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"By the aforesaid statute for the observation of the Sabbath, it is provided, that all and every person and persons in this state shall, on the Lord's Day, carefully apply themselves to the duties of religion and piety, publicly and privately; and whatsoever person shall not duly attend the public worship of God on the Lord's day, in some congregation allowed by law, provided there be any on which he can conscientiously and conveniently attend, unless hindered by sickness, or otherwise necessarily prevented, shall for every such offense, pay a fine of fifty cents; and being presented to authority, shall be deemed guilty thereof, if such person shall not be able to prove to the satisfaction of such authority, that he or she has attended the said worship."

In many of the pews in many or most of the meetinghouses, small swing tables or stands were placed, on which one might take notes of the sermon. I have seen some of the notes thus taken, for the practice had not entirely passed away when I was young.

Kedar, a negro slave of Dr. Jared Eliot, though unable to read or write, was still anxious to take notes from the preaching of his master as others did. Having obtained pen, ink, and paper, he made certain marks, which he showed to his master after service. His master, after he had looked at the paper, said, "Why, I can't read it." "Can't read it, massa? Why, every word came out of your own mouth."

On returning from meeting, the family usually had an early tea, or rather supper, for it was several generations before tea replaced beer and cider as a beverage. As soon as the sun was set, and the Sabbath, according to their reckoning, had passed by, there was the interchange of family visits, which promoted the charities of good neighborhood. In these interviews the conversation would turn upon the sermons which they had heard, the duties which had been enforced, and the sicknesses and bereavements which were noticed in the public prayers, and the news in the town generally. Thus, while the good impressions of the Sabbath were on their minds, they thought it a fitting time to cultivate the social affections with their friends and neighbors.

It should be remembered, that in many of the towns, for a long period, there was but a single worshiping assembly on the Sabbath. Nearly every family was here represented.

In the Heart of Mid Lothian, the Laird of Dumbiedykes is made to say that he saw Jennie Deans every Sabbath at church, and that was the reason why he came to think of marrying her.

Early marriages were general; frequently in the year in which the young man obtained his majority, and it often happened that his choice was made upon impressions re

ceived at church.

Each of them being members of a family before marriage, and accustomed to the duties and cares of a family, they did not find the responsibilities of their new family condition annoying. They carried the bud, and leaf, and flower of their early feelings into their wedded life, and never realized in their experience "the waste of feelings unemployed, the leafless desert of the mind," sometimes entailed upon the votaries of single blessedness.

J.

During a portion of the time in the period we are considering, namely, from 1783 to 1818, some of the most distinguished men that Connecticut ever produced, were living.

There was William Samuel Johnson, the most accomplished scholar in the Federal Convention in 1787, and afterwards President of Columbia College. There was Roger Sherman, "who never said a foolish thing, and who, in good sense, was surpassed by no one, unless it was Dr. Franklin." There was Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth, statesman, jurist, diplomatist; and said to be thought of by Washington as his successor. There was Silas Deane, associated with Dr. Franklin in the treaty with France, and instrumental in introducing Lafayette into this country. There was Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, the great war governor, to be known in all time as "Brother Jonathan." There was Samuel Huntington, his successor, President of the Continental Congress for two

