The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-05-28

" Perhaps you're looking at the country"
"Well, ma'am, see the country as pas
through, but that is not my business" 80 !
"Are you buying lands?" -
No, ma'am. do not buy any lands.'
4 Do You belong to this company OF survey
ors?'' v& sg
j "No, ma'am, do not know anything ,boa
them.n ~
"What Is your name2o alfT
"My name is Alfred Walton, ma'aml''
i "Iused to know some waltons in Kaintucky
when Twas gal; prshaps they were you
kn?n a vs3
s.T presume not, ma'am. Ihave no relatives
there, that know OFF,
The woman had not yet gratifed her curl
o sitv, and sat mnte for while, probably
won dering how she could ascertain what wa
his business, in this new country. Just now
she happened to call to mind that some ont
had seen man at the mill few days before
who was buying up all the peltry that he could
find, and she jumped at the conclusion tha
this young man was the same ms
You're buying deer skins?" said she.
No, ma'am," said the preacher. " I am
seeking the lost sheep Of the House Of Israel!'
81 do sayl'' exclaimed she. g There was Z
wether here day before yesterday. ! lars say
it was yourn!"
She was satisfied. He was sheep-hunting. All
right She began now to look over her hus-
bands shoulder, and take some interest in the
game of cards, the meanwhile leaving our
young sheep-hunter to enjoy his thoughts.
These thoughts soon ran thus /" I'm pro-
fessed preacher Of the gospel. Pm sent to call
not the righteous, but sinners, 20 repentance
! NV commission is to all the world-my mes
sage is to every creature. But tonight am
by no means doing the work of an evangelist
am ashamed Of my calling, and have cop.
cealed my true character! Who knows but
Heaven has guided my footsteps hither, that
might bear the message Of life to these poor
people. It shall not be so. Twill tell the wo-
man toho and arhat am, and talk with her
seriously, Of Death and Judgement, Of Saliva
tion aud Heaven!''
"Have you any preaching inthis country?''
! inquired Alfred Walton Of the woman.
! No, sir" "rcplied she. haven't heard a
sArment since left Kaintuck, twelve year
| ago. They do say thai there's preachin' at
Mr.. Nc Cans, about twelve miles from here;
but my old man never goes to meetin'."
| Would You like to hear sermon, IL you
| had chanceo"
| eyes, Iwoud be very glad. My poor chill.
dren, never have heard a sarment, or anybody
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're livin'
Just like heathens." ~
You have Bible, have you not?"
"Ohl no, sir--not now. My mother gave
me one when / was married, and | used to
read it considerable. But my old man said it
was all cheat, and he used 1t all up for wad-
dn' for his shotgun. There aint a book OF
any sort about this house. My children don't
know their letters, and I expect that have
forgot how TO read in thi, time"
.. swell, my good woman, ! am preacher
myself. 1t is the lost sheep Of the House Of
Israel that am seeking. am the preacher
/ that's to hold meeting at Means Tomorrow
/ If can find the way. Igot otlost, and acciden-
tally fosnd my way to your house. am
willing to hold prayers fot you tonight, if
| you have no objections"
"Rodrickr' cried she to her husband, "put
/! up them cards, and that bottle! This gentle
mans preacherw
Strange to say, Rodrick Immediately arose
from the table, and shufied cards and bottle
out Of sight. Then turning his stool around
to the fire, he paid particular attention to all
the preacher said and did. The other two men
were too much intoxicated to notice any thing,
and were soon snoring in the corner. Mr. Wal
ton took out his Bible, and read the XIV. chsp-
ter Of our LORDS gospel, by st. John-sung ,
hymn, and knelt down and prayed. He asked
Heaven to pity this poor family--to bless his
accide.. tai visit to them, and to lead them in
the way of life everlasting.
On closing prayers he observed That the wo-
man was in tears, aid ler husband quite seri.
Gus. He felt encouraged, and proceeded to tell
the children, in plain, familiar way, the his.
tory Of the cross, and the plan Of salvation
They heard attentively, and seemed to b
deeply interested.
Early the next morning he held prayers fol
them again, and after breakfast he prepared tc
leave them. They refused to accept any pay
for his lodging; but said, that il he would ac.
cept their poor fare, they would be glad to see
him at any time. The man went with him OF
foot about six miles, to put him into rai
that would lead him to Nc Cans.
j When Mr.. Welton came round again to Nc.
Cans, the same man and woman attended hi.
meeting, and heard him preach. The second
time, they came again, with two sons and /;
daughter-.-all of them walked twelve miles t.
hear more Of Heaven, and to learn the Way
Before Mr.. Walton's year closed, the husband
and wife, two sons and three daughtere, has
all professed faith in Christ, and became mem
hers OF the church. ) gs,..f I. IS
Il -. q IS = $50
II The rapid years have since sped away. Near
! Iva quarter Of q century has eiarsed. Tha
n wilderness haa been made tsto hlosson a. th,
!, rose.D5s Tho woodman's axe has fellea tn
forest, and agriculture has spread out her f,E