Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-02-28
Peter CartrigI.i and the Dancing Party.

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Peter CartrigIt and the Dancing Party.
Shortly after this Brother Walker left uo
to visit some Of his Old friends aud relatives
in West Tennessee, and l journeyed On to-
ward my home i'll Christian County, Ken
lucky. Saturday night caMe Oh, aud found
me 10 strange region of country, and il
the hills, knobs, and spurs OF the Gunlber-
land Mountains. / greatly desired to stop
on the approaching Sabbath, AMI spend 1t
with a Christian people, but | was now Ia
region Of country where there was no Gospel
minister for many miles around, and where,
as | learned, many OF the scattered papG.a-
ton had never heard Gospel sermon in all
their lives, and where the inhabitants knew
no Sabbath only to hun; end visit, drink AID
dance. Thus lone and pensive, late in the
evening, hailed at tolefably decent house,
and the landlord kept entertainment. rode
up and asked for quarters. The gentleman
said could stay, but ne was afraid would
not enjoy myself very much as a traveller,
inasmueh as they had party meeting there
that night to have little dance l inquired
how far It was to decent house on the road
he said seven miles. told him if he would
treat me civilly and feed my horse well, by
his leave | would stay He assured ne
should be treated civilly. dismounted and
went in. The people collected, Il large COM
pany. saw there was not much drinking
going on.
Iquietly took my scat in one corner Of the
house. and the dance commenced. / sat
quietly musing, a total stranger. and greatly
desired to preach to this people. Finally.
concluded to spend the next day, (Sabha;h)
there, aud ask the privilege to preach 10
them. | had hardly settled this point in my
mind, when beautiful, rudy lady walked
very gracefully up to me- dropped hand-
some courtesy, anu pleasantly with Winning
smiles. invited Inc out to take dance with
her. can hardly describe my thoughts or
feeling on that occasion. However. in mo-
:nent l resolved on desperate experiment.
rose as gracefully as I could; viii not
say with sumo emotion. bat with many emo
tons. The youas lady moved to my RICH.
side; I grasped her right hand wish my right
hand, while she leaned her left arm on nine.
In this position We walked On the aonr. The
whole company seemed pleased with this act
of polteness in the young lady, shown to
stranger. The oolored man, who was the
fiddler, began 10 nut his fiddle in the best
order. [ then spoke to the fiddler 10 hold a
moment. aud added that for several years I
had not undertaken any matter Of inpor-
tanee without first asking the blessing Of God
upon it. and desired now to ask the bes-
slug Of God upon this beautiful young lady
and the whole company, that had shown
such an act of politeness to a total stranger.
II re | grasped the young lady's hand
tightly, and said. let rs all kueel down
and pray and then instantly dropped on
my knees, and commenced praying with all
the power Of my soul and body thar could
command. The young Indy tried to get
loose from me, but held her tight. Pres
emily she fell Oh her knees. Some of the
company kneelad down, some stood, some
fed, some sat sill, NIL looked curious. The
fiddler ran off in the kitchen, saying. Lord
a marcy, what's de matter? what is dat
mean %
While I prayed some wept. and wept ont
aloud, and some cried fot mercy. rose
from my knees and exhorted, after which
l sung hymn. The young lady who inv-
tea me ON the floor lay PROSTATE crying ear
nestly for mercy. | exhortod again, sang
anil prayed nearly all night About fifteen
of that company protested religion, and our
meeting lasted next day and next night and
as many more were powerfully converted. =
] organized a society, took thirtytwo into
tae Church, and sent them Il preacher. My
landlord was appointed leader, which post
he held for many years. This was the COM