The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-07-16
FOR GOvERNOR,
JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN
OF BRUNSWICK.
Letters of n vagabond.---No. HI.


SUNDAY, July IL, 1868.
To the Editor of the Press:
What widely different thing is Sunday in
the country from Sunday in the town! have
never wondered at the conclusion of the little
country-bred child, who being taken to the
city on a visit, declared on her return tn at
they didn't have Sundays in the city; there
was so much going on that she rather thought
God forgot to make them any! If He does not
forget the day it is quite certain that good
many of His children do
But here in this remote and peaceful region,
is the true Sabbath feeling and aspect. You
wake early from sleep that is sound and re-
freshing; and the deep stiffness everywhere,
the freshness and purity OF the ''incense-breath-
ing morn" speak to you like an invocation to
prayer. The soul takes naturally and sponta
neousy the attitude of devotion; the heart
rises in involuntary aspiration to the bounte-
Gus Creator of all this beauty. The stiffness is
profound. Not only is there no eche of the
noisy world that foams and chafes outside this
quiet haven, but even the ordinary sounds of
rural life are hushed. There is no driving of
teams afeld, nc noise of labor about the barn,
no ring Of whetting scythes, no shouting of
children at play. The men go saunteriug
about the yard and garden in clean white
shirt-sleeves; and within doors the women
folks move softly, making quiet preparations
for the days sacred duties. Then the BELLS
in town their sound, even on Sunday, is not
without some faint echo of the weeks dsso-
nance and clangOr; but here their sweet, far
sounding peal is in harmony with the morn
ing's serenity and repose. Soon, Obedient to
their summons, come forth from the scattered
homes the country folk in their best attire,
moving decorously to the house of worship.
On foot mainly, or in wagons. There are no
smart turn-outs, such as one sees in the larger
towns, or in the villages where fashion makes
her summer resorts The wagons are fitted
with double seats in which the whole family
stow themselves, and drawn by strong -limbed
horses whose level necks and rather un-
calmly motion tell of much week-d day la
Dor with the hOeing machine and the mower
Here are the fathers hard-handed and shrew d.
eyed; the mothers rather bent and faded
with the look of care not quite banished from
their kindly faces, and the children, freckled
and healthy, who having run about barefoOted
bic shoes and stockings. Here are big-should-
cred young fellows whose faces have been
tanning all the season in the fields, not notice
able for grace of department but the kind of
stuff for all that which beat down the hosts
of rebellion and treason; and here are bloom
ing young women with the starch of their
Sunday fin'ry little the worse for close
packing in the wagons, but looking as if they
could make butter, or a bonnet, keep a school
or do the hOnOrs of a husbands home with
dignity and propriety whether he should hap
pen to be farmer, the governor OF Yves
tern state or ambassador to foreign court
And have no donbt they can. They read
the Press, and the Atlantic Monthly, and
there is no position which in ten years time
you may not see them filling with as much
grace as if they had been born to it.
In the country everybody goes to church, so
no matter what your city habit is you join, of
course, "the well-appareled throng." The
prim, white-painted church, standing back OF
little strip of green sward has a long wooden
doorstep in front, and on one side a row OF
sheds for the horses. The numerous windows
have no blinds, so that the light within, re-
painfully strong, and the heat intense. The
good man in the pulpit evidently feels it, for
by the time he is well in the middle of "third-
ly' he pulls off his coat and proceeds with the
sermon in his shirt-sleeves. Nobody seems to
be surprised at this free-and-easy proceeding;
indeed, as most of the men present have made
the same comfortable arrangement for them
selves 1 infer that it is considered the proper
thing to do. The minister puts great energy
into his discourse. He is strong on points OF
doctrine, and he drives his lesson home with
much fo-ce of voice and gesture. Involunta-
rily you recall Burnss description
Hear how he clears the points o. faith
WIZ rattin' and wi thumpin,' &c.
But the heated air and the hard labors OF
the week have an effect upon the congrega-
ton which is in some instances more than a
match for their interest in the preacher. Their
heads droop one after another, their eyes close
and presently the hot room fades out of sight
and mind, and the benediction of slumber, so
much richer in blessing than the formal one
OF the preacher rests upon them.
After the service there is baptism, and the
whole congregation troops forth to witness it.
We follow also to spot by the riverside, where
| the bank shelves down to little strip of sandy
beach. Here the different sctors in the sa.
| cred rite are assembled. The minister and the
| neopbyte, both arrayed in loose robes of black
serge, occupy the centre of the group, while
| around them stand the elders and assistants
prayer is said and a hymn is sung, many
voices joining in the strain. 1t is most i'm
pressive scene. A thunder-cloud is rising in
the west, and the air has that b"eathless, ex-
pectant hush which precedes the shower. Not
| a bird or a leaf stirs in the branches above us
but, now and then, the thunder mingles its sol
emn bass with the sweet hymn that floats uI
| from the water-side. The candidate is young
girl Her face is pale, but calm, and full of q
rapt and tender Joy. 1t is beautiful to see how
calmly she goes down there to be buried under
the musical, ripplng waves.
The ceremony ends with brief beDediction
the crowd begins to separate, and we turr
away. A strange and beautiful thing is faith
I doubt if have ever envied any human being
more than for one moment just now, I envieG
that young girl. say so to the Doctor as W,
walk home, and he answers with quie
smile:
| "'I like church; like cowl;
love prophet of the soui
But not tor all his faith can see
| Would that cowled churchman be-
And in good truth, neither would l.
ZINaARA.
The male dress at Homburg is describes
! os a;tbar +;ob+ and short coat tight trowsers