The Phoenix herald., 1879-07-05
The Pocasset Sacrifice.

closely, especially since Freeman's re- moval from the barn-like jail to the new structure, but he has been unable to detect any of the usual physical symptoms of insanity, either developed or incipient. Freeman was greatly pleased when he was put into the new jail, and even his wife, whom nothing has aroused from her melancholy, was glad to get away from the loft in which she had been confined. Freeman has been especially interested in the relig- ious discussion which the killing of his little daughter has provoked. He still holds with pertinacity to his belief that he was called by God to do the act, ,and that some great good Is to come of 1t yet. To Dr. Munsell he is reported as having said day or two ago that 1t was possible that what God intended was great religious awakening. He pro- fesses to prefer to be convicted, and even hanged, rather than to be acquit- ted on the ground of insanity. He IS said to have affirmed repeatedly that he knew perfectly well before the act, and realizes just as well now, the responsi- oility that he was taking, but adds that as 0 faithful Christian he was con- strained to sacrifice his child.
 Freeman was told, it is said, that the account of his act, printed in the Sun, had been telegraphed to the newspapers in England and France. and he seemed to view this as only the working out of the mysterious purpose that compelled him to kill little Edith. He sleeps soundly, eats well, and takes much in- terest in the ordinary affairs of life. Since his imprisonment he has allowed his full beard to grow.
 But Mrs. Freeman still sorrows, and is apparently pining away. She has admitted that she believed the act was the result of mistaken faith, but she insists that neither she nor her husband was guilty of any crime. The recent letter to a sister, which has been pub lished, has been commented on by number of clergymen as not the least remarkable manifestation of this myste- rious tragedy. She speaks of Elijah, Elisha and Christ raising the dead, and still insists that after the deed was done she aud her husband had perfect faith that the child would be raised to them. But as the days passed and there were no manifestations, her heart failed, and now she knows they did wrong.
 Mrs. Freeman found comfort in re- cent conversation she had with Mrs. Fisk, who has charge of the eldest child. Mrs. Fisk suggested that she might have been tempted as Christ was by Satan, and this made strong i'm pression upon Mrs. Freeman. She asked Mrs. Fisk, pleadingly, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, wheth- CT she supposed God would forgive them for having yielded to temptation, and Mrs. Fisk replied that God always forgave where there was true repent ance.
 'tThen He will forgive us, and with that remark Mrs. Freeman seemed to give up all consideration of the relig- ious aspect of the act, and to allow her maternal sorrow for her child to be un- restrained. Her husbands condition and the life of her living child are the only matters that now concern her. She does not want little Bessie brought to see her. She thought the surround ings would terrify the child. But she gave minute directions regarding Bes- sic, her school life, her dresses, her companions and her religious instruc- tion. Bessie does not yet know that her sister Edith is dead.
 The Second Adventists in Pocasset have not yet recovered from the bewil- derment which the widespread horror of Freeman's act has created. They are as meek and passive now as children. All that they say is, We can't under stand it." The feeble Foster Howard, one of the elders of the Pocasset church, the man whom Freeman first told of the act, sits day after day in his kitchen, often with his Bible open in his lap, pondering. His faith was so strong that Edith would be raised that he has not yet recovered from the shock that the undisturbed grave has given him.
 '' I don't understand it." he recently said. Here Is the promise that if we have faith sufficient we may say to a mountain, Be removed, and 1t is done. Our faith was equal to that, and yet our faith does not avail. D
 It is possible that the Second Ad- ventists may hold the camp meeting, beginning June 15, as they intended, because public indignation has gone, and sympathy, or rather pity, has taken it's place. But they can not have the grove on Buzzard's Bay shore, and Mrs. Swift, Mrs. Freeman's mother, has offered them grove on her farm.
 Throughout New England the atten- tion of the clergy has been generally called to the tragedy, and many ser mons have been preached upon it in Providence, Boston, Lawrence, Lynn, Springfield, Worcester and other cities, In Hartford three clergymen-the Rev. Dr. Sage, Baptist, the Rev. Dr. Parker and the Rev. Mir. Gage, Congregation upon it on Sunday of | last week. Dr. Parker boldly said that | he doubted whether the Abrahamic story ought to be accepted literally, and Dr. Sage argued as strongly that it should be so read r. Sun.
 Nor OvERwoRK.-A writer in the New York Times thinks that '' over work , is carrying, just now, much more than its share. He says:
 Numberless men, alleged to be hurt by overwork, do not work half enough. Their trouble comes from superabun- dance of leisure and activity.
 They yawn through three or four h1.-,,:s tL.. cf4;1.c.