The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-08

to that himself" replied Brinson.
"He must be precious original" was the
general rejoinder. A proposition which
most Of them had an opportunity to verify
experimentally.
need hardly add that an intense ex.
element resulted. The rumor took wings
and flew on the wind-turned to a storm,
storm Of exaggeration; every echo in.
creased its sound, till nothing else could
be heard than the Barbecue camp.meet-
ing; it became the focus Of thought and
the staple of dreams. And thus the un-
known preacher had secured one thing in
advance, congregation embracing the en-
tire population of the country, which was,
likely. the purpose Of his stratagem.
lwas travelling in that part Of Texas at
the time, and my Imagination being in
famed by the common curiosity, took
some trouble and attended. But although
my eyes Witnessed the extraordinary scene,
| | ght well despair OF the attempt to paint
1.-THE pen of Homer, or the pencil Of Ho.
garth. were alone adequate to the sublimi-
ty and burlesque of the complicated task.
may only sketch the more angular out.
lines.
A space had been cleared away imme.
diately around the magnificent Double
Springs, which boiled up with force suffi.
cient 10 turn mill wheel, in the very cen.
ire Of the evergreen grove. Here pull pit
had been raised, and before it was The in
| separable altar for mourners. Bey onG
these, at the distance of fifty PAGES. sue
cession OF plank tables extending in a
great circle, or the perimeter Of polygon.
completely inclosed the area above the
spring. An odoriterous stream of the
most delicious SAVIOR diffused itself through
jacent prairie, where the fly slaves Of Pc
ter Brinson were. engaged in cooking the
promised barbecue.
The grove itself was literally alive, teem.
ing. swarming. running over with strange
figures in human shape; men. women and
children. in every variety of oullandish
costume. All Shelby county was there.
The hunters had come, rifle in hand, and
dogs barking at their heels; the rogues
refugees and gamblers, with pistols in their
belts. and big knives peeping from their
shirt bosoms, while here and there might
be seen sprinklng of well dressed wives
and daughters.
| The tumut was deatening, tornado o
babbling tongues, talking, shouting, quar-.
reling. betting. and cursing for amusement
Suddenly a cry arose-"Colonel Wat
Foreman! Hurrah for Col. Watt Fore.
man!''
/ And the crowd parted to the right and
left to let the Lion Lyncher pass.
Foreman spoke in voice sharp and
piercing as the point Of dagger-"Eh
Brinson, where is the new missionary
We want to give him plumed coal.''
"He has not yet arrived" quietly re.
piled the planter.
u ''Well, suppose we must wait for him
but put the barbecue on the boards-I'n
as hungry as starved wolf."
81 cannot till the missionary comes
the barbecue is his properly"
+ A fearful ligh; blazed in Foreman's :
eyes, as he took three steps towards Brin.
son. and fairly shouted, Fetch the mea
Instantly. or I'll fill your stomach with q
dinner of lead and steel!''
l This was the ultimatum oil one whose
authority was the only law, and the plan
ter obeyed without murmur.
! The smoking victuals were brought and
arranged on the tables by score Of slaves
and the throng prepared TO commence the
sumptuous meal, when a voice pealed
from the pulpit loud as the blast of trum
pet in battle-"Stay, gentlemen and la
dies, till the giyer OF the barbecue asks
Gods blessing!
! Every heart startled-every eye was d.
rected to the speaker, and whisperless 81
Il Il. y
his remarkable appearance. He was al
most giant in stature, though scarcel,
twenty years Of age; his hair, as dark a.
the ravens wing, flowed down his i'm
mense shoulders in masses OF natural ring
let's, more beautiful than any ever wreath
ed around the jeweled brow of a queer
by the labored achievements OF human
art; his eyes, black as midnight, beamet
like stars over face pale as parian mar
BILE. calm, passionless. spiritual, and wear
;, ing singularly indefnable expression
such as might have been shaded by tn,
light OF dream from Paradise, or the III
minous shadow of an angels wing. The
heterogeneous crowd, hunters, gambler
and homicides, gazed in mute astoDish
ment.
=. The missionary prayed, but it SOUNDED
like no other prayer ever addressed to tn,
throne OF the Almighty. Ii contained nj
encomiums on the splendor OF the divin,
attributes; no petitions in the tone Of com
| mands; no prisons for distant places, time
) or objects; no instructions as 10 the admin
} istration OF the government Of the universe
1t related exclusively to the present peo
pie and the present hour; it was the cry o
, naked soul, and that soul an humbl,
i. beggar for the bread and water OF heaven
ly life.
"Now, friends, said the missionary
l"partake of Gods gift at the table. ane
, then come and sit down and listen to hi,
gospel"
, II would be impossible to describe tn.
sweet tone of kindness in which these sim
, Pile words were uttered. that made him
on the instant. FIVE hundred friends. Ons
heart, however, in the assembly, was mad
dened by the evidence Of the preacher
wonderful power. Col. Watt Foreman ex
claimed in sneering voice-"Mr. Pau
, Denton, your reverence has lied. Yo,
promised not only good barbecue, bu
, better louori"