RELIGION IN THE BACK SETTLEMENTS. 



IN the State of New York, some distance from the city, dwelt two 

 Dutchmen, Yohn and Yecup. They were bachelors of some forty or 

 fifty years, and cultivated a farm which had been rescued from the 

 forest by the industry of their grandfather, and transmitted to them 

 by succession. From the time of the original settlement, population 

 had been gradually on the increase ; so that, at the period of which 

 we speak the Dutch farmers had many neighbours, and after their 

 daily labour they dispersed themselves like gay bachelors wherever 

 feasting flourished, or entertainment could be had at small cost. 



It so happened that about this time, the growing population of the 

 neighbourhood attracted the pious notice of an errant missionary, who 

 being as it was supposed somewhat tired of his travels, straightway 

 cast his paternal yearnings over these benighted cultivators, fore- 

 seeing in the abundant return of their affection a goodly heritage. 

 Few can understand the daily and nightly wrestlings of this pious 

 man ere he could gather together even a few sheep of this scattered 

 fold ; he sought them in the highway and in the lanes, at labour and 

 at rest ; he admonished, he promised, and he threatened, until the 

 eyes of some began to open, and his ministry might then be said to 

 have commenced. The first thing they did was to erect a log chapel. 

 The pastor required no habitation ; for he lived in the hearts of his 

 people, and happy was the house he condescended to make his home. 

 The congregational tree grew and flourished ; and in process of time 

 produced good fruit. Instead of the vain festivities at christenings, 

 prayer meetings were held. Marriages were kept by solemn love 

 feasts, , and hymns and thanksgivings were chaunted, instead of the 

 profane mirth of jolly roundelays. Even the patriotic " Yanky- 

 doodle" was heard but seldom, and were it not for a few iron spirits 

 whom nothing could resolve into a sense of right, the village of 

 " Deadly-lively," might be thought to have been inhabited by a 

 class of penitents, who were expiating their iniquities by wailing and 

 lamentation. 



The Dutch brothers were among the non-conformists. They were 

 neither old enough nor young enough to endure the mortifications of 

 the flesh, and it was with dismay they found the circle of their jolly 

 companions daily decreasing ; they, therefore, consoled themselves 

 with the spirit, and in the solitary recess of their log habitation, 

 quaffed their schnapps and smoked their pipes in lonely apathy. The 

 pious teacher had, however, long cast an eye of compassion on those 

 poor benighted brethren, whom industry and frugality had made rich, 

 and he was therefore determined that they should be saved. He 

 was not only a pious man, but he had studied well the frailties of our 

 sinful nature. He knew better than to struggle with the enemy in his 

 strength ; but rather chose to combat him in the hours of his weak- 

 ness. He, therefore, sought for Yecup alone at what he thought a 

 fitting opportunity, and found him looking with a most lacklustre eye 

 over a field of blighted corn. 



M. M. No, 87. 2 D 



