serenity left him leisure to look back on what he had escaped; the storms and whirlwinds; the shoals and quicksands, through and near which he had run his course. Unlike the man awaked by a sudden clap of thunder from a profound reverie, the stillness after the tempest, seemed to open his eyes to the dangers over which he had been walking blindfold. The point of safety, after the indulgence of strong passions, was to him that of sinking down exhausted. Nature sometimes gives way and death follows, when the occasion for making arduous struggles under the pressure of warring elements, or the pursuit of venomous serpents, is removed.

Thus having reached the shore after such a shipwreck, he was unable to walk or stand. Gathering himself up once for all, he rose from his bed in the stillness of night, and went to his barn; and, on a ladder, mounted to what is called the great-beam, and with a nail-hammer beat out his own brains, and fell upon a scaffold; and from that to the floor. In this situation he was found with blood and brains upon the floor; and the hammer by his side with hair, and gore and brains sticking to it; with marks also upon the scaffold, where he struck in falling from the beam. Living a few days, he employed them, in relating and expressing contrition for what he had done; and, cherishing a hope of reconciliation with God and man, his last end was peace.'

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CHAPTER X.

Characteristics of Vermonters closed.-Some deductions from the foregoing. Too often subservient to selfish office-seekers.Discouraged sometimes under difficulties.-Want of perseverance in carrying to the end promising beginnings.-Family rivalries.-Their consequences.-Winter employments and recreations.-Friendly annual visiting. Social intercourse.

In closing the characteristics of Vermonters, it should be added, that the foregoing remarks are to be understood, not only in a general sense, but with some countervailing deductions.

The industrious farmers and mechanics are sometimes too easily rendered subservient to the designs and artifices of demagogues and office-seekers. They are the stamina of a commonwealth; and have the power to appoint the makers of the laws, and the administrators of justice; and doing it understandingly, conscientiously, and without bias, the result would generally be safe and salutary. But instead of being always guided by the light of experience, and the dictates of plain, common sense, they too often follow the counsels of the cunning and ambitious and aspiring. Dazzled by the fascinations of brilliant parts; and the professions of disinter

ested concern for their welfare, they are often made the dupes of flattering words, "swallowing without pause or choice, the total grist, unsifted, husks and all."

Too easily discouraged, they often give up the direction of affairs to those who make the greatest bluster, and the show of unyielding and everlasting opposition'; and for the sake of peace, often a false one, permit things to go on in a wayward course, contrary to their own convictions. The ample means to arrest wrong measures, and remedy evils and cripple the arm of the oppressor, they are sometimes deterred from using, through fear of making difficulty and stirring up opposition. Even in this state of bold, energetic, independent actors, in times which tried men's souls; some are found of timid, Lilliputian spirits, who, in emergencies, so afraid of doing wrong, have not the courage to do right.

A wide contrast between beginnings and results, is also sometimes here witnessed. Objects of public utility and importance find approving hearts among the Vermonters. With such union and cordiality do they enter upon the pursuits of praise-worthy undertakings, that the most favorable results are anticipated. But zeal and ardor in some instances grow cold; and the pursuit is suspended or followed up languidly. Promising beginnings are too often left unfinished, and for the want of perseverance and a patient continuance in well doing, desirable objects lost, or much delayed. The work of preparation and planning is to be repeated, or anticipated good relinquished. New enterprises and ways of

securing important ends are set on foot and pursued ; and the old ones left to find new abettors, or to fall midway, like too many works of human device and wisdom.

The harmony of society is also sometimes broken by secret, local feuds, which foment for a time, and then break out into lingering, incurable ulcers. These are so managed now and then, as to attract kindred matter from various parts; and thus affect more or less, the entire social body. They have arisen from time immemorial wounds inflicted; and kept alive by unskillful treatment; and rendered rancorous by the hasty prescriptions of quacks; in other words, from insults and wrongs real or fancied, received, and more or less aggravated by the Highland chieftains, to whose care they have fallen. Unlike the border wars of England and Scotland, of Walter Scott, they are internal strifes between leaders of rival families. Each has his circle of kindred, engaging cordially in his interests; and each attaching to his party all whom persuasion can win or power compel. This system of clan-warfare has led to separate, opposing encampments, so to speak, in the same town; from which the arrows of bitter words and other missiles have been interchanged, sometimes to the annoyance and at others the amusement of the passengers and spectators. But war it has been, if not to the hilt; yes to the hands; if not open, yet secret, persevering and unyielding; a war of carnal weapons; and if not of death; yet sometimes of bloody deeds, and lasting scars. It has been

a war, as in most cases of actual warfare, of alternate victory and defeat on either side; a war, if not periodical, yet more obstinate at some particular seasons; and affording many memorials of past achievements and discomfitures; and much matter for conversation to survivors and posterity; and presenting many a battle field for retrospection and caution. In a word, petty divisions and strifes have too often lessened the enjoyments of social intercourse; and rendered those residing in the same vicinity, comparative strangers to one another. But these jars to the harmony of the social system are, it is believed, becoming less and less felt; and time will by degrees wear out the impressions made by them.

These things to the contrary; and what state of society is perfect in this world! The habits of this people in their domestic intercourse are interesting; and instances of them will be remembered with pleasure, by all who have been familiar with them. They have not yet forgotten the friendly and warm attachment created by common difficulties, and evils encountered in a new and wilderness country; and left as they were to establish their own independence in the face of formidable opposition.

As winter closes in upon them, as is the case generally in December, they kill their pork and beef for the year. Part of it, especially the latter, they put in snow, placing it in a cool part of their dwellings, to keep it to use fresh as occasion may require. In this state it will keep in good order through the changes of the winter till spring.