 the
fields of snow, as it rose, with a beautiful gradation of light and shade, under
the rays of a full moon. In front of the academy was a vacant piece of ground,
that was intended for a public square. On the side opposite to Mr. Jones, the
new, and as yet unfinished, church of St. Paul's was erected. This edifice had
been reared, during the preceding summer, by the aid of what was called a
subscription; though all, or nearly all, of the money, came from the pocket of
the landlord. It had been built under a strong conviction of the necessity of a
more seemly place of worship than the long-room of the academy, and under an
implied agreement, that, after its completion, the question should be fairly put
to the people, that they might decide to what denomination it should belong. Of
course, this expectation kept alive a strong excitement, in some few of the
sectaries who were interested in its decision; though but little was said openly
on the subject. Had Judge Temple espoused the cause of any particular sect, the
question would have been immediately put at rest, for his influence was too
powerful to be opposed; but he declined interference in the matter, positively
refusing to lend even the weight of his name on the side of Richard, who had
secretly given an assurance to his Diocesan, that both the building and the
congregation would cheerfully come within the pale of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. But when the neutrality of the Judge was clearly ascertained, Mr. Jones
discovered that he had to contend with a stiff-necked people. His first measure
was to go among them, and commence a course of reasoning, in order to bring them
round to his own way of thinking. They all heard him patiently, and not a man
uttered a word in reply, in the way of argument: and Richard thought, by the
time that he had gone through the settlement, the point was conclusively decided
in his favour. Willing to strike while the iron was hot, he called a meeting,
through the newspaper, with a view to decide the question, by a vote, at once.
Not a soul attended, and one of the most anxious afternoons that he had ever
known, was spent by Richard in a vain discussion with Mrs. Hollister, who
strongly contended that the Methodist (her own) church was the best entitled to,
and most deserving of, the possession of the new tabernacle. Richard now
perceived that he had been too sanguine, and had fallen into
