True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-05-20
"Would you like to hear sermon if
you had chance :"

you nau cnance !!
eyes would be very glad. My poor
children have never heard sarmint, or
heard any one pray, in all their born days !;
and we've got no meetin' house close to us
and no clothes fit to wear among white
people-and we are livin' just like hea-
thens."
"You have bible, have you not!"
"Oh, no sir-not now. My mother
gave me one when I was married, and
used to read it considerable. But my old
man said it was all cheat, and he used it
all up for waddin' for his shot gun. There
amt a book about this house. My chill
dren don't know their letters, and expect
that I have forgot how to read in this
time"
"Well my good woman, am preacher
myself. 1t is the lost sheep of the House
of Israel that l am seeking. am the
preacher that is to hold meeting at Nc
Cans tomorrow, if can find the way.
got lost and accidentally found my way to
your house. am willing to hold prayers
for you tonight, if you have no objec-
tions."
Roderick" cried she to her husband,
"put up them cards and that bottle !! This
gentlemans preacher !"
Strange to say, Roderick Immediately
arose from the table, and shuhled cards and
bottle out of sight. Then turning his stool
around to the fire, he paid particular at.
tention to all the preacher said and did,
The other two men were too much intoxi.
Gated to notice anything, and were soor
snoring in the corner. Mr.. Walton took
out his bible, and read the XIV. chapter
of our Lords gospel, by st. John--sung o
hymn, and knelt down and prayed. He
asked Heaven to pity this poor family-to
bless his accidental visit to them, and to
lead them in the way of life everlasting.
On closing prayers he observed that the
woman was in tears, and her husband quite
serious. He felt encouraged, and proceed
ed to tell the children, in plain familiar
way, the history of the cross, and the plan
ofsalvation. They heard attentively, and
seemed to be deeply interested.
Early the next morning he held prayers
for them again, and after breakfast he pre-
pared to leave them. They refused to ac-
cept any pay for his lodging; but said that
if he would accept their poor fare, they
would be glad to see him at any time. The
man went with him on foot for about six
miles, to put him into trail that would
lead him to McCan's. Il
When Mr.. Walton come round again to
McCan's, the same man and woman atten-
ded his meeting, and heard him preach.-
The second time they came again with
two sons and daughter--all of them had
walked twelve miles to hear more of Hea-
ven, and to learn the way. Before Mr..
Wa!ton'syear closed, the husband and wife.
two sons and three daughters, had all pro-
fessed faith in Christ, and became members
of the church.
The rapid years have sped away. Near
ly quarter of century has elapsed. That
wilderness has been made "to blossom as
the rose." The woodman's axe has felled
the forest, and agriculture has spread out
her furrowed fields. That manlived near
ly twenty years the life of devoted fol.
lower of Christ, and lied in hope of Heav.
en-. His wife still lives. She has obtain
ed another bible, and loves to read its pre-.
cious truths, and to mediate upon it's holy
precepts. Two of the girls, after arriving
at mature years, and leading exemplary
lives died and went to rest. One son, the
one that was chopping WOOD, is now pro.
fessor in western college and the other
the one who was surprised at the prea-
cher having two shoes on one foot-is O
distinguished minister ofthe gospel.
| Tho Mofhnr