The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1872-04-17


try, he adopted a plan of recording the re.
suits of his thoughts without stopping to
use note book. Having reflected upon a
subject uatil he had arrived at conclusion
which he desired to preserve, he would pin
a small piece of paper on particular part
of his coat, and charge his mind to asso-
ciate the subject with that piece of paper.
Sometimes he would have a second subject
for reflection, or even third and a fourth
and when he had arrived at certainty upon
either of these. be would pin another paper
to his coat. Coming in from. a long ride he
would be decorated with a considerable
number of these pieces of paper, which, as
soon as he could get to his study. be would
take off one after the other, and write down
the thought of which each was int, nded to
remind him.
u .1l.s system, which cannot i{e recon-.
mended tor general adoption, seemed to an
swer 2 in his case. At least, his preaching
was greatly admired, made a profound i'm
preston, and rendered his church the most
numerous IN the thirteen colonies. His
salary, also,. wss the largest paid to New
England clergyman; aud hls.wife was such
an excellent manager that he was able to
buy from his savings large, comfortable
house, with good piece of ground attached
to it. His wife was his salvation. his guar
dian angel, his providence. 1t was she who
saw't that he had just the food that was best
for his system. 1t was she who managed
all the affairs of the family, both indoors
and out; practicing on the one hand. a lib
eral hospitality; and on the other. most
exact and wise economy. Like all other
just minded persons, she had an extreme
aversion to anything like waste: knowing
| well. by actual experience. the toll and care
involved in producing anything of value.
If she saw her children or servants wasting
anything, she would lift the reproving finger,
and say, in gentle tones, ''that nothing be
lost ~
In those days, when parent entered
room, all their children who were present
lose from their seats, and remained stand
ing until the parent was seated and when
father or mother was talking, every child
was expected to be silent and attentive.
This formality, which accorded well with
the feelings and manners of that age, has
been very properly, as think, laid aside.
But not the less proper was it in Mrs. Ed
wards to exact these outward marks of re-
spect. Her children were noted, the coun
try round, for their cbeerfulness. good tenn
per, and intelligence. Her manners were
exceedingly admired, in an age when man
ners were most assiduously cultiyateds 1t
was easy for her to be polite, since her
heart was overhowing with benevolence.
| The most curious feature of her character
was her religious enthusiasm. This was
something so remarkable that wonder it
has not attracted more attention. Occa-
sionally she had, what we may call, a reli
gious ecstacy, which would last for many
hours, or even days; during which she was
more like disembodied spirit than mortal
clothed with flesh. We find in her diary
such sentences as these:
ST. time -vsre ait2gether inexpIicahie. :. =
Il seemed to be lifted above earth and hell,
out of the reach Of everything here below /;
so that could look on all the rage and en-.
nifty of men or devils with kind of holy
indifference, and an undistnrbed tranquility.
| No possible suffering appeared to
be worth regarding all prosecutions and
torments were q mere nothing. :
There was then drop of snow on the
ground, and l could think of being driven
from my home into the cold and snow. of
being chased from the tosn with the ut
most contempt and malice, as cast out by
Fall the world, with perfect calmness and
serenity. 1t appeared TO me. that it would
not move me, or in tile least disturb the iu-
expressible happiness and peace of my soul.
My mind seemed as much above all such
things, as the sun is above the earth"
| The two earthly blessings, she says else
where. which she most priced and most
dreaded to lose, were her husbands love,
and the good will of the town but in these
exalted moments she felt willing to lose
even these, and could even hear with Joy
that some other clergyman had been more
successful and more admired than her hus-
band. Sometimes, in these hours, she lost
| utterly helpless, although still in an ecstacy
of joy. Her friends would lift her up and
place her upon a bed, and there she would
| lie for long time motionless. speechless,
and, to use her own Language. faint with
| joy" Sometimes she would lie awake most
of the night, or, as she says, between
sleeping and waking. while an inexpressi-r
bly, sweet calmness ofsoul rested upon her. I"
The most touching thing in this part of her
diary is the traces of q woman's heart and
a wife's jealousy in the midst of her reli-
gious fervors. She speaks oft as won-
derful triumph, when. at last, she "felt
willing, if God pleased, that Mr.. Williams.
of Hadley, should be the instrument of con-
verting every soul in the town." The wife
and the saint are cu,iously blended in such
a declaration. Upon one occasion. she says ):
Il was led to ask m, .>elf whether l was
not willing to be kept out T.. Ns.on s~en 0.o5 .o5
longer than the ordinary age OF A" - 1ao ro
my whole heart seemed immediat atelv a..
Piy' ies' thousand years. if it be Go,.
WILL and for bis honor ond glory; > and then
my heart. in the language of RESIGNATION.
went further. and with great alacritv and
sweetness, to answer, as it were over and
over again, Yes, and live Thousand wears
In horror, if it be most 70. the glorv of Cod
yea, am willing to live a thousand Years
an hell upon earth, if it be most for the
honor of God.'sS 80 :, -
In the course of an ecstacy che arrived
at point of sef-abnenation which. with
such an affectionate heart as hers, was he.
yond even this.
Il thought" she says, '.if were cast off
BY my nearest and -deares. friends, and if
me feelings and conduct of my husband,
we're to be changed from tenderness and
lffecfion, to extreme hatred and cruelty.
md that every day. could still 70 ON with
.lacrity in the performance of every act of 1
iuty, and my happiness remain undimin-
shed and entire"
At another time she said /: II thought / |
hould rejoice to follow the negro servants .
# the town to heaven" /,
All this is to US strange and inexplicable. |
t is foreign to the ways and feelings of our i
modern life; and cannot help thinking, for s
ny own part. that such ecstacies are un- 8
ealtby, undesirable. and ininrions q