Smyrna times., 1859-08-25
INTERESTING SKETCHES.
TEN YEARS OF PREACHER LIFE.
CHAPTERS FROM AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM
HENRY MILBURN.

The author OF "The RIt1e, Axe and Saddle
Bags" has been induced to write his owl
biography, or rather a series of pictures taker
from the life of blind Methodist preacher
The opening chapter. containing an affecting
account of the accident by which Mr.. Milburr
lost his sight. is followed by brief narrative
of his early life and the causes which induced
him 10 enter the ministry. Then we have the
curious details of itinerant life as wandering
Methodist clergyman, some of which are high
ly amusing. Much of the book is occupied by
the writer's recollections of the time he spent
in Washington as Chaplain to the House of Re.
presentatives, and the entire narrative is re-.
plete with anecdotcal "reminiscences, told in
rscy, graceful style. We copy the following
sgiving good idea of the style of the book
JOURNEY WITH FANCY CREEK INDIANS.
My itinerating life was yet fresh when the
two preachers from the Fancy Creek circuit
visited one of our quarterly meetings; at its
close they besought the presiding elder 10 lend
me to them for a weeks round, promising to
deliver me safe and sound at his appointment
the next Saturday. He assented, and awav |
trotted with my new-made friends. Our first
stOpplng-place was at house much like the
one before described, where the senior preacher
was to soIemnlze marriage. We arrived at
midday, and found large company assembled
the future man and wife chatting gAly with
their friends, as though the knot had been al.
ready tied. The ceremony was at once at
tended to- and the congratulations delivered,
when the company was summoned to the most
sumptuous banquet that the region could afford.
wish | were versed in the technicalltIes Of
feminine attire, that | might favor my lady
readers with description of the dresses worn
on this gala day, and a comicll one it would
be; but FILLING in this, can only commemorate
one incident that struck me at The time A |
great bowl of boiled custard was placed with /
other deIicaces, on the groaning board. A
gentleman hurried throsgh with the more sub
StantIal part of the repast, seized the bowl and
tablespoon and commenced ingulfng the con-
tents. bystander, somewhat shocked at this
private appropriation Of what was designed for
the community, remarked to him, You don't
seem TO know what that is.'
"Knuw what it is !" responded the other, in
dlgnlntly; of course | do | was brought 10
on tit is thickened milk"
AS we rode away, the preacher, who had |
unlteI the man and wife, said to me, " Billy, |
what do you suppose that chap gave NE for |
fee!'
IL don't Know" replied. q" Five dollars, |
suppose
"He is hog without bristles," was the
strong metaPhorical reply of the other; "he
didn't give me nary red."
AS We proceeded, he told me should have
10 pre- Ich that afternoon, at four o'clock, aud he
turned deaf ear TO all my entreaties to be let
Oh. Up to this time had never taken a text,
tor all my exercises had been in the sha pc Of
exhortatons, delivered after some experienced
person had expounded. My first sermon must
De pre- lched somewhere, and why not then and
mere! So 1t was delivered to half dozen
men IN their shirt-seeves. with the sweat Of
the plo| on their brows, their teams left stand
ing IN the fields the while, and to many wo-
men IN sun.bonnets, whose knitting and pipes
were laid aside when the hymn was given out.
The rustic OF the green leaves, stirred by the
peasant wind, the song of the birds, and the
golden sunshine as it lay upon the puncheon
nOOr on that cheerful summer afternoon, are
remembered yet, and also that my first sermon
was 10 minutes long.
Ihe next day we reached village consisting
OF dozen or twenty houses. In che evening
we attended an examination of the school. At
Inc close of the exercises, one ofmy new friends
mounted an empty barrel, which stood in the
corner OF the room, and had been used as seat,
aud called out in the old Norman form. "Oyez +
Oyez! take notice that Brother William Mil
burn will preach in the meeting house to NOR
row night, at early candle-Iighting" No soon
sr was the last word out of his mouth, than the
oarre head gave way, aud the reverend clerk.
falling to the earth, went, after the fashion of
hegulus, rolling about among the legs of the
audIence-his desperate exertons TO escape
only making his plight sadder, and increasing
The confusion.
NEW USE FOR BELL PULLS.
Another of my friends was a young Meho-
dist preacher, about my own age, stationed at
one Of The churches in town, and now in u city
ior the first time. Starting upon his first tour
OF pastoral visitation, he reache ed the door of
one Of his flock, and seeing the silver handle of
The bell-pul, and underneath it a foot-scra per
90 The marble step, and suppOsing the knob was
10 hold on by while be cleaned his feet, used ii
accordingly, aud then beg,n hammering on the
oo1r with his fist to gain admittance. When
the servant came he inquired rather tartly,
"Why did you not pull the bell!' &" Bell!"
aud my friend, reused from his dream of admi
riton at the munificent spirit of the house
holder, in providing the silver companion to the
irsn scraper, "there is no bell here; what Is
Tue use OF bell when body's gotta fist =
"REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL WEBSTER.
The following conversation occurred at the
dinner table where Mr.. Webster for the first
time met Colonel Preston, then a new senator
irom South Carolina Z" Colonel Preston said |
The great Massachusetts, lawyer 10 his statelest
manner, 81 am happy to greet you as a mem
Der of The body TO which it is my pride and no.
nor to belong, but | regret to see that Southern
gentlemen SO often stand aloof from me-" Mr..
Preston answered in polite and deferential
terms, when the other continued: Z" The truth
Is am far more a southern than northern
man, and think should be treated as hail
fellow by all my southern colleagues" May
beg to know" said the other, "the grounds
upon which you make this claim !" "Ceriain-
ly,' replied MIR. Webster. In the first place,
am very fond Of a horse race, and believe