with us. Andrew was a very kind man and the boys all liked him, but he was lax in discipline and this may have influenced the change. Joseph, his successor, was quite the reverse. He was very kind to all boys who inclined to be good, but rather severe to the unruly. He spared not the rod and spared it less than would have been allowed if the Elders had known more about it, but it was a time when corporal punishment in the school and in the home was considered a necessary part of juvenile education. Joseph was too much a disciplinarian to be loved by all the the boys. Some

thought he savored of favoritism. To some extent this was undoubtedly true. As I was thought to be one especially favored, I can render an unprejudiced opinion.

Unfortunately the charge of favoritism would justly reach higher places than the caretakers. The Elders, more especially the sisterhood, were tinctured more or less with this very natural human frailty and some of them very much so. One very able woman who officiated as Eldress for many years was afflicted with this malady naturally developed by a lengthened term of office and power. Some of her charge who when girls were especially favored and petted, became when older, special objects of severity. She was a devoted mother to those whom she loved, and to them she was an object of adoration. But they could not always remain. children, and as they matured into somewhat of independence of thought and upon occasion ventured to express it however respectfully, resentment immediately arose the Eldress which she omitted no opportunity to disclose.

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One must understand the peculiar idea of Shakers with reference to the relation of Elder and member to realize the misfortune of such a situation. The government was a

veritable theocracy. The Ministry were "The Holy Anointed." They were in a way aloof from the people. They lived in a house by themselves alone. They ate in a room by themselves and their food was cooked by a sister in a kitchen provided for the Ministry only. If a member had a grievance against an Elder and desired to appeal to the Ministry permission to see the Ministry must first be obtained from the Elder. One may imagine something of the embarrassment entailing such a situation. It makes for discipline and governmental control, but it is not conducive to contentment resulting from a purer fraternity. There can be no doubt whatever that some of those sisters have from this cause been made unhappy for many years. If there is a variance between the Elder and a member, there are numberless ways by which the Elders can annoy and humilitate the victim of her spite.

In common life, if a girl is at odds with one who employs her she can quit. She need not associate with one who is disagreeable, but one in a Shaker community is helpless under these conditions. She fears to leave her home first, because she believes as she has been taught so assiduously to believe, that it is the way of God and the only true way. She trembles at losing her privilege, the opportunity that comes but once to the soul. She tries to believe that all her trials are but means to her final purification and redemption. It comes pretty hard sometimes, just as she has controlled. and disciplined herself into a spirit of resignation, to meet an unusually cruel rebuff, some undeserved and unjust remark. It is then that if she had any refuge to which she could flee she would break away at once and forever. Many of them have from time to time done this, and after having absented. them

selves sufficiently long to overcome the natural homesickness that ensues, cannot be induced to return.

The exclusiveness of the Shakers, especially in their earlier history, was as complete as they could make it. When they received children it was with a view to making members of them and so increase their numbers. In their education and induction in various branches of industry every motive. was to make them most efficient and most serviceable to the society. No thought was given to fitting them for life. in a sphere outside their

own.

Consequently one may have worked at several trades and have acquired sufficient skill to serve the purpose of the Shakers in their peculiar circumstances and yet not be thorough enough in any occupation to justify him in accepting a position in any of them, and if a man leaves the society later in life, he finds himself handicapped seriously. Nor is this the worst feature of it. In those earlier days to which I refer, those who withdrew from the society received very unchristianlike treatment, and there remains still a trace of the old way. Their former Shaker friends refused to speak to them when they met, and would not give them any testimonial of character or ability. No aid would be given to enable their once dear brother to start in business. On the contrary, an unmistakable satisfaction was evinced on learning of the failure of this once dear brother to succeed. If religion requires such narrowness the less we have of it the better.

The Shaker School was nominally under the auspices of the town. authorities, but was attended by Shaker children only. The Superintending Committee made their official visits twice in each school term, but in no way did they interfere in the management. The boy's school was three months in winter,

the girls, three months in summer. Our school began the first week in November, taught by Benjamin C. Truman, our assistant caretaker. He was a gifted young man, a good scholar, but too young for his job, and the discipline of the school was poor. He gave very little attention to the younger pupils, and they learned very little.

