St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-04-30

sent them and used for the first time
on the Sunday after the dedication. 1T
is one that did duty long ago in Lee,
and perhaps a thousand persons were
there baptized from the ancient bowl.
The pastor hopes and prays that the
four young people and five babies mp
on whom the symbolic water was
sprinkled may be the beginning of the
African thousand who shall consecrate
their lives to Gods service, and we fer
vently trust that his faith may be re-
warded. The quiet solemn exercises
were interrupted by severe storm,
and the loud beating of rain and gusts
of wind for a time prevented the Rev.
Mr.. Pixley from continuing the servi-
ces. When the force of the storm abat-
ed and the voice of the minister could
again be heard, the meeting was clos
ed, and we came out to find large
orange tree torn up by its roots.
close examination showed that white
ants had been at work, and though the
signs of life had not ceased, soon the
tree would have succumbed to its enc
my. Later in the p. IN. my father took
Mr.. Pixley to see an old man who was
very i'll, but whose testimony regard
ing the Christianity of his sons was a
beautiful tribute to their lives.
All the days of the past week have
been busy ones, and the people have
been coming and going from ''early
morn to dewy eve" For three days a
conference has been held with the ma
tive preachers, who have been given
different gospel themes to discuss and
who have many questions to ask con-
corning the Old Testament. There
has also been Il petition concerning
new marriage laws circulated, for
which my father is very anxious to get
signatures. This has had to be ex-
planned and discussed day after day,
and one morning when Mr.. Rood and
my father were both too busy to again
elucidate the matter, a chair was plac-
asked to read the document aloud and
listen to the pros and cons. Surround
ed by twenty-six men, for more than
two hours read, explained and listen
ed, and at last all walked off, saying,
eve do not see it we cannot consent"
So great is the dread of attaching
names to any paper! retired detected
and discouraged to the house, and was
not only amazed but amused when the
next morning early, fifteen men came
to sign, and announced that sit was
good thing" and others would soon
follow their example We afterwards
ascertained that prominent man said,
al will put my name down." and his
stand allayed the fears of the rest.
Zulus find it so hard to be singular,
that they prefer to drift with the tide.
Monday morning my father and Mr..
and Mrs. Rood went to an out station
called Newspaper" and they propose
to spend a week holding services there.
They are in their wagOnettes, and
camp-Out life is very pleasant in good
weather. When the rains and mists
are heavy and the grass is damp and
the wood wet, all is not so agreeable.
My sister and | intended to stay here
week longer, Tin the little cottage
used for white missi0naries,) and we
have asked the girls to come daily for
a Bible lesson. One afternoon we are
to have them for singing class and
another day to learn new games. Our
mornings we hope to spend in visiting
the people in their homes. To-day |
rode to see girl who is dying of con-
sumption. Poor child How helpless
human aid is at such times After
leaving her l came to the house of IA
woman who used to live with us and
received a warm greeting and a tor
rent of questions about cold times"
She called one of her children to catch
me "A chicken, as a present, before | left.
From her house l went to the neat
homes of three brothers, who live near
each other on ridge above where
their fathers old kraal was formerly
located.
| think any one would admire this
scenery, and see charms in the bold,
rugged mountains, densely wooded ra-
vines and picturesque waterfalls and
valleys, but to us it is doubly dear be-
cause of past associations. The peo-
pie, too, seem nearer to us than those
of any other station, and we trust that
the new church, which can be seen far
and near, will be a reminder to many
of the "hOuse not made with hands"
and of their need to present their
bodies living temples. And may all
that has been done and is still being
done in Jesus name, receive a rich
blessing NJ. W.. T.
The Vermont Brigade.
STRETCHED BY MILES O'REILLY.
The Vermont Brigade was the pet