The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-23

I trotted with my new-made friends. Our
first stopping place was house much like
the one before described, where the senior
preacher was to solemnize a marriage.
As we proceed
ed he told me / should have to preach that
afternoon at four o'clock, and he turned a
deaf ear to all my entreaties to be let Oft.
Up to this time had never taken text,
for all my exercises had been in the shape
of exhortations, delivered after some more
experienced person had expounded. My
first sermon must be preached somewhere,
and why not then and there? So it was
delivered to half dozen men in their shirt
sleeves, with the sweat of the plOw upon
their brows, their teams left standing in the
fields the while, and to as many women with
sun. bonnets, whose knitting and pipes were
laid aside when the hymn was given out.
The rustic of the green leeves, stirred by
the pleasant wind, the song of the birds, and
the golden sunshine as it lay upon the pun
cheon floor on that cheerful summer after
noon, are remembered yet, and also that my
first sermon was but fifteen minutes long.
Mr.. MILBURN's FIRST SERMON.
The quarterly meeting was held at pri-
vate house, as was frequently the case, serv-
ing on such occasions the twofold purpose of
chapel and hotel. 1t was double log cab
in, with door communicating between the
two rooms, the women occupying one, the
men the other, in both the uses to which the
house was put. Seats for the congregation
were provided by puncheon slabs resting on
four legs. The young people who could not
find access to the house would stand beneath
the trees, or loll upon the grass. The con-
gregation would come from fifteen to twen-
ty miles around to enjoy the services. The
exercises invariably began on Saturday at
eleven o'clock, with sermon from the pre-
siding elder. In the afternoon the confer.
ence of official members was held in the
evening the most available preacher was
"put up" in the language of the country,
and after this sermon an exhortation was
usually delivered by some one else.
On the Saturday night in question, after
the sermon, the sonorous voice of my chief
said, civilian, exhort." The will of the
presiding elder at these times is absolute,
and obedience is one of the lessons enjoined
upon young preachers. 1 had no resource
but to stand up, frightened as I was almost
to death, behind my split bottomed chair,
in lieu of pulpit, in front of the huge
fireplace, and attempt to speak, by the
light of the smouldering embers, and one or
two candles fast sinking to their sockets, to
the crowd of hunters and farmers filling the
cabin, who gaped and stared at a pallid,
beardless boy. Of course words were few,
and on resuming my seat had the uncom.
Portable impression that that congregation
had listened to about as poor discourse as
ever was delivered. Such was my first
attempt at preaching.
"REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL WEBSTER.
Some of my readers will recollect the
exquisite manner in which Mr.. Webster
used to relate the following: One night
before Railroads were built, he was forced
to make a journey by private conveyance
from Baltimore to Washington. The man
who drove the wagon was such an i'll look
ing fellow, and told so many stories of
robberies and murders, that before they had
gone far Mr.. Webster was somewhat alarmed.
At last the wagon stopped in the midst of
dense wood, when the man turning sudden
ly round to his passenger, exclaimed fiercely,
"Now, sir, tell me who you are" Mr..
Webster replied in faltering voice, and
ready to spring from the vehicle, II am
Daniel Webster, member of Congress from
Massachusetts. What" rejoined the
driver, grasping him warmly by the hand,
"are you Webster? Thank God thank
God! You were such an ugly chap that I
took you for highwayman.''
GROWING IN GRACE.
The bishop presiding at the conference was
the victim Of heart disease. Over his head
the sword Of Damocles hung ever suspended
by hair, the death's-head was never alb
sent from his banquet, and the dread of
sudden death had discolored all his ideas of
life. He was the morbid and sworn foe to
every thing like gaiety, and while not sour
or sullen, yet his piety was weighty and
lugubrious. 1t may well be imagined that
such a chairman had trouble to keep in
order a man like Peter Cartwright with
whom humor and drollery are as natural as
to breathe. Brother Cartwright had the
floor one day, and by his irresistible fun set
the conference in roar. "Stop, brother
Cartwright" said the bishop, Il can not
allow such sin to be committed among
Methodist preachers when have the charge
of them. l read in the Bible be angry and
sin not, but nowhere see laugh and sin not.
Let US bow down and confess our offense.
Brother Cartwright lead in prayer" The
backwoods preacher kneeled and repeated
the Lords prayer, and then rising, said s:
"Look here, Mr.. Bishop, when dig pota
toes, dig potatoes when hoe corn, I
hoe corn; when I pray, pray; and when
l attend to business, l want to attend to
business wish you did, too, and 1 don't
want you to take such snap judgment on ne
again"
Brother" said the bishop, in monitory
tone, "Do you think you are growing in
grace?" eyes, bishop, l think I AMIN
spots" 1t is hardly necessary to add, that
the bishop gave him up as incorrigible.
HOW MR.. M1LBURN BECAME CHAPLAIN TO
CONGRESS.
We left Cincinnati on the steamer Hiber-
MIA early on Friday morning, the captain
promising to land US at Wheeling by Sa-
turday night. The boat was very much
crowded, and among the passengers was a
considerable number of Congressman, men,
bers of both houses on their way to the
capitol to take their seats. As several of
them were men known to fame, whose names
I have been familiar with for years, took
great interest in observing them, and in
listening to their conversation when, as is
| often their manner IN anch environment +bo,,