His broad, kindly face,
shadowed by a wide-brimmed hat, his flowing white hair, his quaintly cut
coat, with the ample side pocket, and his long, white necktie, presented
a picture so full of truth and simplicity as to be worthy of being
preserved on canvas. He was, in truth, a figure belonging to an order of
things that was fast passing way--at least along the banks of the
Hudson.
Children clapped their hands and ran to meet him; girls greeted him with
offerings of flowers; and when he had dismounted, both old and young
gathered about him, lisping him a welcome and shaking him by the hand.
There was nobody like Dominie Payson, and the love these people bore
him, and now gave him so many expressions of, was true and heartfelt.
And when he had kissed the children, and exchanged greetings and kind
words with their parents, he proceeded into the church, followed by his
flock. His sermon was, perhaps, one of the oddest ever listened to, for
after returning thanks for the bountiful harvest, and extending on the
goodness of God, and advising his flock to stick firmly to their farms
and their religion, that being the only true way of getting to Heaven,
he turned his guns against Mr.
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