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years and Governor of the State from 1786 to 1796. There was Governor Jonathan Trumbull the younger, speaker in Congress. There was the brother of the latter, Col. John Trumbull, the aide-de-camp of Washington, and the great painter of Revolutionary scenes. There was Col. David Humphreys, the aide-de-camp of Washington, poet and diplomatist, who brought into this country the "true golden fleece." There was Eli Whitney, the great inventor. There 'was Pierrepont Edwards. There was Uriah Tracy, statesman and orator, in whom was united wisdom and wit. There was Dr. Noah Webster, the great lexicographer. There was Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury, and Governor of the State of Connecticut; and his cousin, Alexander Wolcott, a leading politician. There was Zephanias Swift, the Blackstone of Connecticut. There was Tapping Reeve, the learned author of works on law, and founder of the celebrated law school at Litchfield. Judge James Gould, who was associated with him in the same school, and added to its reputation by his accurate learning, his logical precision, and eloquent statements. In their school were educated 1,015 students. There was Timothy Pitkin, statesman and historian. There was Col. Jared Mansfield, a graduate of Yale College in 1777, surveyor-general of the United States, and Professor at West Point. There was Abiel Holmes, an eminent historian. There was Jedediah Morse, the eminent geographer. There was Roger Minott Sherman, rivaling Mr. Calhoun in his power of analysis. There was John Cotton Smith, a descendant of Rev. Henry Smith, of Wethersfield; Rev. John Cotton, of Boston; Rev. Cotton Mather, of Boston; and the Rev. William Worthington, of Saybrook ; -the finished gentleman, as well as the accomplished Member of Congress, Governor of the State, and Judge of the Superior Court. There was Roger Griswold, who united the fine qualities of two noble families of Connecticut, the Wolcotts and the Griswolds, Member of Congress, Judge of the Superior Court, Governor of the State, and was appointed Secretary of War. There was Calvin Goddard, the peer of the two last. There were Stephen Titus Hosmer, David

Daggett, and Thomas S. Williams, each of them in turn Chief Justice of the State.

Nor should it be forgotten that several who became distinguished after 1818, received their education and laid the foundation for their eminence in the period we are considering. There were Roger S. Baldwin, William W. Ellsworth, Ralph I. Ingersoll, Samuel Church, William L. Storrs, Gideon Welles, George D. Prentice, and others.

There were also John Pierrepont, Mrs. Emma Willard, James A. Hillhouse, Mrs. Lydia H. Sigourney, Samuel G. Goodrich, Fitz-Greene Halleck, James Gates Percival, John G. C. Brainard, and George Hill.

K.

Some of the great English poets have given us portraits of the good parson or minister. The ministers of ancient Connecticut, in some of their features, resembled these portraits as much as if they had sat for them.

Thus Chaucer, born 1328, died 1400:

"Wide was his cure; the houses far asunder,
Yet never failed he, or for rain or thunder,
Whenever sickness or mischance might call,
The most remote to visit, great or small.

But dwelt at home, and guarded well his fold,
So that it should not by the wolf miscarry;
He was a shepherd, and no mercenary.
Tho' holy in himself and virtuous,

He still to sinful mer was mild and piteous:
Not of reproach imperious or malign;
But in his teaching soothing and benign.
To draw them on to heaven, by reason fair
And good example, was his daily care.
But were there one perverse and obstinate,
Were he of lofty or of low estate,
Him would he sharply with reproof astound,
A better priest is nowhere to be found."

So, too, Dryden, born 1631, died 1700:

"With eloquence innate his tongue was armed;
Though harsh the precept, yet the people charmed,
For, letting down the golden chain from high,

He drew his audience upward to the sky:

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He preached the joys of Heaven, and pains of Hell,
And warned the sinner with becoming zeal;

But on eternal mercy loved to dwell.

He taught the gospel rather than the law;

And forced himself to drive; but loved to draw."

So Goldsmith, born 1729, died 1774:

"Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,
And even his failings leaned to virtue's side;
But in his duty prompt, at every call,

He watched and wept, he prayed and felt, for all:
And, as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.

To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given,
But all his serious thoughts had rest in Heaven.
As some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,
Tho' round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head."

So Cowper, born 1731, died 1800:

"I would express him simple, grave, sincere ;
In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain,
And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste,
And natural in gesture; much impressed
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds
May feel it too; affectionate in look,
And tender in address, as well becomes

A messenger of grace to guilty men."

The ministers of Connecticut in the Revolution, nearly all of them, sleep with their several flocks, and the inscriptions on their gravestones are often read. Their descendants are still among us; their houses are pointed out to the stranger;

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