The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-09-01

| had been strictly forbidden to touch
it, but for that very reason it was a
most attractive object to me. l shook
it, and tried to change the position Of
the column of quicksilver, without the
least success. Each time | let 60 Of
the barometer, the top of the column
resumed its place on line with Storm
or Rain Suddenly my eyes fell on
the word Earthquake, with the famous
Lisbon, 1859, and at the same time
it struck me that it would be a grand
thing to arrange little private earth
quake in Vindeby. Since l had failed
to regulate the quicksilver, the original
idea occurred to me of moving the card
with the printed scale. 1t might, per-
haps, l thought, produce the same re-
suits. After considerable effort | sue
ceeded in working the card up until
the top of the quicksilver column stood
on line with the Earthquake.
at was nighttime, for at that mo-
ment | heard steps approaching. l
managed to reach the writing-ta and
nv catechism before the door opened,
and uncle entered with three men from
town. They were as I learned later,
some OF the most inilucntial converts,
among them the parish bailiif,-who
had not definitely gone over to the
Mormons, but were seriously contem-
plating joining them. They had come
to ask the minister if it were true that
he had that morning called the Latter
Day Saints Children of Beliar and
other opprobrious names, and if he
thought he was justified in so doing.
Yes, they had been rightly in
formed, he told them, and he repeated
several of the most salient points OF his
sermon. He waxed even more elo-
quent, and his words were accompanied
by the rolling of distant thunder. !,
whom he had apparently forgotten, be-
gsn to philosophize over the destruc-
ton of the world, and bitterly to re-
pent my private earthquake.
81 am ready to stand by every word
l have uttered continued uncle, EN-
phatically. "The doctrine which is
being promulgated is that OF the anti
christ, and it would not surprise ME if
the day of judgment were nearer at
hand than any of us suspect, the day
when all the elements shall be in an
uproar, and firc--but what is this?' he
suddenly exclaimed, pausing in front
of the barometer.
"IIc shook it little without making
the quicksilver bulge from Lisbon.
At the same instant sharp peal OF
thunder, which seemed closer to us
than any previoas one, rent the air.
"'Hcarken,' said he, you have there
a sign from heaven itselftha my words
are not idle. Go home, my good peo-
Pile, 90 home, and see to your houses
and your affairs. Look at this mark.
See, it stands at earthquake! Hasten
home. Think Of what your old minis
ter has taught you, and forget the
words of those wretched men to whose
preaching you have been listening.
Hark ye! The day of judgment may
be nearer than ye think.
"Whethcr the Vindeby men hadany
clear conception Of the working of an
earthquake l do not know, but they
certainly lost no time in making their
way home.
"When they were we'll out of the
house, uncle began to examine the
barometer. At the same moment l
him, overwhelmed with re-
morse, and profoundly shaken by the
majesty of the forces Of nature | had
so recklessly evoked. So soon as uncle
caught sight Of me, light broke over
him, and in a wholly changed voice he
cried:
"'And so it is you, boy, that have
been tamperng with the barometer.
[ might have known it. You certainly
deserve severe punishment; but, he
added, smiling, I'VE will let it go this
time, for your meddling has ended in
good for once. Now let us see that all
the windows are closed, for any moment
this storm may break over our heads
"Therc was no actual earthquake,
bat there was most terrific storm.
Flash after flash of lightning was seen,
the rolling of the thunder recalled some
dread artillery discharge, and the rain
poured down as though the sluicc-g gates
of heaven all stood wide open. The
lightning struck in several places, but,
beyond the destruction ofa haystack on
the bailiif's farm, no damage was done.
"From that day forth the Mormons
lost their hold on Vindeby. Whether
this was due to uncle's powerful argu-
ments or to the supposed earthquake
cannot be positively proved. l per-
sonaiIy am convinced the palm should
be awarded to the earthquake. Not a
single recruit did the prophets get,
and even Mette Marie, whose baptism
into their communion was so unexpect-
edly frustrated, remained to the end of
her days pronounced enemy of polyg-
amy 1t is even said she renounced
hor lnyo for tho kof 10. l,uf fbof I 10