Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-10-27


portunity, during which the doors of
heaven should stand open for whomso-
ever knocked thereat. In his thoughts
he saw them enter, souls stained and
shrunken with sin, souls pure and spot
less as Lucy Wilder's for Brother Park
er thought much of Lucy's soul. Had
it been contained in body less fair, it
had, perchance, occupied less Of his at
tention; but he was a man, though
good one, and having twice tasted the
sweetness of married life, was naturally
ready to try it again. Only-here he
was frm-a minister's wife must be
known to be of one mind with himself
She must belong to his church and no
temptation should induce him to lay
such snare and scandal in the path Of
his people, as to marry woman with
out religion. So Brother Parker looked
forward eagerly to the coming week.
Elkanah Robbins was equally eager.
A strong, brown, handsome fellow. He
had been a wild boy, but of late had
grown so steady and so attentive to his
farm that folks said Kane must be
thinking of settlin';; :" only where, or
with whom, nobody knew.
To Lucy and the other girls camp
meeting was invested with delightful
vagueness, in which merry meals, rust
ling tree-boughs, sleeping under canvas,
whispers, laughter, good times gener.
ally, mingled In more than one young
heart another and more secret element
of bliss was consciously or unconsciously
recognized. In Lucy's it was-Kane.
The brown, fearless boy and the fair
girl had grown up together as playmate'
till that dark day when, for his bad
ness" the neighbors said, Kane was sent
away to Uncle Elkanahs, for year
which year had heightened into FIVE Il
was now three years since he came back
tall, bronzed, strange, yet familiar; and
during those three years womanhood
had crept unaware over the little maiC
who had shared his baby sports. Play
mate no longer, Lucy was very shy but
in her secret heart she was proud of him
proud of the strength which could heavt
the heavy timber up, which her brother
Nathan avoided, of the skill that coulc
tame the widest colt. She was sure hC
would be good hereafter. The foul
days dwelling in a grove with him was
delight so great that it almost fright
ened her.
So the day came. All Monday the
committees were at work arranging the
tents, in the form of hollow square
beneath the shelter of the trees.
bright little stream curved around twr
sides of the eneampment. In its centr,
arose a covered platform, to which wa
affixed derrick painted pea-green
whose top supported sharp-toned iror
bell. Ranks of rough benches confront
ed this stand, in the midst of which, anC
directly under the platform, was small
benched inclosure for the use of the
anxious" who were expected to resor
thither at the close of every service tt
listen to the prayers and appeals of the
brethren. Nor was the carnal man for
gotten. Besides the eating saloon, oper
to all, each tent bore long table duly
spread three times day with amples
provision. These tents represented eacl
village, and sheltered by night and by
day whole neighborhood. The name
of theplace-" Pemigwasset," Stove,
Lacon was lettered upon the front
accompanied by some floral device ol
text Of Scripture. Upon the Ammo
noosue tent was the inappropriate recon
H1endation to Watch and Pray
around which, by way of antidote, /
wreath of fowery hops was garlanded
The space within was gorgeous in its ap
pointments, and boasted, besides small
book case of religious reading, rounC
table with red cover, which supported
huge nosegay of flowers, and gave tn,
whole tasty effect, as Mrs. Wilder
exultingly remarked to Mrs. Robbins
equalled by none of the others-o
which effect Ammonoosuc was Justly
proud, And SO the camp-meeting begar
fairly.
All day Tuesday, people were pouring
in. Each one-seated wagon brought
three and baby each two-seated, five
and two babies. By night hundreds
were assembled. The moon was bril-
liantly full, and the singing and prayer
meeting which inaugurated the assembly
so spirited and satisfactory, that Broth
er Little rubbed his hands and remarked
to Brother Smith that he'd been to forty
camps in his time, but in his opinion
this was to be the greatest yet.
How funny whispered Hepsy
Robbins, as they watched the hustle in