Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-09-23
TEN YEARS Of PREACHER llFE.


The author Of The Rifle, AK, and
Saddle-bags,' Rev. w. A. Milburn, has
been induced 20 write his own biography.
or rather, a series Of pictures taken from
the life of a blind Methodist preacher.
The opening chapter, containing an ai-
fecting account Of the accident by which
Mr.. Millburn lost his sight, is followed by
a brief narrative of his early life, and
the causes which induced him to enter
the ministry. We copy the following as
giving a good idea Of the style Of the
book
SERMON INTERRUPTED.
One of cur beloved Bishops, the Rev.
Thomas A. Morris, when young man,
was travelling somewhere in the west,
and left an appointment TO preach in
neignborhood little frequented by the
ministry Due notice was given, and a
large company assembled. The service
was to be held in double log-cabin with
porch in front. The men were gath
cred in one room, the women in the oth-
er, and the boys on the porch. The
preacher stood in the door. As he pro-
ceeded, couple of men in the congre-
CATION began to whisper. and at length
spoke so loud that all the congregation
could hear them the theme Of their dis
course being horse-swap. The preach
er paused, and said that as it was bad
manners for more than one to speak at q
time, If it were necessary for them to
bring their trade TO conclusion on the
spot, he would stop till they had finished.
They we're silent, and he resumed, when
an ofiicious old gentleman came bustling
through the croud with a split-boItomed
chair raised high above his head, and,
placing it in front of the preacer, said :
al forgot you had no pulpit; man can't
preach without pulpit; here is one.
The preacher began again, but was soon
interrupted by the noise made by the
boys in the porch quarrelling. This was
promptly quelled by the old gentleman
striding among the urehihs, cutting and
boxing them soundly, and shouting, BE
lsuIi, you little savages, or TN knock youi
heads off," Order restored, the preacher
tried to go on again, but now there came
a noise from the female side of the house
A boy, four or five years old, who wa,
seated in his mothers lap, was engaged
in earnest whispering with her. He said
" Nanny, nanny" and she, " Hush =
At length he seemed to think that en-
durance had ceased 10 be a virture, anC
bawled out, " say, nanny, scratch M
back" She, in fiery Indignation, boxet
his ears soundly, whereat he set up a ter
rible yell. She rose, and dragging he
promising offspring after her, forced he
way among the auditors, rushed by th'
preacher in the door, and at once begal
the satisfactory operation Of trouncing-
she shouting, Hush !" and he. Il won'l
scratch my back p This last attack wa
too much for the preachers equanimity
and the excited state Of bis risible
, Obliged him to close the service on tb
instant.
MIR. MILLBURs's FIRST SERMON.
i The quarterly meeting was held at
private house, as was frequently the cas-
!. serving on such occasions the two-foI
). purpose Of chapel and hotel. 1t wa
o double log-cabin, with a door commun
eating between the two rooms, the wome
occupying one, and the men the other.
= both the uses 10 which the house was pu
d Seats for the congregation were provide
e. by puncheon slabs resting on four leg
D. The young people who could not tied a
y cess 10 the house, would stand beneal
the trees and loll upon the grass. II
congregation would come from fifteen
D. twenty miles around to enjoy the ser'
" ees. The exercises invariably began (
ID Saturday, at eleven O'Clock, with se
i. mon from the presiding elder. In d
e. afternoon. the conference Of Official mel
se bers vas held in the evening. the mc
~ available preacher vas put up" IN 4
e. language Of the country, and after Il
ch sermon an exhortation was usually q
cd livered By some one else.
be At the ciose Of the exercises {
lie benches were carried out and replac
er by shBck mattresses, skins, and blank
S. the men making their own beds. 50 ii
nj Ia little while, as you looked over
re sleepy scene, BY the ray Of an expiri
90 pine knot, you might sell conceive it
All stratum OF somnolent humanity. !
hs frss eoek-crow Is the signal univef
- = arousing, aud ~hiIe some bBsy shemsel'
a