whatever grandeur of idea may be found among this acid folk. After a
little time she will reproduce in saintly form whatever gives its real
vitality to this movement."

"Never!" said the clergyman; "they will put upon her the strait-jacket
of their system, and carry her off to doom."

Soon after this we went in different ways through the town.

I called upon Mrs. Widesworth, who had a culinary engagement, and could
not appear, and then walked to the top of the hill, where a number of
the faithful were heaping tar-barrels and shavings about the solitary
cider-mill. Regarding their operations from a little distance stood
Deacon Greenlaw; his face wore an expression of grim humor, underlaid by
a shrewd intelligence of the true position of affairs.

"They are making lively preparations for your holocaust," said I.

"Well, 't isn't exactly that long word neither," replied the Deacon.
Fact is, I just looked it out in the dictionary, and there they call it
'a whole burnt-offering'; but it won't mean all that with me, I can tell
you!"

"But, my dear Sir, surely you mean to go under the Juggernaut
handsomely, and not squirm in the process?"

The Deacon indulged in an interrogative whistle, and jerked his thumb in
the direction of a corn-barn which stood near the base of the hill.

I requested explanation.