The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-04-30

But his whole proud, courageous ma
ture rehelled against submitting I,
! marry under compulsions Of Magru
der's threat.
At the evening service Goodwin
had to preach, and he got on but
poorly. He looked i'll vain for Miss
Ann Eliza Meacham. She was not
there to 70 through the audience
and with winning voice persuade
hose who were smiiten with convic-
rion to come TO the mourner's bench
for prayer. She was not there to
pray audibly until every heart should
be shaken. Morton was not the only
person who missed her. So famous
working Christian" could not but
be general favorite; and the peo-
pie were not slow 10 divine the cause
Of her absence. Brother Goodwin
ouud the faces OF his brethren avert
ed, and the grasp of their hands less
ordial. But this only made him
,ulky and stubborn. He had neve,
meant to excite Sister Meacham's ex-
pectations. and he would not be driv-
en- to marry her.
The early Sunday morning of that
Quarterly Meeting saw all the roads
crowded with people. Everybody
was on horseback, and almost every
horse carried sdouble." At half-past
eight o'clock the lovefcast began in
the large schooi-house. No one was
admitted who did not hold ticket,
| md even of those who had tickets
,ome were turned away on account
of their naughty curls, their sinful
0artiticials," or their wicked earrings.
At the moment when the love-feast
began the door was locked. and no
tardv memters gained admission
Plates, with bread cut into half-inch
cubes, were passed round, and after
these glasses of water, from which
each slipped in turn--this mt agre pro-
vision standing ideally for feast
Then the speaking was opened by
some of the older brethren. who were
particularly careful as to dates, an
nouncing, Tor instance, that it would
be Just thirty seven years ago the
twenty first day of next November
since the Lord "spakc peace to my
never-dying soul while was kneel-
ing at the mourner's bench in Logan's
school house ON the banks Of the
South Fork Of the Roanoke River in
Old Virginny." This statement the
brethren had heard for many years,
with proper variation in date as the
time advanced, but now, as in duty
bound, they greeted it again with
pious ejaculation thanksgiving. There
was Il samcness in the pcrorations
Of these little speeches. Most Of
the old men wound up by asking an
interest in the oraycls of the breth-
ren. that their last day, might be
lheir best days,' and that their
sspath might grow brighter and
brighter unto the perfect day" soon
the elder sisters began 4" speak OF
their trials and victories. of their
ups and DOWNS their .'many crook
ed paths,'' and the religion that ''hap-
plies the soul" With their pathet-
ic voices the fire spread, until the
whole meeting was ata white heat
and cries OF '.lial.cluish.' amen"
"Bless the Lord.' ''Glory 10 God"
and SO on, expressed the fervor Of
feeling. OF course, you, sitting out
of the atmosphere OF it and Judging
coldIs laugh at the iudecorous fer
vor. Perhaps it is just rs well to
laugh, but for my part ! cannot. !
know too well how deep and vital
were the emotions out Of which came
these utterances of simple and ear
nest hearts. find it hard to get
over an early prejudice that piety is
Of more consequence than propriety.
Morton was looking in vain for
| Ann Eliza. If she were present he
could hardly tell it. Make the bon
nets of women cover their face and
make them all alike, and set them III
meeiing with faces resting forward
upon the hands. and then dress them
in uniform of homespun cotton,
and there is not much individuality
left. Ii Ann Eliza Meachem were
present she would, according to GUS
tom, speak early; and all that this
love-ieast lacked was one Of her rap'
and eloquent uiterances. So when
the speaking and singing had gone
n for an hour, and the voice OF Sis
ter Meacham was not heard, Morton
sadiv concluded that she must have
remained at home, heart-broken on
accoun, of disappointment at bis neg
iect. In this he was wrong. Just at
that momcn. "A sister arose in the
| further corner of the room and be-
gan to speak in low and piaintive
| voice. 1t was Ann Eliza. But how
| changed.
She proceeded 70 say that she had
passed through many frey trials in her
| life. OF late she had been led
through deep waters Of temptation,
and the floods of ailliction had gone
over her soul. Here some OF the
brethren sighed, and some of the
sisters looked at Brother Goodwin
The devil had tempted her 20 stay at
home. He had tempted her to sit ST.
lent this morning, telling her that her
voice would only discourage others.
But at last she had got the victory
and received strength to bear her
cross. With this, her voice rose and
she spoke in tones of plaintive trl-
umph to tho end Morton was great
" affected, not because her afflictlon
was universally laid at his door, but
because he now began to feel, as he
had not fcl, before, that he had in
deed wrought her great injury. As
she stood there, sorrowful and elo-
quent, he almost loved her. He pit.
led her; and pity lives on the next
floor below love love.
As for Ann Eliza, | would not have
the reader think too meanly OF her.
She had resolved to "catch' Rev.
Morton Goodwin from the moment
she saw him. But one Of the oldest
and most incontestable of the rights
which the highest civila,ion accords
to woman is that of ''bringing down
the chosen man ii she can. Ann
| ..zA l.