A narrative of the visit to the American churches; by the deputation from the Congregational Union of England and Wales Volume 1 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1835 edition. Excerpt: ...provided with less than themselves. The afternoon service was renewed and sustained in like spirit. The birds, which had found a nest for themselves within and without this sacred habitation, flew in and out by the open windows, seeming to excite no observation except to myself, so rural were the habits of this people! At the close of the engagements, I went with Mr. Morrison. His dwelling is about two miles distant. It was really a beautiful sight to see this people--men, women, and children,--all mounted on their fine horses, and starting away, as from,a centre, into every part of the forest, where you would think there was no way to be found. In,our own line, we had quite a cavalcade, such as old Chaucer might have celebrated. As we advanced over glade, and brook, and dingle, our path forked, and we broke off to the right and left; and again it forked, and again we were scattered. My eye long rested on them. Now you might see a single horseman take his solitary path through the woods; now a family cluster, parent, child, and grandchild; and now an aged pair, who told you that they were closing life as they began it, alone. Now they thrid their way through the thickening forest; now they disappear in the dingle: now you see them again, but indistinctly, and far away; and now they vanish altogether. My eye searched for them in vain. Why should it have searched at all? I did not know these people--I had not spoken to them. Why, then, did a sentiment of regret steal over me, as they vanished, one by one, perhaps to be seen no more for ever You can understand this. The'following day was the last of the four, and nothing would satisfy my brethren but that I should preach in the morning. There was an excellent attendance, and Ha 172 STAUNTON....