was brewed in the latter part of the week, lest it should presume to work on Sunday. 2. It must be confessed that the tendency of the age is to laxity,' and so rapidly is the wholesome strictness of primitive times abating, that, should some antiquary, fifty years hence, in exploring his garret rubbish, chance to cast his eye on our humble pages, he may be surprised to learn, that, even now, the Sabbath is observed, in the interior of New England, with an almost Juda'ical' severity. 3. On Saturday afternoon an uncommon bustle is apparent. The great class of procrastinators' are hurrying to and fro to complete the lagging business of the week. The good mothers, like Burns's matron, are plying their needles, making “auld claes look amaist as weel's the new;" while the domestics, or help (we prefer the national descriptive term), are wielding, with might and main, their brooms and mops, to make all tidy for the Sabbath. 4. As the day declines, the hum of labor dies away, and, after the sun is set, perfect stillness reigns in every well ordered household, and not a foot-fall is heard in the village street. It can not be denied, that even the most scriptural, missing the excitement of their ordinary occupations, anticipate their usual bedtime. The obvious inference' from this fact is skillfully avoided by certain ingenious" reasoners, who allege,' that the constitution was originally so organized as to require an extra 10 Allege, (al lej ́), to assert; to de 1 Pro crǎs' ti na tors, persons who clare positively delay things to a future time. Robert Burns, the great peasant poet of Scotland, was born near 20 Extra (eks'trå), over and above; beyond what is due, appointed, or expected; uncommon. quantity of sleep on every seventh night. We recommend it to the curious to inquire, how this peculiarity was adjusted, when the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday. 5. The Sabbath morning is as peaceful as the first hallowed day. Not a human sound is heard without the dwellings, and, but for the lowing of the herds, the crowing of the cocks, and the gossiping of the birds, animal life would seem to be extinct,' till, at the bidding of the church-going bell, the old and young issue from their habitations, and, with solemn demeanor, bend their measured steps to the meeting-house ;-the families of the minister, the squire, the doctor, the merchant, the modest gentry of the village, and the mechanic and laborer, all arrayed in their best, all meeting on even ground, and all with that consciousness of independence and equality, which breaks down the pride of the rich, and rescues the pour from servility,' envy, and discontent. 6. If a morning salutation is reciprocated,' it is in a suppressed voice; and if, perchance, nature, in some reckless urchin, burst forth in laughter-"My dear, you forget it's Sunday," is the ever ready reproof. Though every face wears a solemn aspect, yet we once chanced to see even a deacon's muscles relaxed by the wit of a neighbor, and heard him allege, in a half-deprecating, half-laughing voice, "The squire is so droll, that a body must laugh, though it be Sabbath-day." 7. The farmer's ample wagon, and the little one-horse vehicle," bring in all who reside at an inconvenient walking distance,— that is to say, in our riding community, half a mile from the church. It is a pleasing sight, to those who love to note the happy peculiarities of their own land, to see the farmers' daughters, blooming, intelligent, well-bred, pouring out of these homely coaches, with their nice white gowns, prunella shoes, Leghorn hats, fans, and parasols, and the spruce young men, with their plaited ruffles, blue coats, and yellow buttons. 1 Extinct, (eks tingkt'), quenched; put out; having ceased; ended. 2 Issue, (ish' sho), proceed; go out. 3 Ser vil i ty, the state or quality of being meanly respectful, cringing, or fawning. ing or paying respect by words or actions commonly used. 'Re cip' ro cât ed, given and received by turns; interchanged. • Vehicle, that in which any thing is or may be carried, as a • Săl`u tā' tion, the act of greet- wagon, cart, carriage, or the like. 8. The whole community meet, as one religious family, to offer their devotions at the common altar. If there be an outlaw from the society,-a luckless wight, whose vagrant taste has never been subdued,—he may be seen stealing along the margin of some little brook, far away from the condemning observation and troublesome admonitions of his fellows. 1 9. Toward the close of the day (or to borrow a phrase descriptive of his feelings, who first used it), "when the Sabbath begins to abate," the children cluster about the windows. Their eyes wander from their catechism to the western sky, and, though it seems to them as if the sun would never disappear, his broad disk does slowly sink behind the mountain; and, while his last ray still lingers on the castern summits, měrry voices break forth, and the ground resounds with bounding footsteps. 10. The village belle' arrays herself for her twilight walk; the boys gather on "the green;" the lads and girls throng to the "singing-school;" while some coy maiden lingers at home, awaiting her expected suitor; and all enter upon the pleasures of the evening with as keen a relish as if the day had been a preparatory penance." MISS C. M. SEDGWICK. A III. 56. THE COUNTRY CHURCH. BOUT the chapel door, in easy groups, The rustic people wait. Some trim the switch, 4 Or shake the dubious' head, with arguments 2. Some, happily but few, deal scandal" out, With look askance' pointing their victim. These A bate', to decrease or become less in strength or violence. 2 Bille, a young lady or great beauty and much admired. Pěn' ance, suffering, labor, or pain used as a punishment for faults, or as an expression of sorrow for sin. 4 Prog nos tic ate, to foretell from signs. 'Du' bi ous, not settled, or doubtful in opinion; doubting. © Scăn' dal, something said which is false and injurious to character. "A skǎnce', aside; sideways. 3. Are the rank tares' in every field of grain- Their baneful' roots; and, to the sun exposed, 'Gainst a tree, With strong arms folded o'er a giant chest, Stands with the smith, and holds such argument 8 Their theme some knot of scripture hard to solve. Of politics; a topic which, inflamed, Knows no propriety of time or place. 5. There Oakes, the cooper, with rough brawny' hand, Descănts" at large, and, with a noisy ardor, 1 Tare, (tår), a weed that grows smong wheat and other grain; darnel; rye-grass. 'Noxious, (nok' shůs), hurtful; of the peace. poisonous; destructive. 3 Theme, a topic or subject on 3 Věn ́om oŭs, mischievous; spite- which a person writes or speaks. ful; deadly. 4 Dis`in ters', unburies; digs out. 'Bāne' ful, full of bane or deadly 'Brawn' y, having large, strong muscles; muscular; strong. Descǎnts' talks; makes remarks Rattles around his theme as round a cask; With tongue as sharp and dexterous' as his trowel, 6. But soon the approaching parson ends in peace 7. Then follows prayer, which from the pastor's heart 3 Compelling grace by virtue of a siege! This done, with loving care he scans his flock, 8. Wide is his brow, and full of honest thought— Are simple, broad, sufficient for a world! He knows them well, teaching but what he knows. 9. He never strides through metaphysic1 mists, 1 Děx' ter oŭs, skillful; artful; ready; handy. 2 Discord ́ant, disagreeing; harsh ; jarring. 3 Stěn tō' ri an, extremely loud. Stentor was the Greek name of a man, spoken of by Homer, who had a very loud voice. 'Mět`a physics, the science of the principles and causes of all things existing; the science, or regulated knowledge, of the mind. |