The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-24
Misfallanauns.
The Young Methodist Preacher.
BY REV. A. N. SCOTT.

ter and piercing.
Alfred Walton was q mere youth, not
having reached his his Rineteoah natal
dav. bv several months. During the
preceding autumn he had been licensed
10 preach, and recommended 10 the an
nual conference as a suitable person to
travel and preach the gospel. At that
conference there was u call for several
ministers to 60 West and bear the glad
tidincs of peace TO those bold and daring
adventures who had left the old States
and emigratcd west Of the great Father
of Waters.
Alfred and seven Others volunteered
and were BY the Bishop transferred. lie
received his appointment to circuit hve
hundred miles west of the Mississippi.
and hastened at once TO his held oi Ia
Dor.
The eight Young men all set out to-
re,her from their native State, and travel
lei in company until they reached the
territory, now State Of -. They then
separated. and each sought his own CIR
cult. Alircd's was farther west than
any of the rest. and il required the travel
of many weary mile to enable him to
find his destination.
Late in January he reached his circuit,
and managed to send his appointments
around a few days in advance; and then
he commenced the great work OF preach.
ING TO the emigrants in their new and
rustic homes.
Houses were like angels visits 'iew
and FAR between" for the population was
only in settlements, and very sparse at
that. 1t required four weeks to 70 round
his field OF labor, and this involved many
lonc rides. There were creeks to swim.
mountains 10 cross, and dim traces to fol-
low. III, experienced no little difficulty,
when passing round for the first time, IN
finding the way.
The day referred TO at the beginning OF
this article was one occupied in that hrst
"rouul." At twelve o'clock h. preached
to about a dozen hearers, who had gath
cred for that purpose at the house OF one
of the neighbor>. Here he learned that
his appointment for the next day was
more than thirty miles distant, and that
the road would lead him over noun
tain. Thathc might be able to reach 1t in
due time. il was necessary that he should
travel some part of the way the same
evening.
There WAS house on his route, seven
teen miles distant, at which hc could toe
cntcrt.ilcd, and from il he could, on the
following morning. travel the remaining
portion OF the way.
About two o'clock that cold afternoon
our hero. wrapped up as best he could be-
was on the road, pressing on through the
fallen and falling snow. His road was
lin at best. and the vast quantity OF snow
that had fallen had well nigh ob.iterated
all traces of it whatever. lie was told
hat no otherr oad intersected his, that he
would see no human habitation for seven
teen miles, and that he would cross the
mountain.
The snn was not more than hall an
hour high by the Young preachers watch
when he arrived at the mountains base.
The ascent was steep, dlIticult, and IN
some places, even dangerous. The dis
:ance over was three miles, and there he
would find shelter for the night. Ntcr
hc had gained the summit he Was fearful
hat he had missed his way. lie could
pcrcieve no signs of it; there were notrecs
standing there, nothing but few s'unted
bushes, vines AMI long grass, and these
were all bending with weight OF snow,
The thought that he was bewildered
and lost on the mountain, and night with
all its horrors Just at hand, was 10y no
means pleasant reflection. lie pressed
Onward as rapidly as practicable without
any road or knowledge of the course, en-
.irclv bcwildercd. lie reached the brow
of the mountain Just as night was draw
me- her dark mantle over hill and dale :
out here he found the descent impractical
Ihlc. and il was with no small share oldit-
iculty that he succeeded at last IN hnd,
mg a place where. by dismountlng anu
sliding on his hands and feet, and forcing
his poor horse over huge stones am
rightlul chaslnS, he made his way to tie
valley beneath.
He was now in complete darkness
Briars, vines, aud the dcept'n leJ under
,rowth, a. well rs fallen trunks and
branches of huge iorcst uces, impcded
his progress
This was an hon oI trial. All hope ol
rcachiug a hou. that night now faded
rom his mind. lie had no means OF ob-
aiming iir,. nj should he even escape
rom plntncls and wolves, OF which hC
knew la-rc was NO scarcity, he felt SURE
= .hrt he would freeze to death before morn
.. But what could he do. lie stop
I'd. and was standing by his horse, and
; ,hi,ering with cold. He began TO con
,lude that he had pretty well run his race
/ ,ud must perish in the lone, wild woods
With none TO witness his last agony.
Just as despair was claiming him as 1
,ictiu. he distinctly heard the sound o
lnaxe-somc one WAS chopping wood no
,ix hundred wards distant. Inspired Will
.resh hope, he pressed forward, thinking
: o get 10 some house. or perhaps to soma
n hunters camp, where, at least, he coulC
!. ind tirc. In few moments he found Z
road. He then mounted his horse, ans
b .oon saw the glimmerins of fire and hear
a .he voices of children.
Here Was small log house, with M
!, fence around it. There seemed to be NJ
other house. rs a kitchen, meat-house
crib or stable at hand. \ lad was chop
pin5 wood; six or eight dogs barked yer,
' suriously at the stranger as he rode up
u but were pacifed by simple word iron
70 he wood chopper. \ woman came t.
: he door. He asked her If he could iin'
;, entertainment for the night.
q .well. indeed. sir" said she, ats
mighty bad chance