, whereupon Mr. Arnold suggest
ed that we should all sing together
and asked the girls what they would
= like best. Several of them responded
= in favor of There is Rest for the
Weary"
"Do you know that" one of the
cIergymen asked.
"Yes," answered at least half a
= dozen Of the girls.
"Where did YOU learn it" asked
another of the clergymen
"At Sabbath School," was the reply.
We looked at one another. Here
was arevelation. These girls had been
brought up to attend Sabbath Schools
Perhaps they were the daughters of
: christian parents! But we had not
time to pursue this painful speculation
for the girls began to sing;
''In the Christians home in glory
There is a land of rest;
And my Savior's gone before me,
To fulfill my sours request.
CHoRUs-There is rest for the weary,
? There is rest foryou.
On the other side of Jordan,
In the sweet fields of Eden,
- -sl.4 r.. - blse.-.;--s,
There is rest for YOU
=, And oh, with what fervor and pa
thoS they sang-especially the chorus
: which at the end of each verse they
sang three times over, some of then
, at last, weeping as they sang. What
girlish memories those sweet, simple
strains evoked Memories, perhaps
| of once happy homes and affectionate
Sabbath School teachers and beloved
companions, SO sweetly contrasting
with the dance house condition. And
SO those soul weary creatures linger.
| ing fondly upon, and repeated over
and over again, the lines:
''On the other side of Jordan,
In the sweet fields of Eden,
Where the Tree of Life is blooming,
There is rest for you."
Since that occasion we have repeat
| edly visited the abode of the wicked
: est man in New York, for the purpose
of studying him up, and trying to
. hit upon some means of inducing him
: to abandon his course of life, and of