Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-02-26

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cd, 30 unlike the capricous lover for whom
she had lightly flung him away. It was all
over, though She looked about her to di-
vert her mind, to preserve her composure
She noted Mrs. Sayles in the congregation
Identifying her by her limp sum- bonnet. Mrs
Ssyles had long been sayi ing that she intend
ed to put splints in 1t some day when time
favored here but 1t still hung over her eyes,
obscurng her visage, except her mouth, a.
she sang, aud she was an edifying spectacle
Of a lack OF care for earthly pomps and Of
vain interest in baubles and bounets. Ale.
theas face, like some fair AJwer half enfold
ed in its sheath, was visible in the funnel
shaped depths of her own brown bonnet
with Plistening suggestion of her gold hair
on her forehead, aud one escaped tress hang
ing down beneath the curtain on her dark
brown homespun dress. She did not sing,
and she looked downca4t
In the aisle between the two benches re.
served for the mourners the brethren were
crowdng, talking individually TO the oontrite
sinners, sometimes with such effect that sol 8
and tears broke forth and then the hymn
WAS rene we'd, with the rhythmic sound Of The
clapping of hands, while the thunder crash
ed and the forked lightnings darted through
the sky. The lurd SC mic fleets added their
impressiveness TO the terrible word-panting
of another preacher, who was less interest
ing though not less effective than that gentle
old man, Brother Jethro Sins. He DEF c ibed
hell with an accurate knowledge of its topog
raphy, its personnel, aud its customs which
was q triumph OF nagination, and made one
feel that he ha surely been there. young
woman suddenly broke into wild screams,
shouting that she had found her salvation,
aud clapping her han Is and saying "Glory !"
q nally fainting, and being borne out into
the rain.
Iu the aisles they all often knelt, praying
aloud in turns sometimes the voice of one
failing in a whispered Amen! another would
cry out insi5tently, Let us continue the sup
plication !" Aud once more the prayer would
go up.
There were no more conversions Over
and again the brethren announced in pious
dudgeon that il was a stubborn meeting, and
hell gaped for the sinner. 1t was evidence
Of the sincerity of the mourners, aud their
anxiety not to deceive themselves and others,
that they could thus resist the urgency of the
impassioned appeals, that with quivering
nerves they could still withhold all demon.
strations Of yielding until the spirit should
descend upon them.
Presently persons who desired the prayers
OF the congregation were requested to rise
and make known their wish. II might be
feared that some of the appliances did not
tend to preserve domestic harmony Ole
woman asked prayers for her husband, whose
heart she stated, WAS not in his religion, and
the defiant contradiction expressed in the
face of a man seated beside her suggested
that she had thus publicly made reprsal for
sundry conjugal differences. Nevertheless,
old Brother Sims said, Amen! :" Mrs. Sayles
rose and begged prayers for the "headin
young folks O. the kentry, that they d be
guided by thar elders, an not trest thar own
green jedgnints an finally be led ter grace. 4"
Aud all the old people said heartily, Amen :"
Many turned to look at Alethea, whose face
had become delicate pink.
And suddenly Peter Rood rose. Il want
the prayers O. the godly," he said, now and
then casting hasty glance at Brother Sims,
who stood with his chin in the air, his hands
arrested in the gesture of clapping, and lis
tening intently, fur light ter my steps.
reckon I'm backslider, fur l git no light
when pray. It's all dsrk-mighty dark :"
His voice trembed He was beginning to
lose his self-control. My actions tarrify
me l lowed wunst / he'd fund grace, but
in trouble hev no helper"
The lightnings flashed once more. The
swift illumination seemed to blanch his
swarthy face, aud lighted his uplifted black
eyes with a transient CLEAN. "Hm in sin an
grea, mis'ry. l hev done wrong" He was
about to sit down.
Make reparation brother, an free yer
soul in prayer" said the old man.
II can't!" be cried, sbr,lly. 'Im 'fesrd
I'm 'feard O. my life. l wouldn't hev done
sech 'ceptin' war drunk drunk with liquor
an drunk with spite"
He felt that he was saying too much. He
sat down, biting his lip till the blood started.
Then he rose and faltered, II want yer prayers
fur light"
Amen !" said Brother Sims.
Rood had recovered himself abruptly. He
was looking about with furtive sharpness
through the congregation, seeking TO gauge
the t fleet of what be had said when under
the strong spell of religious excitement that
had swayed the crowd. Fearful as he vas,
be detected only curiosity, interest, nothing
more marked for in the rhetoric of frenzed
repentance these good men often apply to
themselves language that seriously entertain
ed could only grace an indictment
The rain had ceased the quiet without
seemed to conduce to a calmer spirit within.
The fervor of the meeting had spent itself.
Only a few Of the brethren we're 'workin'
with Ben Doaks his face troubled and per
picked, his anxious eyes turning from one to
another.
Cant ye feel ye air jes' wuthless-worm
a-crswlin' round the throne o. grace Can't
ye feel that only mercy kin save ye? ?-fur ye
richly deserve dsmnation."
"Lsws.a massy naw," said poor, candid
Ben, greatly harried II think mighty well
O. myself"
And so they left him in his SINS The
crowd was breaking up, chiefly seeking their
several camps, as the shanties were called.
But few had come merely to participate in
the exercises of the evening, and these were
busy in Harvesting their horses or yoking
thatr lot fhafr ba bfllafla
without the inclosure. The declivity was
veined with rivulets, into which the heavy
feet of the men and beasts spashed; the
leaves continuously dripped; frogs we're
croaking near at hand in the sombre woods
not so dark now, for the melancholy waning
moon shone among the breaking clouds. The
rumble OF wagons presently intruded upon
the low.toned conversation, the burden of
which was the meeting and reminiscent COM
parison with other meetings. Several of the
boys, not burdened with immortality, took
leave less decorously, whooping loudly at
each other as they galloped past the vehicles,
and were soon out of sight and hearing.