Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-03-08
A TRIUMPH OF FAITH


zine contains a story with this title, tine sceue of
which Is laid iu Marioor. u TINS county. IN the
.'south Brauel" The story opens with these
paragraphs
The year S4a was memorable through
out New England as a period OF great re-
hgiOus exCuemeu The prophecies of
William Miller and his disciples that the
second coming of the Messiah was near al
hand had found multitude of believers.
and III many localities secular occupations
We're wholly neglected. tine people giving
themselves up day and nigh, TO peuitential
psalms and prayer and trembling eXpeCta-
tI0l
Among the green hills of Vernon, lu
the township of Marlboro. @ little band of
these earnest enthusiasts had gathered too
gether upon the banks OF the Branch
mill stream then famous tot It's trout
where they lived ID tents like the patri-
arcns OF Old praying fasting and exhort-
ing each other to prepare tor the Impeud-
inc dread event From the rising TO the
setting OF the sun the hills around echoed
10 their singing.
Old Jack Blanchard girl Melissa drove
into the camp one Sunday afternoon from
oodom. This was the name bestowed upon
a cluster OF 1armhouses down III Mass HOi-
low because the families living IN them
worked in the fields on the Lord day.
Melissa entered the grounds lu company
with MatheI Duukl-a g young SOdOmlte
whom She had promised 10 marry. Blu,
they mad not come here 10 worship They
had come rather as IhIusuues. prepared 10
scOf and leer al every demonstration of
religious ecstasy made 1v the chosen of
God
THE writer pictures tine tv. Young people as
making their way through tu- curious crowd
into tne man lent. where they found seats ou
one of the plank benches. the -r. saying To- her
lover as they sa, down ''Now DON'T --t convert
ed, Marner. for don want d psauu-siuging nus
band. il others do. Bur the thrilling picture Uf
the wrath To- come drawn uv one OF tn, vouug
speakers on lhe platform. and Ills terI- appeals
not 10 throw away tue remuIulu. chance or sal
walton. Won uuOu the girl i-erIu- heart anu
conquered I- size was converted anu became
one OF the most uuplci, believers Iu the new
faith one SUNDAY morning IN september when
she had MADE herself repGy to g.. % attend the
Mlllertr services her father ual. ner stay al
nome and help him cut anu st1ua lu- corn. aud
when sine refused u- seized u-.. stripped of uer
bonnie, and shawl ANA beat uer uut. h-r cries
brought help trlu Glenn Marshall. d near neigh.
Ulr Released from uer father brutality size
went 20 the ui-et.l- all. OH her way uom. met
Marher Duuhi-t. who became very angry and r--
preached htr bitterly when size refused 10 marry
him. telling nlu ID serene fam that ..W- should
not talk OF marrlaz- when .h- Kingdom OF God
is al hand The essential part of tne story is Do
Jhe remaining portion here given III iu.
The twenJy-secOud OF October was the
DAY uAed upon 10y the Auventlsts when the
Messiah would certainly descend 10 Judge
the World. Ihe sun rose That morning on
a wonderful scene III the little camp Oh the
Branch. Lie true believers walked among
the tents, clad ID white ascension robes
ready To be caught up into the SKY when
Their happy tate had been pronounced boy
the expected Judge. some moved about
with their eyes fixed upon the ground. call
ing upon God to remember them III mercy
some turned their gaze ueavenWaTl as il
on the look Tor celestial appearances,
while others Joined together iu singing
trlumphal hymns with an enthusiasm born
OF absolute faith. Fear and expectancy
We're depicted upon every face. and TO
such tension mad line nerves OF all been
stretched. luat II but towing piece had
been discharged among the surrounding
nils, they would have fallen IN a body mp
on their knees, thinking il a trumpet of
an 2rcnange. As the morning advanced
the slopes around the camp became crowd
ed with spectators They hung upon the
confines OF the enclosure like clouds about
the moon. their secular dress and profane
behavior being In marked contrast TO the
snowy Taimeut and SANITY demeanor of
those within sacred precincts. Verify the
lambs We're already sci apart from the
goats III anticipation of the approaching
judgment
Al an early hour OF that portentous dav
Melissa arose from the bed on which she