The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-22


what the "mad girl' had said about sending
him comforters.
who are you Come forward I"
cried Brown aloud, advancing toward tho
cluster of trees, in the midst of which ho
had seen something futtering in the breeze,
like garment.
Scarcely had Brown uttered the words.
than rustling was heard, and two tall.
stately men, clad in light garments, came
out from the foliage, and stood surveying
the youth.
"Is it meet that We go forward ?" asked
one of them, in calm, sepulchral tone.
''Yea, let US proceed" replied the other
and the bereaved husband felt the marrow
CONCEAL in his bones as these mysterious
beings, whose outlines looked strange and
unearthly amid the darkness, slowly drew
near
Ashamed to run away, Brown stood
trembling till the tall apparitions came up,
and then their gentle manner and substan-
tial forms left no doubt on his mind that
they were a couple of very honest citi-
zens, with nothing supernatural about
them.
''Thou has been told that we would call
here, !" said one of them, with an inclination
OF his head toward the youth.
''By no MEANS" returned Brown. IT
expected you not, though I will confess
that poor, insane girl told me should bo
visited by spirits or angels from another
world"
''You are partly right" was the answer,
for we are the children of the resurrec-
tion, who neither marry nor are given in
marriage"
'From your general appearance should
judge that you were Quakers."
''Not exactly. You speak of denomi-
nation whose dress resembles ours and who
pretend to be redeemed from the world,
but who take care not to deny thmselves
the grossest pleasures and the most sensual
indulgences which tho world affords. We
are not Quakers."
"Then may l ask who you are, ard what
| your business is with me 2"
"We have come from your wife," an
swered one of the strangers.
"You-come from-wAat-m wife~ ex.
| claimed Brown, in amazement, and doubt
ing the evidence of his own ears.
"Yes she has heard of your deep sor-
rowing on her account, and wishes you to
be comforted She has also empowered
us to give the reason of her departure"
'"The> reason was violent fever, as I un-
derstand, for she was away from home
when she died"
"Died?"
"Ded Yes! You will not persuade
me that Rosalie is not dead !"
'Dead to the world, and dead to you,
certainly, but she has permitted us to tell
you that she is, in other respects, alive and
WELL and very well satisfied to spend the
rest of her life among the members of the
United Society,"
"Great God! You are Shaking Quakers,
without doubt.
We are commonly called Shakers"
"Ah, indeed And the young woman
who came here last night and pretended
to mistake me for her father ?"
She mistook you for her father, indeed,
OF first, but soon afterward perceived who
you were, and through her intercession,
your wife consented to let you know where
she was. The tale of her death was false,
intended well, but not consistent with
truth, and mother, who stands at the head
of our community as mother, and stood at
the head of the new creation, has sent us
to tell you the truth. Your wife did not.
die in this town, nor was she buried here.
She is only dead to sin and to the world"
"Amazement /" cried Brown, "and why
did RoSalie desert me thus, when I sup
posed she was only gone to visit a sich
cousin?''
"That sincere child has long looked to-
ward the United Society,"" was 'the reply,
"and her marriage convinced her of the
grossness of such earthly and carnal con.
nections, therefore she fed from you, and
will doubtless be shining light"
"she may shine like lightning-bu for
aught that care" interrupted Brown,
"but I'll see if the law won't give me back
my wife, in spite of all your crazy jargon.
Your whole system is contrary to scrip
ture.n
"Hast thou ever examined our system?"
asked one of the Shakers.
'It's not worth examining" cried Brown.
"It would be a waste of time"
"Wel, we will not trouble thee longer"
said the two strangers, and they strobe
rapidly over the graves, till their stall
wart forms were swallowed up in the
darkness.
My friend Brown swore awfully against