There was little waste of time allowed the boys during the winter. The older boys were kept busy from time of rising in the morning until retiring at night, sizing broom. corn, making brooms, shovelling snow from the many stone walks in the door yard and keeping the various woodboxes of the sisters supplied with wood from the wood sheds. The smaller boys knit stockings under care of the sisters at the Second House. The excep-. tions to this round of work were one play time at night each week from the close of school until bed time, and Saturday afternoon until 3 o'clock. Three evenings, including Saturday, were given to a religious service as before described. This changing from work to school and from school to work compelled five changes of clothes per day. Every night after school we found at the shop a large wooden tray of brown bread crust all warm from the oven and rich old cheese to go with it. We ate of it liberally, nor did it in any degree impair our appetites for the supper of delicious hash and pie. At noon a basket of apples greeted us, to which we did ample justice.

Thanksgiving comes only once in the year, and it comes only in one way to the Shakers. As a festival it did not appeal to them, and they gave it only a nominal attention in deference to the Government. A brief service was held at nine o'clock at which the Governor's proclamation was read. The remainder of the day was devoted to clean

ing up and putting in order the outbuildings and places that were under the care of no particular person. All were supposed to overhaul their cupboards, drawers and other personal belongings. Little or no difference was made in the dinner. We might perhaps have chicken, but turkey never. The State Fast Day was observed in precisely the

same manner.

As the end of the year drew nigh, some Sunday before Christmas was by the Ministry appointed as the Shaker Fast Day, the supremely important day of the whole year. As the Ministry were ever present on this occasion in both societies, the observance of the day was on consecutive Sundays, one following the other. The people were notified a week in advance, and this interval was supposed to be occupied in a review of the past year to the intent of correcting all errors and to be ready to begin the New Year with clean hands and pure heart. All grudges and hard feelings must be acknowledged and banished. If a variance exist between two members, they must seek reconciliation and forgiveness from each other. If unable to do this, then both must meet before the Elders as mediators. Such matters must not fail of adjustment. If one has a grievance against an Elder, he can appeal to the Ministry and he must not be denied.

to the Ministry a few days before. The mid-day meal was bread and water, but I remember that the bread was new and warm, and we had brown bread fresh and nice and warm, and the young folks ate as heartily as ever, and if any of us ate any less by virtue of the occasion we certainly made up for it in the usual Sunday supper beans. Next morning the people again assembled early for another short service of less solemn character, and the Shakers New Year was ushered in.

Christmas was a joyous occasion, inasmuch as all were supposed to be in a good healthful spiritual condition. It was observed as the Sabbath until four oclock, the supper time. A full religious service was held at 9 a. m. At the close of the service came a united gift to the poor. A bundle of serviceable clothing had been previously prepared for every one and placed in the waiting room, and now all left the meeting room, every one took a bundle, and returning deposited it in one of the large baskets that had meantime been brought in, the Elder making a few remarks concerning our duty to the poor, as lending to the Lord.

With the old Shakers it was a cardinal principle to give to the poor largely of their surplus earnings. They abjured wealth and lavish living. Economy and frugality were insistently and continuously urged upon the people.

The Trustees always remembered us on Christmas in their own way. Every one received a diary for the New Year. Those for the little folks were of course very small, but sufficient to teach them. the importance of keeping a record of their daily doings. Always, too, we had candy and oranges, and the older ones had nice raisins.

In the afternoon of Christmas we always held "Union Meetings." The children were privileged to at

and

tend these and it was the only time during the year. These union meetings were parties of from two or more, sometimes eight or ten, of each sex, in many rooms in the Dwelling House, at the Second House, Infirmary and Office. The Ministry, Elders, Deacons Trustees all held separate meetings. Every brother and sister always kept a large Union Meeting handkerchief spread over their knees and laps at these meetings and every other occasion when brethren and sisters sat together.

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In olden times these sittings were rather less conventional, were enjoyed with pop corn and cider and possibly with smoking, but in my time they were become more restricted and no doubt less enjoyable, and finally they were given up entirely. These meetings were ways of one hour, convening at the ringing of the little bell, and dismissed by the same signal. On week days, free conversation held upon any topic suitable for a mixed company anywhere, whether of our work, news of the world or of books, but on Sunday all secular topics were prohibited. Conversation was limited to the religious, moral or intellectual, interspersed with singing. Theoretically the young people could talk with each other if they so desired, but as a matter of fact they did not talk much, a few of the older ones monopolizing most of the conversation. The selection of the company was by the Elders shrewdly managed to include those deemed most advisable, looking to their fitness in relation to each other. In other words, they would not include in the same meeting a young man and young woman who were known or supposed to be partial to each other.

