&l)c farmer's illontl)Iij llisitor. 



57 



For uniform decency of Lehavior as in dress, 

 with faces of manly soberness in the mixture of 

 youthful innocence with a gravity of intellect 

 that would have done credit to faces of men, 

 these boys cotdd not be excelled. The specta- 

 tators, strangers to Shaker education and Shaker 

 practices (and anion;; them the sister of young 

 Blinn) were delighted at this exhibition. She 

 came not in vain to see this brother who when 

 he parted with her a boy himself of the age of 

 his pupils, had become the man with all the 

 qualifications of a first rate teacher. 



If the gratification was great at the exhibition 

 of the young man and his school in the morning, 

 higher still was the intellectual treat after the 

 church service of the afternoon in the exercises 

 of some twenty females, from the age of thirteen 

 down to that of two years, who went through 

 the labors of their accustomed Sabbath worship. 

 Children as they were all, every one, down to 

 the prattling infant of two years, was a lady in 

 manners and motion. There was not in this 

 gathering any thing of carelessness or rudeness, 

 bashfulness or indifference or disobedience, 

 which we accustom ourselves to meet in the 

 schoolroom of young children: obedience and 

 cheerfulness shone in every face. Affected to tears 

 to hear the recitals of these children each of whom 

 repeated a personal narrative in rhyme of what 

 they were and what they had become — finding 

 the destitution, some of parents and all of them 

 of means of living, made up to repletion where 

 they now are — we warmed otirself into the con- 

 viction that female innocence would all but 

 make female perfection on earth. The school of 

 females was under the direction of two young 

 women — beautiful specimens of the fair laces 

 and polished minds which adorn the granite hills 

 of New Hampshire ; — women who, denying 

 themselves those associations with the other sex 

 to which nature prompts with a strong hand, are 

 the polished granite not entirely rejected and dis- 

 used, but who act their parts in a provoking sep- 

 aration from the youth to whose association na- 

 ture alone would urge them perhaps even to a 

 more useful purpose than that of rearing families 

 who may or may not conduce lo the sum of hu- 

 man happiness. The female school was under 

 the direction of two young ladies, our hasty 

 memorandum having escaped us, only one of 

 whose names we can now repeat. These two 

 persons were the instructed children of Mary 

 Whiicher, whose works follow her in an ability 

 to put the finishing polish upon females that 

 makes them as nearly perfect on earth as beings 

 of God's creation can be made. The only name 

 we have of the two lady pupils of Mary Whiteh- 

 er, as distinguished for talent as her uncle John 

 and even now more comely than we might ex- 

 pect a single, woman of forty, is Dorothy Durgin, 

 daughter of William Durgin of Sanhornton who 

 was brought up, instructed and qualified here as 

 an accomplished teacher. It was, we believe, 

 Dorothy Durgin, whose elegant manners and 

 beautiful lace might almost tempt any one of the 

 other sex from his propriety, who led in the in- 

 struction of the twenty girls, beautiful children 

 often and twelve year--, who were under her 

 charge. Each child heir, as in the male class, 

 heard in the morning, gave account of themselves 

 in nursery rhymes probably composed "by their 

 instructors. At the request of the editor made 

 to one of the sisters, we were presented with the 

 following, which were repeated as with one 

 voice by all the females of the school. The po- 



etry from (he nature of the case might be expec- 

 ted to be homely: we think it decidedly better 



than much of the poetry that passes for good in 

 some of our magazines and modern novels: 

 [The following lines, repeated by the children in 

 the Lower Family, Canterbury, New Hampshire, 

 were copied by request for Isaac Hill, August 

 11, 1848: 

 How could any children enjoy themselves better 

 Than we, who are gathered to this pretty fold — 

 Taught meekness, taught kindness, and lo love one an- 

 other, 

 And all that is needful we seem to be told : 

 We know we are blest beyond many children — 

 Here we have warm houses, good clothing and food ; 

 But not altogether for the purpose of living 

 Are we gathered here, but to daily grow good. 



We're taught how to read, how to spell and to cypher, 

 To write, English grammar, geography, loo, 

 To sew and to knit and to mend up our garments, 

 And many more things we are taught how to do : 

 We're taught to improve every talent we have given 

 In service lo God ; so we dance and we sing, 

 Our hands and our feel we give in devotion 

 As well as our voices to honor our King. 



We're taught to be neat, lo be prudent and saving, 

 For God gives us all the good things we enjoy ; 

 And we have a plenty while many are wanting, 

 So not the least thing should we wasle or destroy. 

 We're taught to respect our natural parents — 

 To honor superiors and treat equals kind, 

 And if we are haughty, ungrateful or slothful, 

 'Tis because precious counsel we neglect to mind. 



We know we are favored beyond many children 

 Who run in the streets and have little that's good, 

 Who suffer lor counsel, for learning and clothing, 

 And many, (we're told) suffer greatly for food. 

 So let us be thankful, each dear litile sister, 

 for what we enjoy, and obey what we're taught, 

 Thai we may repay our faithful kind teachers, 

 And Ihey may be thankful that we were here brought. 



