186 CAMP-MEETING. 



like a thrill of uneasiness vibrated on my nerves. Such was 

 the confusion and discord, that I was unable to collect two 

 connecting sentences from the prayer of any individual. When 

 the devotees had seemingly reached the highest pitch to which 

 their feelings would strain, the lady with the gipsy bonnet 

 stepped forward near to where I was standing, and commenced 

 singing in the most soothing and melodious tone. She was 

 joined by her sister and brother, and soon afterwards by all 

 the sect. In this manner prayer and praise succeeded eack 

 other, during which the feelings of the worshippers were alter 

 nately excited and lulled by minister and nymph, like ocean 

 by tempest and calm. 



Many bystanders were laughing at the exclamations and 

 postures of the worshippers ; others were reading newspapers, 

 or, carelessly engaged in conversation. One individual, more 

 prominent in his ridicule than the rest, was rebuked for his 

 conduct by one of the sect, when a controversy ensued between 

 the parties, who were listened to by a crowd collected around 

 them. On approaching the disputants, one was openly avow 

 ing his unbelief in the Bible, and the other, without meekness, 

 condemning his sentiments and conduct ; but neither possess 

 ing the power of arranging an argument, I left them engaged 

 in the hopeless task of trying to convince each other. 



There was something so different in the impassioned sup 

 plications of the minister, whose aim seemed to be to rouse 

 the feelings, without impressing the minds, of his audience 

 in the time, place, and manner of addressing the Supreme 

 Being, so different to what I had been accustomed to in the 

 Presbyterian worship of Scotland, that at first I could not 

 believe the sect was addressing the same Deity. The earnest, 

 excited, I may say hysterical, devotions of one party, the 

 indifference and unrestrained scoffing of the other, gave rise 

 to such conflicting emotions, that I arranged to meet my 

 friend in half an hour, and retired from the multitude. 



In the meantime, fires had been lighted up on the ground 

 in different parts of the square, one six feet high near the plat 

 form, and a few candles were glimmering in the tents. The 

 foliage of the maple and oak, so remarkable for richness and 

 variety of autumnal tints, formed a beautiful canopy over the 



