"I will wear the easy woke"-The yoke, he says, is an easy one, and the burden light.
http://www.agsconsulting.com/htdbv5/r1276b.htm"She signed the covenant"- those over the year of 18 must sign a probationary covenant upon entering the society. This guarantees the novice all the rights and privileges of Shaker membership, including food, clothing, lodging and health care.
"He'll make deacon someday."- Each Shaker society was governed by two elders and two elderesses assisted by deacons, who managed the day-to-day operation of the society, and trustees, who dealt with the outside world and were essentially the financial managers.
http://www.everyculture.com/North-America/Shakers.html"Must be the North Family they're talking about."- The village was divided into groups or "families" that were named for points on the compass rose. Each house was divided so that men and women did everything separately. They used different staircases and doors, and sat on opposite sides of the room.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakers#Communal_spiritual_family"Give the old'ns palpitations."-unpleasant sensations of irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. Some persons with palpitations have no heart disease or abnormal heart rhythms and the reasons for their palpitations are unknown.
http://www.medicinenet.com/palpitations/article.htm"Comet wouldn't hurt a no-see-um flying into his face"-The scientific name for the no see um is Ceratopogonidae, but it has accumulated many common names. These include the sand flea, sand fly, biting midge and punkie or punky. Common to beaches, wetlands, creek and lakebeds, the no see um purportedly stays within 350 feet (107 meters) of its breeding ground.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-no-see-um.htm
"Mother God, Father God, we thank you for this food."- Shakers believe in One God — not three male beings in one, but Father and Mother.
http://www.bible.ca/cr-shakers.htm
"I'm well aware of Sister Polly's provenances."-a place of origin
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/provenances
"She's saying I'm a winter Shaker."-Many times a family would bring their children to Pleasant Hill when they were unable to care for them. They knew the Shakers would provide a warm bed, a good meal, education and teach a skill to their children. Some would come and be known as Winter Shakers, usually men, with no home or family. They would come and stay through the harsh Kentucky winters, knowing they would be fed, clothed and offered a warm place to stay, then when the spring came, off they went. This was accepted by the Shakers with the thought that one day, these Winter Shakers, might be inclined to stay when spring came.
http://bar-b-k.tripod.com/id16.html
"Mother Ann Lee"-founder of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, or Shakers.
No comments:
Post a Comment