Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-01-20

uictS II rarely handsome animal. lie is
lean. He is brown. Ho loses his teeth
early. Hard work and soda soon trans
form the loveliness of youth into pallor
Fend sharp outline. Saleratus claims its
own. Here and there one sees sweet
young face, or an old one with fine, strong
lines, deep cut and inscrutable, like a cary
ing in stone +; but personal beauty is the
exception. Beauty apart, we may be
proud Of our multitudes. For decorum,
Tor good bumor, for general neatness Of
appearance, for civility TO strangers, for a
sense of propriety which almost ranks as
dignity, II would be hard to find their par
allel in any other country. At this Cadiz
camp-meeting even the babies caught the
Esprit of the occasion, and sucked their
thumbs contentedly throughout the ser
vice without cry. Thirteen minister s oc-
cupied the platform. With able general
ship the lesser lights were firstbrought for
ward, leaving the greatest for the third day,
when the excitement was expected to cul-
n,inate. The sermon was quiet one the
= A avJt beautiful songs Of the Methodist
IsNunal, blended with the soft rustling Of
the trees above, end the morning sped
, quickly away.
Great cheer was held in all the tents at
noon, and unlimited quantities of pie eat
en-6t preparation for the after services.
Pie usually precedes repentance, as pie
eaters know. In the evening, under the
/ blaze of the harvest moon, Brother Parker
arose FOR the first time. A tall, thin man,
with sallow, tender face, and emotional.
a certain thrill moved over the assembly,
and, at its close, a number of persons pass
ed quietly and without excitement into the
"anxious seat" as candidates for the pray
ers of the congregation. Some were pa
rents who carried their children thither !;
some members of the church who felt that
their faith had suffered decadence. All
/ were welcomed and rejoiced over by the
/ good brethren, and mention was made of
the fact that still there was room for others,
further urgency being held in reserve for
the next day.
| 1t was then, after two long and 'search-
ing discourses, that Brother Parker had
fixed" to have Lucy succumb. He came
to her among the throng, and pleaded earn
estly. He even took her hand, and strove,
with gentle force TO draw her to the 'front.'
To his surprise she resisted. The girl had
her own reserve of character, her own
thoughts as to spiritual things. The small
enclosure Of rough boards, within which it
seemed so important to him that she should
kneel, was to her no sacred place. God
had appeared nearer often-in the woods,
on the hills, alone in her little room. Even
the spectacle of her friends, Hepsy and
Esther, conducted weeping, to the "anx-
ious seat" failed to move her. "I can not !;
it would not be honest" Such was Lucy's
creed and her flower-like beauty conceal
ed an underlying strength, even as beneath
the mountain slopes enameled with butter
cups spreads the indestructible granite.
By the afternoon of the third day wide
spread excitement had seized upon the
camp. rugged and reserved people like
J those Of New England are the most form
ei'ixSlc wlfuh underfbe infueiice. of unex-
pected emotion. The very novelty of sens
alton and expression astounds them.
I Strong men sobbed; women became hys-
terical; young girls rushed forward and
4 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 ex-
cited and in tears, but she was firm. Just
then a stir took place near them. A young
man with bowed head was hurried past by
two 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
pllce-then she should go too.
Was not her place by HMM time and
eternity? Brother Parker felt the fingers
quiver in his grasp, the resistance sacken.
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 heavenly one, bad power to
bring tears like rain to the good mans
cheeks. Sweetly rang the hymn ovei
them, the cloud floated past, the clear sun
shine streamed in and bathed the place
and Heaven seemed to smile upon the
scene.
To our young lovers-who shall say TIC
some hearts God has revealed himself in
this manner. We may not dare to aues
ton. But with their deeper thought.
mingled the strange sweetness of beine
side by side-the earthly blending with tn,
unearthly, as it will do while we are thing,
of earth.
"Don't let her converse with any one
Sister Wilder" said Brother Parker, as h,
restored the agitated Lucy to her friends
keep her aloof this evening. Let no vail
conversation or gossip arise to disturb tn,
impression on her mind. Tomorrow will
talk with her further"
Oh, Brother Parker, had you noticed tn,
t-saud- clasp, warmer and more lingering
than became those who met merely upon
spiritual platform, exchanged betweeI
your young converts? did you hope I,
make matters quite safe for the importan
conversation of the morrow Oh, Brothe
Parker, who shall guess or compute tn
moral blindness which Cupid can thro,
over even a good mans soul2
So Mrs. Wilder kept Lucy "aloof
Poor Kane, lowering about the famil
group for the chance of a word, found on
ly downcast lashes on the part of his lido
and discouraging looks from the rest. Fa
ther, mother, brother Nathan, slster-in- la,
Ellen, and faithful Draxy, all were determ
ined there should be no ''phlanderin" tina
night at least SO the fame in Kane's sou
thus repressed, burned more holly tina
ever; and at "Mirk midnight he was sti
lying unable to sleep, and longing for tn
dawn, his eyes fixed on the fair head not
yard from him.
A slight movement showed him that Ii
cy too slept not. In moment prudenc
and proprlety alike forgotten, he had gen
ly pushed his pillow some inches nearer.
"Lucyw
"Such a tiny whisperi Smothered b