Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-08-05

7 les. that great and tragic events are
nine davs'wonder. The grand desire
of the people is to he amused. and a.
soon a. n new catastrophe occurs. tn,
I events of the preceding dav are for.
/ gotten. Thus the murder of Burns
was for time the general topic Of con.
versation. and then they began to
blame the slow progress OF law The
forester. Frederick Hill. hal been in
Jail weeks and months: it was eviden,
that he had killed Henry Burns WHY
then delay the verdict,
Justice is fearfnlly slow. they said
When a case was clear as daylight.
then a muddlc is made OF il. Justice
seems to enjoy 10 let matter stand
over our Judges. These fellows are
too well paid. and have too little TO
do.
About this time fresh topic OF con
versation. and one that afforded great
amusement. had sprung up to entertain
the towns people. who were now thor
oughly tired Of discussing the sad
event Of Burns death and Hills trial
Some singular inhabitants of the
town had. in spite Of the liberal feel
ing gsnoraliy prevailing in -.,i;r;ons
matters. formed a religious society
which they named Celestine. II num-
bcred about fifty members. and most
of them were people Of high standing
in society: but nobody felt inclined to
L .xkas shA.
were aiming nj.
One fine winter evening this society
and its tendencies was the subject of
discussion between Captain Dorney
and the Young lawyer who once inter
fercd between Hill and Burns on the
evening of the ball. They were com
fortably seated in fashionable coffee
house, and beside them were only a
few others playing cards in remote
corner OF ths room. Dorney had call
ed the members of the society the Re-
penters. and Mr.. Mofiat, the attorney,
asked him why he gave them this
name.
Il wonder YOU don't understand il.
the captain said, with smile, and
vet il is the most correct name you
could find. am glad have nothing
to DO with this horrid set. just let
these pious ones pass review before
Your mind. and YOU will find that my
designation is the only correct one.
Then YOU believe in repentance!
| Mofiat said.
II asked Dorney, looking at his
companion in surprise. you do not un-
derstand me vet. my good sir. only
mean To say. that the society consists
of such people as have reason enough
to repent Of their present or past life
When ones good name becomes tar
nished. when gout and rheumatism be
| gin TO remind man Of old age, ther
| they think it time Of becoming pious
You know the old saying. When the
devil grows old, he turns a monk;
the wolf delights in roaming about il
sleeps skin.
Thus. you mean many a thing tha
shuns the daylight is committed undel
the cloak Of religion the lawyer said
musing.
Now you have got it, Mr.. Mofiat
capital thing it is, this pious society
They meet once or twice a week, sin,
psalm or two, listen to sermon iron
one of their brethren. slander ever,
body in town. and then 60 home again
signing and groaning on the way
enough to scare any child they meet
l have had plenty of opportunities Z
see their humble and lamentable faces
and yet they carry the devil Of prid
in their heart.
You have quite talent for descriI
ton. Moffat said, laughing.
For describing truly at least,
think. Look, for instance. at homes
Mr.. Brough, the dry-goods dealer; b
is the vice-president Of the society
and very pious man; SO much 81
that he uses every spare moment,
particular the time he must necessar
ly spend in walking from his house
the shop. in praying aloud. and ne
er knew a man who could sigh 80 e.
/. ceedingly well-it's . regular grun'
Do YOU know something Of his pa
life! Well, sir, I can tell you some
it. He has failed twice, and the y
! popsH says that he cheated his cred
| tors most awfully. His first wife
starved to death to get nd Of he
that is a fact, Mr.. Mofat! Then
wanted to marry his niece, very pr
ty Young lady, whose guardian ne va
but a. she positively refused his
tentions, he turned her out OF
house, and swindled her Of every 7