in volume and
earnestness, the voices swell into a quaint and weird melody. From all
directions small boats are crossing river and bay to the little red
school-house at Popham. Moved, we confess, more by curiosity than by any
thirst for religious consolation, we joined the procession. Gathered
within the cheerless room, unadorned, save here and there by
wretchedly-executed prints of early patriots who would scarcely be
recognized by their own friends, old and young alike presented a
distressed and penitent appearance.

[Illustration]

All thoughts of the beautiful world outside were overshadowed by the
feelings of doubt and fear within. In the absence of a regular preacher,
each one, beginning with the eldest and grayest of the flock, poured out
a pitiful story of sins, and prayed for strength to guide their
uncertain steps. The lamentations grew louder and stronger, and the
tears flowed fast and free, and the little ones shook with fear at the
dismal picture unfolded to their already terrified minds. Finally,
overcome by their highly-wrought excitement, they subsided into a
prolonged and painful silence, broken only by sobs and moans. Passing
out from the dismal service to the green meadows that stretch away to
the sea, our little party gave a sigh of relief, and the air seemed
purer, and the sky brighter than ever. On our return we passed one of
the worst self-accused sinners busily hauling in the cast catch from his
weir along the shore. Tears still stood upon his furrowed cheeks, while
religiously apologizing for his seeming wickedness. His excuses were
lavish with regret, but we could but feel that his sincerity was less
than his love of the mighty dollar.

A few years ago the natives were thrown into a state of the greatest
excitement by the discovery of valuable deposits of feldspar on one of
their rocky farms. The news spread quickly along the river, and the
presence of capitalists in their midst lent additional interest to the
prospective bonanza. The fishing business again came to a standstill,
and the old settlers looked upon each other as bloated bond-holders.
Such a drilling and blasting was never seen before in these parts, and
soon the whole territory was dotted with huge mounds of imaginary ore.
Farms that could scarcely be given away suddenly possessed enormous
values in the minds of their lucky owners. Some of the mines were
developed extensively, and shipments began which have continued at
interva