Some Cranks and their Crotchets 447 



old Greylock. Thence to Mount Grace, in one 

 huge sweep, the entire breadth of Vermont was 

 displayed, a wilderness of pale-blue summits blend- 

 ing with the sky ; and over all, and part of it all, 

 was the radiant glory of the September sunshine. 



" Truly," said I to one of the brethren, a man 

 of saintly face, " if you are expecting to dwell for- 

 ever upon the earth, you could not have chosen a 

 more inspiring and delightful spot." " Yes, in- 

 deed," he replied, " it seems too beautiful to leave." 

 The topic which agitated the little community was 

 thus brought up for discussion, and, except for a 

 brief prayer, the ordinary Sabbath exercises were 

 set aside for this purpose. All these people seemed 

 polite and gentle in manner ; their simple-minded- 

 ness was noticeable, and their ignorance was abys- 

 mal, though I believe they could all read the 

 Bible and do a little writing and arithmetic. In 

 the facial expression of every one I thought I could 

 see something that betrayed more or less of a lapse 

 from complete sanity. Only one of the whole 

 number showed any sense of humour, a keen-eyed 

 old woman, yclept Sister Caroline, who could argue 

 neatly and make quaint retorts. She and the 

 man of saintly face were the only interesting per- 

 sonalities ; the rest were but soulless clods. 



It soon appeared that the belief in terrestrial 



