11. Esteeming sorrow, whose employ Far better than a barren joy. R. M. MILNE. THE 42. THE SABBATH IN NEW ENGLAND. HE observance of the Sabbath began with the Puritans,2 as it still does with a great portion of their descendants, on Saturday night. At the going down of the sun on Saturday, all temporal affairs were suspended; and so zealously did our fathers maintain the letter, as well as the spirit of the law, that, according to a vulgar tradition in Connecticut, no beer 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 Ju dă '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 'De vel' op, uncover; lay open to view.-2 Pù'ri tans, those desirous of purer forms of worship; reformers.- Têm' po ral, belonging to this life or world, or to the body only.-'Sus pênd' ed, stopped.— Zeal' ously, earnestly. Låx'i ty, looseness; carelessness of duty.-' An' ti qua ry, one who is well acquainted with things that took place in old times. Ju da' ic al, pertaining to the Jews. The Jews are noted for the strict manner in which they observe the Sabbath.- Pro crås' ti na tors, persons who delay things to a future time; delayers. 8 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 reasɔners, who allege, that the constitution was originally so organized as to require an extra quantity of sleep on every seventh night. We recommend it to the curious to inquire, how this peculiarity was adjusted, when the first day of the week 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 lōwing 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 poor 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' daugh 'An tic' i påte, take beforehand.-2 Ob' vi ous, plain; clear.-' In' ference, that which follows as certainly or probably true; conclusion.— 'De mean' or, manner. Re clp' ro ca ted, given and received by turns. ters, 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. 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. 8. 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 eastern summits, měrry voices break fōrth, and the ground resounds with bounding footsteps. 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.2 MISS C. M. SEDGWICK. 1. A 43. THE COUNTRY CHURCH. BOUT the chapel door, in easy groups, The rustic people wait. Some trim the switch, Or shake the dubious head, with arguments The heavy rains, and sudden frosts severe. 'Par a sols', a small umbrella to keep off the sun.- Pên' ance, punishment. Prog nos' tic åte, to foretell by signs.- Dù' bi ous, doubtful: 2. Some, happily but few, deal scandal out, With look askance' pointing their victim. These '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 Their theme some knot of scripture hard to solve. 4. There Oakes, the cooper, with rough brawny hand, Rattles around his theme as round a cask; 'As kånce, sideways; toward one corner of the eye.—3 Tåres, weeds. Vin' om ous, deadly; mischievous. Dis in têrs', unburies; dige out. –a Måġ' is tråte, a judge; a justice of the peace.—• Thème, subject. -Des cånts', talks; makes remarks While Hanson, heavy brow'd, with shoulders bent, With tongue as sharp and dexterous as his trowel, 5. But soon the approaching parson ends in peace This done, with loving care he scans his flock, 6. 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. Or takes false greatness because seen through fogs, To share the hearer's thought; nor strives to make - Sten to' ri an, extremely loud. Stentor was the Greek name of a man having a very loud voice.— Met a phys' ics, the science of the principles and causes of all things existing; the science, or regulated knowledge, of the mind. |