Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-10-11

f 4 Picture on THE 0LDEN TME-I
+ doubt II there Is another town IN Vermont
IN which 80 OF 90 years ago. there was 50
small a fraction OF the inhabitants who d3d
not 90 to meeting on Sunday there was
4 IN Peacham In that day, carriages Of
any kind we're rare. Ia summer, those
who did not come to church on foot rode
on horseback the wife, uuIess she hap
pened TO possess the luxury OF a Sde-sad
die. riding behind her husband, and the
sister behind her brother, while the little
boy or girI was Perehed on the pomme. in
front The gathering of a country congre-
cation on Sunday morning, IN those days,
was a spectacle alike anImaung and PIE
tures4ue men from the outlying hills
truigsny on foot over the dusty highways.
or crossing the green fields TO shorten the
distance, their coats hanging on their arms,
aud their sun burnt faces covered with
perSplration, shy boys and shyer maidens
walking in close pr0X NIFTY, hardly daring
10 speak to each other others coming
from every quarter on horseback, young
colts bv the dozen following their dams,
their responsive whinnyings making music.
less scientific it must be confessed, than
that cf the organ, but sometimes more
pleasant TO the keeuIy sensitive ear than
the nasal discord@ OF the church choir. In
winter the scene was different, but not less
animatiu- Tae snow drifts OF those days
we're hard TO beat, put they were rarely 80
deep that the people did not coutrive to
- through. over or around them ln order
10 ger 70 the meeting house. ana that too.
though il stood on enc OF the b.eakeSt hills
IN the town. and was innocent Of fire, save
that oI which the women brought in their
foot stoves. In such place with the
thermometer at ten degrees below zero,
and the wind making the loose sash rattle
like continuous ire OF musketry, and
driving the snow iu through every crack
and Granny, II required both courage and
.ortitude either TO preach or TO hear
There was, however, one advantage that
should not be overlooked the aching feet
and hands and shjvering bodies of the con
eregat.on were a sure preventive of s'eep
[ nave vision now of the venerable Nor-
ce>rer IN the high old pulpit. the wind
shaking the broad sash a his back and sitt-
ing the snow into a drift on the floor around
him. his hands red and stiff with cold, and
h.s teeth almost chattering and vet he
goes bravcv aud unfinching'y on from
firstly TO tenthiy, the congregation
rot suffering less than himself but listening
with a patience which, it it could have
been utilized to that end would have
served for 50 many martyrs UNDERGOING
the tortures ct the ilquisition II, in such
circumstances. certain locality, more tre-
qqeuyy mentioned in the pulpit then than
now, seemed an almost desirable place on
account OF IFS warmth. why wonder Ga
such days as this, those who lived near the
meeting house opened their doors at noon
time 10 those who came from q distance,
allowing them to warm their shivering
hodIes at blazing wood fires while eating
their luncheon Of uutcakes and cheese.
Some, it must be confessed preferred to 90
to the tavern. where they could warm the
inner and the outer man at the same time
aud tortify themselves for the service by
"a uoouday dram -OFrer Johnson's Peach
an address,