Gleanings from old Shaker journals, compiled by Clara Endicott Sears . ys in quiet retrospec-tion. The fine old maple trees have grown so large andleafy that the shadows give a cool green depth to halfthe picture. It is a place of dreams. The Square House heads the village street, andguards it like a sentinel. It had a strange, uncannyhistory before the Shakers came, and since that time hasbeen the scene of many wonderful experiences. When Shadrack Irelands followers built the house,the woods were thick around it, and here he lived ahidden life, with his soul-mate, Abigail Lougee. Now, Shadrac
Gleanings from old Shaker journals, compiled by Clara Endicott Sears . ys in quiet retrospec-tion. The fine old maple trees have grown so large andleafy that the shadows give a cool green depth to halfthe picture. It is a place of dreams. The Square House heads the village street, andguards it like a sentinel. It had a strange, uncannyhistory before the Shakers came, and since that time hasbeen the scene of many wonderful experiences. When Shadrack Irelands followers built the house,the woods were thick around it, and here he lived ahidden life, with his soul-mate, Abigail Lougee. Now, Shadrack had been a New Light preacher, so theysay, and was a strange, secretive man, and full of fan-cies. He came from Charlestown, where he left a wifeand several children, and whether he feared they wouldturn up some day, or act in other inconsiderate ways,is not recorded, but the fact remains that he was guardedwith the utmost secrecy. His days were passed in keep-ing watch from the cupola that then surmounted theroof. He reached it by a secret staircase, up which was. IRELAND AND THE SQUARE HOUSE 3 drawn a string with a bell attached, to warn him of in-truders. Near by, upon the hill, a place of ragged bould-ers served as a meeting-place where he could hold con-verse with his followers, and still keep up his vigil. Thestriking feature of his religion was his claim to an im-mortal body. He warned his people that they must notbury him should his soul depart from it, because itsurely would reenter it again. And so it happened thatone night he was seized with violent pain and died. Anold Shaker manuscript gives the account of it thus: — The night he died he walked the floor in great dis-tress of mind and groaning with deep groans. He said, Ifeel the wrath of God. . Abigail Lougee called Abi-gail Cooper to get up and light a light. They got alight as quick as they could, but he was gone when theygot to him, as I understand. They watched him day and night with deepeningagitation. He
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectshakers, bookyear1916
