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

width of the narrow table and the ell
der's boots separated her from Kane !!
She 5lushed uncomfortably, and drop
ped her eyelids not to open them
again but for long after. fairy lights
and visions seemed to dance before
her. and trouble her repose.
At dawn the camp woke. Small
chance was there for late sleeping
Thin blue smoke began to curl from
early fires. Horses whinned fog their
corn. Impatient hands waited to pack
away the beds, and restore the tent to
daytime order. BY eight O'Clock
breakfast was eaten and dishes washed,
and white-haired Elder Adams took
his place, Bible in hand, at the head of
the long table. to lead in PRAYER.
Lucy sat just within the door. The
stiffness, the beautiful peace Of the
newborn day seemed reflected in her
face One golden beech leaf futtered
down. and lay upon her fair braids.
Kane wasn't given to poetry, but
somehow line came into his head as
he looked:
s.Oh, my Love is like the morning."
He read 1t somewhere. He thought
it was truc-about Lucy
At ten O'Clock the ciGnging bell an
nounced general service. and the
crowd assembled. Truth TO lell, it
was not 4 picturesque crowd. The
American of the rural districts is rare
| " handsome animal. He is lean.
He is brown lie loses his teeth earlv
Hard work and soda soon transform
the lovelincss Of youth into pa.lor and
sharp outline. Saleratus claims its
own. Here and there one sees sweet
young face. or an old one with fine.
strong lines. decp-cut and inscrutable.
like carving in stone but personal
beauty is an exception. Beauty apart
however, we may be proud Of our
multitu,.es. For decorum, tor good
ancc, for civility To strangers, for Il
sense of proprlety which almost ranks
As dignity, it would he hard to find
their parallel in any other country
| AT thi, Ca'ilz camp-mectlng even the
babies caught the spirit Of the occa-
s,ou, and stacked their thumb, content
cd.y thruu5h the service without Il
cry. Thirteen ministers occupied the
platform. With able gcneralship the
lesser lights were first brought forward,
| leaving the greater for the third day.
when the excitement was expected to
/ 1h..
one the wild and beautiful songs OF
the Methodist hymual blended with
the soft ru,tling Of the trees above,
and the morning sped quickly away.
Great cheer was held in all the
| tents ut Eoon, and unlimited quanti-
ties of pie eaten-iit preparation for
the after service. Pie usually pre-
cedes repentance, as pie-eaters know.
In the evening, under the blaze of the
harvest moon, Brother Parker arose
for the first time. \ tall. thin man.
with a sallow, tender face, and emo
tional. His sermon was unusually
fervid. \ certain thrill moved over
the assembly, ami, at its close, a num-
Der of persons passed quietly and
| without excitement into the ANXIOUS
seat, a, candidates for the prayers of
the congregation. Some were parents
who carried thcil children thither :;
some members of the church. wno
felt that their faith had suffered de
cadance. All were welcomed and re-
joiced over by the good brethren, and
mention was made Of the fact that
there was room for others. further ur-
gency being held in reserve for the
next day.
Ii was then, after two long and
"searching" di>coul ses. that Brother
Parker hap fixed to have Lucy sue
cUmb. He came TO her among the throug
aud pleaded earnestly. lie even took
her hand, and sirovc with gentle force,
to draw her to the front. TO his sup
prise, she resisted. The girl had her
own reserve of character, her own
thoughts as to spiritual things. The
small inclosure OF rough boards, within
which it seemed to him 50 important
that she should kneel, was to her no sa-
cred place. God had appeared nearer
oiten-in the woods, on the hills, alone
in her little room. Even the spectacle OF
her friends, Hepsy and Esther, conduct
ed weeping to the ''anXious seat fail
ed to move her. Il cannot it would
not be honest Such was Lucv's creed {;
and her tlower-likc beauty concealed all
underlying strength, even AS beneath
the mountain slopes enameled with but
tercups, spreads the indestructibc
granite.
BY the afternoon of the third day a
widespread excitement had seized upon
the camp. A rugged and reserved peo-
pie like those Of New England are the
most formidable when under the influ-
ence of unexpected emotion. The very
novelty of sensation and expression
astounds them. Strong men sobbed (;
women became hysterical; young girls
rushed forward and fell upon their
knees; the elders went to and fro among
the crowd, eXpostulating, explaining,
entreating. Over all rang at intervals
the voices of the choir, in wild, sweet
snatches. A dark thunder-cloud for a
moment. hid the sun, and one low peal
shook the air. Brother Parker stood
again by Lucy; he held her hand. She
was excited and i'll tears, but she was
firm. just then q stir took place near
them. A young man with bowed head
was hurried past by two Of the elders.
His face was hidden in his hands, but
Lucy could not mistake. A sudden
tide of emotion shook her soul. Ii Kane
yielded-if Kane was going to that place
then she should go too.
Was not her place by HMM time
and eternity? Brother Parker felt the
fingers culver in his grasp, the resist
ance slacken. Another moment he had
led her forward She was kneeling by
Kane's side; and this victory of an
earthly affection, which was to him as u
heavenly one, had power to bring tears
like rain to the good mans cheeks.
Sweetly rang the hymn over them, the