Uneventfully the winter passed. School closed the last week of February and just now the monotony

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was broken with a vengeance. An event occurred that stirred Our peaceful community to its depths. Three of our most promising young men, oneof them our school teacher, all of them of fine ability upon whom the fondest hopes of the society were centered: these three young were suddenly missing. They had left our home and their home without a word, with no hint of their intention. It was bad enough for them to leave us even in the most open manner, but to "run away" intensified the offence intolerably. It was an ungrateful, cruel act. Whom could they now trust? This thing must receive prompt attention and surely it did. Every man, woman, and child was upon a day appointed for the purpose, called separately before both Elders and questioned as to what if anything they knew about the affair, but if they acquired any information I never heard of it. It served however, to emphasize the awfulness of the thing, which was probably the chief intent of the Elders.

What we are most concerned with in this narrative is what was the underlying cause of the defection of these young men. All of them had lived there from early childhood. Their ability was appreciated. They were loved and trusted. They must have loved many of the people there. They knew little of the world and its ways. Ah, yes, indeed. In this

very ignorance we find a temptation to them. They longed to see it, and like the little birds in the nest they longed to try their wings. What really had they to look forward to except a monotonous round of drudgery from one year's end to another, and to what purpose? Evidently the religious element of the people failed to attract them and that was the only magnet to hold a young person anyhow, very slender inducement for the Shaker life. The

desire for personal independence, freedom to go and to come at their own sweet will, to earn money and to spend it without dictation is the natural desire of the young man. But the Shakers say no. You can never own anything. Not even your legs. All of these things belong to the Church and you can have the use of them only. only that. If after having spent years, the best part of your life it may be, if at sometime you withdraw from the society you can claim no compensation for long services. rendered.

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And then again what assurance have I that I will be always content? Will it not be wise policy, he queries, to try life outside for awhile? If he finds he has made a mistake in going, if conscience pricks, he can. return. His education has been such that he is haunted by considerable doubt whether he may not misstep, but reason urges him to go, and having gone that ends it so far as any return is concerned.

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There was a cogent reason leaving secretly, as did these young men, and as many others have done. If a person was valued, no effort was spared to induce him to change his mind. He would be escorted to the office and there be visited by those whom he was supposed to love and thru his affection affection they tried to win him back. No one without experience can know what an ordeal it was to pass through. It may be that one or more of these young men had received a taste of it, and thought it was something to avoid if possible.

The maple sugar season began soon after school closed, and it was an interesting time for the boys. They always were in requisition to assist in distributing the buckets to the trees and driving the spiles in the holes bored by the brethren. A company of sisters went down at the same time to scald the buckets

and start the sugar makers in a cleanly way. To the boys it was a pleasureable time; the walk to the camp two miles away; and the wading thru the deep snow with the buckets, a thousand of them. It was work, but it was fun. The dinner was extra good. The sisters made griddle cakes and these were served with good thick maple syrup from a jug kept over from the previous season.

At one

There was an annex to the main building, a combination of bed room, kitchen and parlor. end of the room were double deck berths, as it was often necessary to boil the sap night as well as day. There was a good cook stove, a large dining table and plenty of chairs. Once again only did the boys spend the day at the camp, but this day was purely a holiday and we spent it in play and feasting on the sweets of which all the varieties were at our unlimited disposal.

First we attacked the syrup can, then sugar, a large tray full of it. Next came "stick chops" made by boiling down to a very thick mass poured on snow or a marble slab, which when cold was brittle, but when warmed in the mouth it attained adhesive qualities that were very masterful. The same mass removed from the slab while yet warm could be worked into very white candy quite different in taste from the stick chops.

The maples of this orchard were very large pasture trees. I have known two of them to yield a barrel of sap each in one day. Most of the trees were served with two, and some with three buckets.

Few people know that freezing sap produces the same effect as boiling. Let a bucket full of sap be frozen solid, a large spoonful of thick and colorless syrup will be found. We used to call it sap honey. It is of delicious quite unlike ordinary syrup,

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