The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-24
.Bu,. madam. | Know Of no other.

"Dut, iuaualI, hHo" vi Nv "''
| is very cold and dark, and I'm almost
frozen. / wish TO stay YOU can only
permit me to sit by your fire"
"Yes sir, you can stay. We're mighty
poor people, bat we can feed your horse
aud give YOU such fare as we have every
day." :,
aThat'll do nadam-i,'s all | can ask.
Light, sir, and come in. John, ITO
the boy) take this mans horse, and turn
out old Spcck, and put him in the pen,
and give him some corn. Children, get
out OF the gentleman's way. Here SIR
take that stool. We are too poor TO
have chairs"
The floor was earthern, beaten hard
and made smooth. The chimney was
of rude construction, and there was large
fire of hickory logs burning, rs Alfred
Walton drew up before it.
At one side OF the fireplace was Ia
bic, made BY driving four small stakes,
forked at the upper end, into the ground
and laying upon them two parallel poles
across which rough oukcn boards were
placed. At this table sal three men, each
on stool, and intently engaged in game
of cards. Besides the cards, bottle and
a tin cup occupied their respective places
ON the table, evidently for the convenience
of this interesting trio.
One of the men seized the bottle and
cup. poured out portion OF the contents
of the former into the latter, and Offering
il TO Mr.. Walton, said:
Heres something to warm YOU better
than the fire, Try some"
Thank you, sir" said the preacher
IL can soon warm by this fire, and l do
not wish TO drink any spirits"
Maybe the young gentleman belongs
to the temperance, suggested the
woman.
"If he does" said the man, "what OF
il. This is ease Of necessity
Il do not wish to drink-thank YOU
sir" said the preacher, and commenced
taking oft his snow-shocs, leggings and
overcoat.
.NIamma, look here said little red
headed girl. as she pointed at his watch
chain. "What is it, mama.'
"He's 90, two pair o shoes on ono
foot. and two coats" exclaimed n little
boy.
.Comc away. children" said the
mother The poor things never see any
thing or anybody out here in the woods,
and they're growing up like wolves"
The men at the table emptied the cup
which Alfred Walton had refused, and
continued their nctarious game. Their
stakes seemed TO be acorns, most proba-
blv because they had no money, and for
want OF excitement, they made frequent
application TO the potent liquid contained
in the bottle. They seemed 10 be lnclln-
ell TO proceed with the game, and 10 leave
the newly arrived to enjoy the fire. The
woman busted herself, in preparing some
supper for the traveller, but, managed to
keep up n conversation with him in which
She soon cyinced curiosity TO know who
he was, that, som, tell Us, Is a character
is,ic of Ewes daughters everywhere. Al
ired Walton had hastily formed the con-
clusion that-as he was among gamblers
and the profanc and could not avoid their
society tor the night-it would, perhaps,
be- policy in him to "lie low and keep
dark :" 10 pass for a traveller merely, and
mn, IN afronI nm idea that he was circuit
preaehsr. The woman, however, had de-
ternined to know who he was.
Here, sir" said she, "pick up your
seat, and sit by this shelf and have some
supper. The Others have been bear-hunt-
inr and had dinner late, and they may do
without supper" ..
The preacher arose and seated himself
as directed. She gave him some coffee
in tin cup without sugar or cream
then some corn bread just ba&cd-some
venisou. pretty well prepared, and some
wild honey. with which he made supper
by no means unpalatable.
While he was eating, she said, "Spose
YOU do not live in these partsT
NO, ma'am; I'm stranger
Perhaps you're looking at the coun'
tryr
well. ma'am, | see the country as |
pass through, but that is not my bus''
ness
Are YOU buying landsi" .
No. ma'am. do not buy any lands
DO you belong TO this company OF
surveyors! ?"
NO, ma'am. did not know anything
about them"
What is Your name { =.
.NIy name is Alfred Walton, ma'am.'
Il used TO know some Waltons in Ken
,ucky when ! was gal; perhaps they
were Your kin
IL presume not, ma'am. l have no re-
lativcs there, that | know Of"
The woman had not yet gratihed her
curiosity and sat mute for awhile, proha-
bly wondering how she could ascertain
what was his business in thisn country.
Just now she happened TO call to mind
that some one had seen man at the
mill few DAYS before, who was buying
up all the peltry he could find, and she
jumped at the conclusion that this young
man was the same.
"You're buying deer skins { said she.
mo, ma'am." said the preacher, am
seeking the lost sheep OF the House OF
Israel
81 do saw. exclaimed she. There
was wcthcr here day before yesterday.
dare say ii was yourn"
She was satisfied. He was sheep-hunt-
inc. AL right. She began now 10 look
over her husbands shoulder, and take
some interest in the game OF cards, the
meanwhile leaving our young sheep-hunt-
er to enjoy his thoughts.
These thoughts soon ran thus: I'm a
protessed preacher OF the gospel. I'm
sent TO call no, the righteous, but SIN.
ners, TO repentance. My commission is
L "a to