The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-05-19
The silent Dencon's Opinion.

The silent nPHCOn7s OpiulOu.
When next Summer comes, with its
heat and dust and languor, and the tired
spirit. iainting by the way, cries out for
the wings Of dove, 20 up to W,
among the hills made sacred to nature,
where the hurry and anxiety Of commerce
are unknown. and the silent Sundays are
never broken by the whizzing of machin.
cry, or dcGled by its smoke and steam.
If you have toied hard enough to deserve
rest, you will find it in W; if not,
ynu will seek it anywhere in vain.
1t is the most pleasant place in the
world and were it not for the farmer
turning his furrows, or casting in seed
you might imagine yourself where Sun
days never end
Entering the neat, capacious church,
fa,herly and motherly faces meet your
eye at every hand, and you will soon for.
get that you are stranger.
Yonder, in the square pew, sits Dea'
con Lee; you would know he was a
deacon if he had not told you. Some
men were born deacons-what pity that
some should enter the holy otficc who arc
not Deacon lee was not native OF
W, bat went there to till farm left
him by an aged relative some twenty
years ag0-about the time Deacon Bell
d'ed. leaving a sad void in the church
and the parsonage he was a pillar il
Zion and strong arm to his pastor
After seeking long to fill his place, the
minds of the church settled on the new.
conner, who, by his solemni;y, picty and
zeal seemed created for the place. lie
Was n,an nf few wnrds, rarely over
talking, 50 that the boys called him at
first "a gium cid man But they soon
changed their opinion for he set apart
a tree OF summer-swoetings and one OF
bell.peurs ior their express benefit, as
they went to and from school, and sur.
prised them by a fine swing, which he
hung for them in his walnut grove So
the verdict of that and OF each succeed
ing generation Of boys was, that although
the deacon rever talked, he was kind
and genial man. and lover OF children
Every boy for twenty years back, has
been his Shepherd, his Waterman, or his
assistant farmer feeling it Il high honor
to hitch his horse en- Sunday, or to drive
his manure.cart on Monday and all be-
cause they saw, through the thick vel o.
reserve, that love burned and glowed il
bis heart.
Deocon Lee, minister trusted in hin
and the church felt her temporal affairs
safe in his hands, aad the world houorcC
his stern consistency.
There vas 4 serpent in Eden, and q
Judas in that thrice. e.blcsscd land whC
walked and talked with our Redcemer oil
earth, and who saw His glory mingled
with His humility why, then, need We
wouder that one man, subtle and treacher
Gus, hid himself in the calm verdure o
W, crawling out only to deceiv,
Gods people with kiss, till ready t,
spring upon them with his poisoned fangs
Upright, faithful, and earnest as were tn
people, they were not proof against fat
terry and deception There came anon!
them one quite unused to their unosten
tatious way Of serving God, and ambitious
as he said, OF seeing them make som
stir in the world We know from God
Word that 'one sinner destroyeth muci
good and yet we are often annoyed a
the wide results Of one mans evil work il
the church, One may SOW tares which
hundred cannot pluck out ; and there
fore it becomes Gods children to stay il
his FIRST efforts.
lie who aimed at the life OF the gospe
church in W--was dead, while he ha
n name to live He scorned many Of tn
humble ones whose crown is waiting thet
on high. lie hated the humbling doc
trincs Of the Cross aud desired to SC
man gloriied and exalted he rebelle
against the iron bars which he chose t
call the bonds of love which separat
Gods chosen and obedlont ones from th
world that ieih in wickedness. He j,
clared that the Millennium could neye
dawn till all Christians were as one-b
which he means that for the sake c
union, right must yield to wrong--as
be were OF the number who loved an
longed for the appearing of Christ II
began steathily to SOW his seeds anon
the younger and weaker Of tho flock, an
when he saw the FIRST token Of their tai
ing root he grew bold, and began to cas-
them in on the strong, high hills. 81
here he found resistance the soil whiC
had borne such rich harvests Of grace r
PEELED his seed from its bosom and |
came TO the mad resolve to assail the de-
con, aud try how he would receive it.
he, with his piety, zeal, and inhuen'
opened his bosom to 1.-THE end was eas
attained. The minister was not worth
Of consideration in the atter--ministe
arc so readily put out of the way if thu
do not yield to ungodliness. If he prove
dead sentinel he would not molcst hin
il alive and jealous Of bis Masters homo
one bullet would settle him forever.
In pursuance of his liberal views al
his deep-laid plan, our valiant reform
rode up and fastened his horse before 4
uupretendiug dwelling Of Deacon 1t
Ushered into the neat keeping.room'
await his coming from the harvest !ie
his restless spirit was almost awed by t
silence which reigned there. The t
clock in the corner, with its ever-saili