Owing to the fact that nine years absence from home had weaned him
somewhat from native customs, Perez had, in fact, forgotten to lay in
a supply of this inestimable simple, to the universal use of which by
our forefathers during religious service, may probably be ascribed
their endurance of Sabbatical and doctrinal rigors to which their
descendants are confessedly unequal. It is well known that their
knowledge of the medicinal uses of common herbs was far greater than
ours, and it was doubtless the discovery of some secret virtue, some
occult theological reaction, if I may so express myself, in the seeds
of the humble caraway, which led to the undeviating rule of furnishing
all the members of every family, from children to grey heads, with a
small quantity to be chewed in the mouth and mingled with the saliva
during attendance on the stated ordinances of the Gospel. Whatever may
be thought of this theory, the fact will not be called in question
that in the main, the relaxation of religious doctrine and Sabbath
observance in New England, has proceeded side by side with the decline
in the use of meetin seed.
In putting all the young men together in one gallery, it may be
thought that some risk was incurred of making that a quarter of
disturbance.
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