New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-03
EW-ENGLAND SKETCHES.
A NEIGHBoRHooD PRAYER-MEETING.

A NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER-MEETING.
RAxsoME Mass, April 27.-Since the frogs began
TO peep. we have had neghborhoDd prayer-meetings.
do not mean that there is any logical connection
between the tW but il has happened every year
since we have lived in Ransome. that, toward the
LIST of April these religious gatherings have in
creased IN frequency and fervOr 1t NAV be for the
same reason that liveIier iris changes on the
FURNISHED dove All parties, festivals, and even
the weekly session of the Sons of Temperance. are
now in abeyance held in check by the greater
interest of the prayer-meetng.
Mrs Nancy Holland, who is helped BY the town.
has been aroused that she deemed it necessary to
open her bit of house on the Myers road and her
two rooms crowded. Her husband, Robert,
who. years ago. had shock in his leg" and since
then has been currently reported to be losing his
mind" was promised as a treat, that he might
sit up through the meet'n He occupied large
armed wooden rocking chair near the stove, and
for the first half hour kept a somewhat glazed
look of intent wisdom. In the midst of Deacon
Hawkins's exhortltion, however, Robert suddenly
found himself unable to MAINTAIN this intellectual
appearance collapsed with startling suddenntss.
and demanded of Nancy in a quayering voice TO put
hIIn to bed.
Nancy shaking as she always did under the least
excitement, came forward and led her husband oil
upstairs. Almost as soon as she returned. through
the spaces between the chan Der floor and the
chimney, we heard Mr.. Hollands regular snoring.
No one seemed to mind the interruption. The
deacon did not intermit his remarks. Mrs. Hannah
Clapp who sat IN front of me. and whose chair
severely bruised my knees. turned and whispered
@Mss Holland does have such trial with Robert.
He makes me think of how my John was in his last
sickness John John, pronounced Jorn he was
jest as, hm-m-m."
peculiarly of Mrs. Clapp is that sho usually
leaves her final remark uninlsh ending in nasal
sound running OH into Indebtedness She also has an
upper and under set Of artificial teeth, which click
good deal as she talks and which have constantly
TO be prevented by her hand from doing more than
merely TO click My sister asserts that these teeth
are worn as a penanco for some evil deed of the
owners life like hair shirt, peas your shoes.
" 1t must be the reason" she insisted. &" for she
cannot wear them for use or for good looks
Mrs. Hannah Clapp is one Of our nearest neigh
bOrs. She is really good woman. and her face IS
very kind and pleasant. Two years ago she buried
her husband who also bad, before his death, lost
hls mind" and who had been a terrible care to her.
In fact. while he had retained his intellectual
powers he had been assistance and no comfort to
his wife, But she greved for him, and repents
sorely that there he'd. yes there he'd ben times
when she had spoke sharp tn him."
We lind conversational interchange Of ideas with
Mrs. Clapp confusing and difficult, for, in addition
to the pecu!iarities | have mentioned sho is sub
ject 10 sleepy etharoy," which causes her TO fall
into sumber without an instant's warning, no
matter what she is doing She is the first and only
instance of this disease which we have ever met
and Gertrude and choose to fear it may be induced
by living in such a highly charged mental atmos-
phere as exists IN Ransome; and we watch each
other daily for symptoms of the lethargy.
When Deacon Hawkins had finished his
treaty that should. in every situation in life. be
sure and stan up for Jesus he sat down. and black
who present began to sing On Jordan's
Stormy Banks" with immense gusto. every body
who could sing, and great many who could not
joined in. and the sound seemed to fill the hot,
crowded rooms as with tan gbe substance.
This wakened the meeting, which had been rather
dull. The black man sprang TO his feet when the
last note had rolled from his lips. Almost his sole
remark. repeated again and again, was the hope
that we ali might battle and bath in the love OF
Jesus" as for him he logged to hattie and bath in
that love; he was resolved 10 do it, Satan and hell
should not prevent this battle and bath As he
went with his repetition his voice rose higher and
higher. The dull, careworn faces about me. seen
by the light of single kerosene lamp, began to be
moved somewhat; but as the owners were Yankees
they held themselves stidiy still. only or two
groaning now and then
After TINS, there waiting. The next one
OH his feet was Mr. Caleb Fearing. man who
said to be $50 close that he would pinch a cent
good while before no spent it," His tone was very
bat aud whining and he was more murderous in his
use of language than any one we had heard. even
in this village. He prayed. He Sthanked God
for his Christian privileges" Tho heft o. them
privileges consider is bein' to these meefns Bless
these things 10 us. Bless all dear relatives.
and friends. scattered as they be JPN down this
sinful earth. Make I'll or hearts over; give EN- new
ones. We thank the Lord ttet this brittle thread
o. life Is yit unbroke and that Thou still makest
our lungs to heave and our putt TO beat"
Mr.. Fearing went on and He alluded to his
wife as his companion" and once as his concert
perhaps meaning consort. He was grateful that
she had been at last led through the darkness into
the right way. AT this point the woman next me
whispered,
Mss Fearing has jest experienced" and then
she added, but she experiences every spring."
feel TO thank the Lord" said Mr.. Fearing
that the bars have at last ben le' down. I'm
thankful that VIC be not as the heather no set In
darkness; yes In gross darkness. Think on II
How awful Gross darknessi Twelve dozen T.
Here soue ono RigQled. and than couahad labori-