Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-01-27

slanderous, but suspicious, thought, in a
private way, it might be liquor. The man
himself sought religious meetings, but
they were few and distant, and he heard
no echo to the voice within him, and he
still returned hungry and dissatisfied.
The people of certain town will not
soon forget the apparition of that awk,
ward and addressed man who visited theil
churches, to plant himself in front of the
pulpit, and to listen to the exercises with
all that attention which the criminal upon
the gallows bestows upon the distant horse
man, who, perhaps, brings him the expec-
ted reprieve. 1t was in the midst of a
camp-meeting fervor that he at last found
peace, and there his frantic ejaculation
FIve got 1t, Tee got It, was like the world
wide Eureka of the Syracusan, when his
grand discovery first electrified his own
breast.
Then he came home to tell his neigh
bors what the Lord had done for his soul
Forsaking all other duties, he wandered
from cabin to cabin, and wherever he
found hearer, he called upon him to
forsake his sins. His ardor increased
every day.
Soon his rude but forcible illustrations
began to tell upon the hearts of those
simple mountaineers, as the words of a
second John Babtist, crying out, Prepare
ye the way of the Lord, make His paths
straight
And yet he seemed to have no idea
that he was called to preach. Such
thought as that of entering the ministry
did not enter his breast. Although his
heart overfowed with the one subject,
and he declared his determination to
speak that subject to others, so long os he
lived, yet it was only as friend counsels
friend that he expected to do it, no more.
How could he become preacher? He
couldn't read hymn or taxi; he hadn'
means to buy decent clothing or pay for
a sessions schooling. But he was guided
right, for he fell in with a gentlemen who
was botanizing among his native hills,
and had the good fortune to spend Sab
bath in his company. This man, pro-
found observer of human nature, and a
friend of his species, was struck with the
peculiarities of the case, and, although no
professor in religious way, yet he felt
convinced that the hand of might was
here. He, therefore, advised him to ap-
ply to some religious association, before
which he could lay open his heart, and
be understood.
The results of this counsel we have seen
in his coming to Presbytery, and present
ing himself stranger to all, in the man
ner before described. This history, much
elaborated, he gave out with volubility
that took away the breath.
The pine fire blazed low; the dipped and
shapeless candles simmered themselves
into torrents, unobserved by the hearers,
while all sat spell-bound at the recital
With uncouth gestures, words barbarous
as the Africans, alternately crying and
laughing as he wandered from his first
agony to his final triumph, and shouting
until his voice rang back from the hillside,
the Mountain Boy enchained each heart,
until its very pulsations might be heard.
There was not dry eye in the assembly.
The gray-haired moderator sobbed aloud.
The more excitable joind, from time to
time, in his shouts, as the words of victo-
ry rung in their ears; and when, after a
sentence of great length, he declared that
glory was begun in his heart, and that
God alone had done this work within
him, not one who was experienced in
such announcements but declared his con-
viction that it was even so,-the hand of
God was there.
A brief consultation ensued, and then,
by general consent, George WiIlets was
duly received as a candidate for the holy
ministry The next event in his history
will carry US more than ten years for
ward.