Year: 1873

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The farm is the safest and surest:


The orchards are loaded to-day:


4 You are free as the air Of the mountain.
4 And monarch OF all you survey.


But stay on the farm awhile longer,


Though profits come in rather slow,


Remember you've nothing to risk, boys,


Don't be in a hurry to go:


The Silent Deacon's Opinion


Yonder, in the square pew, sits Dea-
con Lee; you would know he was 8
deacon if he had not told you. Some
men are born deacons-what pity that
some should enter the holy Office who
are not! Deacon Lee was not native
of W., but went there to till farm left
him by an aged relative some twenty
years ago-about the time Deacon Bell
died, leaving sad void in the church
and the parsonage-for he was pillar
in Zion, and a strong arm to his pastor.
After seeking long to I'LL his place the
minds of the church settled on the new
conner, who, by his solemnity, piety,
and zeal, seemed created for the place.
He was man of few words, rarely ever
talking, SO that the boys called him at
first ga glum old man." But they soon
changed their opinion; for he set apart
a tree of summer-sweetings one of bell
pears for their express benefit, as they
went to and from school, and surprised
them by fine swing, which he hung
for them in his walnut-grove. So the
verdict of that and of each succeeding
generation of boys was, that although
the deacon never talked, he was a kind
and genial man, and lover of children.
Every boy, for twenty years back, has
been his shepherd, his watchman, or his
assistant farmer; feeling it high hon.
or to hitch his horse on Sunday, or to
drive his manure-crop on Monday; and
all because they saw, through the thick
veil of reserve, that love burned and
glowed in his heart.


Deacon Lees minister trusted i'm him,
and the church felt her temporal affairs
safe in his hands, and the world honored
his stern consistency.


There was serpent in Eden, and
Judas in that thrice-blessed band who
walked and talked with OUR Redeemer
ON earth, and who saw His glory
mingled with His humanity; why, then
need we wonder that one man, subtle
and treacherous, hid himself in the calm
verdure of W., crawling out only to
deceive Gods people with kiss, till
ready to spring upon them with his
poisoned fangs? Upright, faithful, and
earnest as were the people, they were
not proof against flattery and deception.
There came among them one quite un-
used to their unostentatious way of
serving God, and ambitious, as he said,
'fof seeing them make some stir in the
world" We know from Gods Word
that ''one sinner destroyeth much good
and yet we are often annoyed at the
wide result of one mans evil work in
the church. One may sow tares which
a hundred cannot pluck out; and there
fore it becomes Gods children to stay
the enemy in his first efforts.


He who aimed at the life of the Cos
pei Church in W was "dead while
he had a name to live" He scorned
many of the humble ones whose crown
is waiting them on high. He hated the
humbling doctrines Of the cross, and
desired to see man glorified and exalted
he rebelled against the ''iron bars"
which he chose to call the bonds of love
which separate Gods chosen and obedi-
ent ones from the world that lieth in
wickedness. He declared that the Mil
lennium could never dawn till all Chris
tians were as one-by which he meant
for; the sake Of union, right must yield
to wrong-as if he were of the number
who loved and longed for the appear
ing of Christ! He began stealthily to
sow his seeds among the younger and
weaker OF the flock, and when he saw
the first token of their taking root he
grew bold and began to cast them in on
the strong, high hills. But here he
found resistance; the soil which had
borne such rich harvests of grace re-
PEELED his seed from its bosom; and he
came to the mad resolve to assail the
deacon, and try how he would receive
it. If he, with his piety, zeal, and in
fluence, opened his heart to it, the end
was easily attained. The minister was
not worthy of consideration in the mat
ter-ministers are so readily put out of
the way il they do not yield to ungod-
illness. If he proved dead sentinel, he
would not molest him; if alive and
Jealous of his Masters honor, one bull
let would settle him forever.


| In pursuance of his "liberal views"
and his deep-laid plan, our valiant re-
former rode up and fastened his horse
before the unpretending dwelling of
Deacon Lee. Ushered into the neat
excepting room" to await his coming
from the harvest-field, his restless spir-
it was almost awed by the silence which
reigned there. The tall clock in the
corner, with its ever-sailing ship, ticked
painfully loud; and even the buzzing
of the few flies ON the panes annoyed
him. He suffered much the same op-
preston as do those who wait long, in
a silent, darkened room, the coming of
minister to funeral. He wished for
and then dreaded, the good man, being
not quite sure of warm reception. He
had just decided on a clandestine fight,
when the door opened and the deacon
entered, as calm and neat as if toll had
never ruffied his spirits or soiled his
garments. After the usual greetings,
and dead, awful pause, the visitor be-
gan-think of the wiles of Satan-by
lamenting the low state of religion,
asking the good man why this church
had enjoyed no revival for three or four
years! What cared he for Gods set
time to visit Zion? He was far more
deeply interested in the opening of a
new stage-road to the summit, and in
getting up stock in the projected hotel
there.


"Now, what do you think is the cause
! of things being dull here? Do you