The Lincoln County herald., 1871-10-05

in the crystal preserve dish for boiled
brooch |"
But then, jelly old gentlemen will have
their jokes
The Shaker Service at Mount Lebanon
Upon the bench next to the front,
staring at the wide painted arch Of the
ceiling, at the shiny smooth floor, at the
large long windows, through the blinds
of which the light quivered painfully,
and at the vacant benches along the op
posite walls-there we sat, with an awful
feeling at the heart, wondering what
strange thing would happen. And while
we stared door opened on the left, and
in trooped a company of--what shall We
call item? 1t was as il Gabriel had
blown his horn over just one select little
moss grown grave-yard-aud only the
women had heard aud arisen. Dear
ghosts Of our grandmothsrs - they
fitted before us SO paic, so sweet, SO
daintily arrayed Tor this their resurrec- :
tion morn
Then opened another door, and the
Shaker brethren s,ulked in on tiptoe in
solemn, grotesque procession-O occupying
seats opposite the sisters.
At first u pause, but presently the
worshlpers arise and walk about indif-
ferently-till, in an instant, the moving
mass crystailizcs into definite form /: the
sisters and brothers ranged in rows facing
each other, the sexes separated near the
farther wall by but little space, while the
dividing avenue widcns out toward the
visitors like the letter V. Just to see
that company standing there with folded
hands! Thc sisters viii, their white
caps, spotless white kerchieis crossed
upon immaculate bosoms, folded hand
kerchicis hanging over prim arms, drab
skirts in serene, castiron plaits, and
high heelcd shoes. The tre,hren in
their sombre, brown gray suits, long
coats, large white turn down collars, and
hair cut strai ght across the forehead.
Now q brother at the end of the Wis
vis--an old fellow with Duke Of WolI
ington face-s,eps forward and begins to
speak in subdued hesituring monotone
lie tells what u privilege it is to dwell
thus in unity and peace, with all occa'
sions for strife removed anl as he
warns little with his theme his body
sways backward and forward, and at every
few words he lifts himself on his toes
and comes down upon his heels with a
jerk. After the Duke has been delivered
Of his burden, another and another step
out from the mems side, and utter a few
sing song sentences OF experience or ex-
hortatio how blessed this
oneness Of the tai,hfu!-praying that they
all may be enabled to continue 10 the
angel life. Sitting with closed eyes you
might think, for all the world, that you
we're IN an old fashioned Methodist
prayer meeting, just before it had reached
the hallelujah point.
Again they wander around and again
take sudden shape. This time the whole
company stand in rows with their backs
to the worlds people-all save a single
line stretching along the wall, with their
faces toward their companions and US.
Another pause. a low, eldritch vail q
few slow twanging notes 10 solo; a swift
shrilling chorus and the multitude has
started into motion. Those in the single
line along the wall hold out their hands
palms up, and bcckon, in time with the
singing the same time is kept, both
with hands and feet, by the great compa
ny Of worshippers-two steps forward to
the wall then three quick tramps-right
about face back ward now and then five
or six sharp claps Of the hand, and above
all that wild, exultant melody-"on and
on and ever on, with never pause
between the verses No bass nor alto.
Tho deep voices Of the men, following
the air on the lower octuves, make Il
strange. surging uudertono Shriler
and ,hrilIer rises the chorus the
dancers sway from side to side: you
think you see brighter gli-tcn in their
down cast eyes. and the faces Of .ome
are iit with an inward ecstasy. Others
move with jauoty swing and kick, as
if there were mischiesous twinkle w.
der che mask Of their stoliA featutes.