Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-12-01

shrunken with sin, some pure and spot
less as Lucy Wilder's-for Bro. Parker
thought much Of Lucy's soul. Had it
been contained in body less fair, it
had perchance occupied less of his at
tention but he was man, though
good one. and having twice tasted the
sweetness Of married life, he was nat
urally ready to try it again. Only
here he was firm--a minister's wife
must be known to be Of one mind with
himself. She must belong to his
church and no temptation should in
duce him to lay such snare and scan
dal in the path of his people as to mar
ry a woman without any religion. SO
Bro. Parker looked forward eagerly 10
the coming week.
Elkanah Robbins was equally eager.
A strong, brown, handsome fellow.
He had been q wild boy, but of late
had grown so steady and so attentive
to his farm that folks said, "kane
must be thinking Of settlin;" only
where. or with whom, nobody knew.
To Lucy and other girls camp meet
ing was invested with delightful
vagueness. in which merry meals.
rustling tree-boughs, sleeping under
canvas, whispers, laughter, 'good
times" generally mingled. In more
than one young heart another and
more secret element of bliss was con-
sciously or unconsciously recognized
In Lucy's it was-Kane.
The brown. fearless boy and the fair
girl had grown up together as play
mates till that dark day. when, ''for
his badness" the ncighbors said. Kane
was sent away to Uncle Elkanahs, at
Swift water, for year, which year
had heightened into five. 1t was three
strange, yet familiar-and during
those three womanhood had crept una
ware over the little maid who had
shared his baby sports. Playmate no
longer, Lucy was very shy. but in her
secret heart she was proud Of him !,
proud Of the strength that could heave
the heavy timber up which her brother
Nathan avoided. of the skill that could
tame the widest colt. She was sure
he woul! always he good hereafter.
The four days dwelling in grove with
him was delight SO great that it al
most frightened her,
SO the day came. All Monday the
committees were at work arranging the
tents, in the for n of hollow square,
beneath the shelter Of the trees. A
bright little stream curved around two
sides of the encampment. In its cen
tire arose a covered platform, To which
was affixed derrick painted pea
green. whose top supported sharp
toned iron bell. Ranks of rough ben
ches confronted this stand, in the
midst Of which. and directly under the
platform, was . small bcnched enclo-
sure for the use of the anxious" who
were expected to resort thither at the
close of every service 10 listen 10 the
prayers and appeals of the brethren.
Nor was the carnal man forgotten.
Besides the eating saloon, open to all,
each tent bore a long table, duly
spread three times day with amplest
provisions. The name of the place
"Pemigcwasset," "Stowe," '.Lacon
was lettered upon the front, accompa-
MED by some floral device or text Of
Scripture. Upon the Ammonoosuc
tent was the inappropriate recommen-
dation TO Watch and Pray" around
which, by way Of antidote, wreath Of
iiowery hops was garlanded. The
space within was gorgeous in its ap
poin;ments, and boasted, besides u
small bookcase of religious reading. a
round table with red cover, which
supported huge nosegay Of flowers,
and gave the whole tasty effect"
as Mrs. Wilder exultingly remarked to
Mrs Robbins, equalled by none OF the
others-of which effect all Ammonoo-
sue was justly proud. And 50 the
camp-meeting begun fairly.
All day Tuesday people were pour
ing in. Each one-seated wagon
brought three and a baby each two
seated, five and two babies. By night
hundreds were assembled. The moon
was brilliantly full, and the singing
and prayer meeting which inaugurated
the assembly was SO spirited and salts.
factory that Brother Little rubbed his
hands, and remarked to Brother Smith
that he'd been TO forty camps in his
time, but in his opinion this was going
to be the greatest yet.
'.How funny!" whispered Hepsey
Robbins, as they watched the hustle
inside the tent. "See, Lucy, the beds
this side are for us, and that side for
the men folks. Don't il look queer:"
''But who sleeps on the table,"
laughed Lucy, as a row of rustling
mattresses was lifted up.
Don't you know? Why, the elders
and deacons of course. That's 10
keep people in order, and stop any
sky-larking and frolicking among US
young ones. Say, Lucy, which bed
will you have? Here, take this one
next to mine"
Lucy" called her mother, and she
whispered, ''here's your place next to
me. l don't want you down there
with those girls, for you'll talk and
chatter all night and not be fit for a
thing in the morning. Just slip off
your frock there, behind the curtain,
and put on your double dressing
gown, snd I'll fix you.
So, like Christabel, "her gentle
limbs she did undress," so far as gown
and hoop went, and pretty soon in her
neat gray wrapper, she was lying
comfortably tucked up in the bed her
prudent mother had provided with pill
low and quilt. Sweet, musty smells
filed the air from the hay-covered floor.