The most interesting spectacle of all was that 

 to which we were called when on the point of 

 leaving them on Monday forenoon: it was that 

 of a class of six infant boys, four, five and six 

 years old, under the charge of the sister Sally 

 Miller, herself brought up with the Shakers, and 

 at this time forty-three years old. These child- 

 ren were instructed to make the work of sewing 

 and knitting a pastime; and their work was done 

 with all that perfection and completeness which 

 are so peculiar to the Shakers. That we might 

 not be mistaken about the character of their 

 work, we purchased two pairs of the woolen 

 stockings adapted to our own wearing and a pair 

 of well manufactured checked pocket handker- 

 chiefs which these children bad hem-stitched. 

 At the same time the children did this work, they 

 were being taught reading and spelling. The 

 names of the boys were as follows: 

 John Holland, born at Plaistow, aged 6 years. 



David Proctor Campbell, burn at Hampton, aged 6 " 

 Edward Grover, born at Worcester, Mass., " G " 

 Abraham Libbey, born at Norlhtield, " b " 



Nathan Kills, born at Springfield, " 4 " 



Henry Campbell, born at Maiden, Mass , " 4 " 



Charles Shepard, born at Amherst, " 5 " 



The following were repeated by the little boys: 



ihivid Proctor Campbell. 

 I've a father and mother, and one lilllc brother, 

 A second I had — {he is dead) 

 Who came here with me the Shakers to see, 

 Of whom wc had oftentimes heard. 

 If one little child was ever beguiled 

 By the hours of life sweetly passing, 

 II surely is me, for I, like the bee, 

 Sip honey at eve, noon, and morning. 



Here sisters, who're kind to body and mind, 



My every want do attend, 



And here 1 am happy in each liltle duty 



By being obedient and kind. 



I sing, read and spell, learn lo sew and knit well- 

 Do often go out in the field. 



The orchards and gardens, the meadows and pastures, 

 And pick the fine tilings which they yield. 



I thank my dear father and kind tender mother 



For this pretty home with the just; 



I'll strive to repay in some future day 



The debt I now owe and still must. 



1 love to be sporting with playmates so loving : 



My dear little brothers and me 



Do take so much comfort, how can we but show it, 



And pleased with our homes always be ? 



O, is it not pretty to [cam such a ditty 



Instead of some vain wicked play ? 



Some good thing be learning instead of contending, 



That 1 may grow wiser each day ? 



Edward Augustus Grover. 



My name is Edward Augustus Grover — 



Was four when I came here — 



Born in town and county of Worcester, 



Eighteen forty-two the year — 



Was brought here by my parents 



A happy home to share, 



They were firm and zealous advents, 



But took of me good care : 



I love my father and mother, 



And mean to be so good 



That they can love their little son 



They've given to the Lord. 



I love my little brothers, 



To them I will be kind — 



I'll condescend to others, 



No fault with any find : 



So I shall be beloved 



By all, both old and young, 



And often shall be praised 



By those I dwell among 



Is not Ih is right and pretty 



For such a little child 

 . To imitate the Saviour, 



Be harmless, simple, mild 1 



Charles Shepard. 

 My name it is Charles Shepard, in Amherst I was born, 

 December the eleventh in the county of Rockingham : 



(Hillsborough) 

 Born eighteen forty-two, my age was some past three 

 When 1 came from New Boston to the North Family ; 

 1 was not hardly four when to the church I came. 

 But now I am some more; and much I love my home. 

 I love and thank my father for letting me come here 

 With fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters near and dear : 



I have three natural brothers, Robert, James and George 



Have also several sisters with whom I'll serve the Lord . 

 1 love my playmates well : they're kind and loving too— 

 With them 1 read and spell , and learn to knit and sew, 

 And tho' my name is Shepard, I'll be a little lamb- 

 Keep in the fold contented, for happy here 1 am. 

 John Holland. 



My name is John Holland, and this I relate 



I was born in Plaistow, New Hampshire State, 



I'm six years old and over — born November 2d day 



In eighteen hundred forty-one, in Rockingham county. 



When a year and eight months old my parents brought 



me here 

 And placed me in this fold under believers' care; 

 Now 1 will be an honest child and learn what good I can, 

 That all may love and bless me when 1 grow up a man. 



Nathan Fills. 

 My name is Nathan Filts, I now am five years old — 

 Was little more than two when brought here 1 am told. 

 In Springfield town was born, in county of Sullivan, 

 December the filth morn, named for my grandfather Na- 

 than : 

 I have an older sister, Fransina is her name, 

 Her age was some past six ^hen to this place we came. 

 I've one more lilllc sister, dear Ednah, she is small, 

 Tho' I've no natural brothers, my males 1 brothers call. 

 My parents both were Advents, ihey'd shout and praise 



the Lord, 

 And kinder natural parents the earth could not afford. 

 1 thank my tender parents for this my privilege here, 

 And love my kind instructress for all her lender care. 

 A pleasant liltle Shaker I ever mean to be — 

 A pretty lillle peace-maker, a babe of purity. 

 I love and bless you, father, for giving me up free 



