The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-09-07
TEN YEARS OF A PREACHERS LIFE.
Charter from an Autobiography By William III.
DltlbTn, published by Derby ! Jackson.

own biography, or rather series of pic
lures taken from the life of blind Metho
dist preacher. The opening chapter contain
ing an affecting account of the accident by
which MIR. Milburn lost his sight, is followed
by brief narrative of his early lie and the
causes which induced him TO enter the
ministry. Then we have the curious de.
tails of his itnerate life as wandering
Methodist clergyman, some of which are
highly amusing. Much of the book is oc.
| cupied by the writer's recollection of the
time he spent in Washington as Chaplain
to the House OF Representatives, and the
entire narrative is feplele with anecdotial
"reminiscences, told in racy, graceful style,
and offering tempting extracts for our col.
ums. We copy the following as giving a
good idea OF the style of the book
SERMON INTERRUPTED.
One of our beloved bishops, the Rev.
Thomas A. Morris, when young man, was
travelling somewhere in the West, and left
an appointment 10 preach in neighbor.
hood little frequented by the ministry Due
notice was given, and large company as
sembed. The service was 10 be held in a
double log-cabn with porch in front. The
men were gathered in one room, the women
in the other, and the boys on the porch -
The preacher stood in the door. AS he
proceeded, a couple of men in the congre-
tn ,vhi naI
spoke so loud that all the congregation
could hear them; the theme of their dis
course being horse.swap. The preacher
paused and said that, as it was bad manners
for more than one TO speak at time, is it
were necessary for them TO bring their trade
TO conclusion on the spot, he would stop
until they had finished. They were silent,
and lie resumed, when an officious old gen.
tleman came busting through the crowd
with split-boilom chair raised high above
his head, and placing it in front of the
preacher, said: 81 forgot you had no pull
pit; man can't preach without pulpit !;
here is one" The preacher began again,
but was soon interrupted by the noise made
by the boys on the porch quarrelIing. This
was promptly quelled by the old gentle.
mans strlding among the urchins, cutting
and boxing them soundly. and shontinq,
"Be still you little savages, or I'll knock
your heads off," Order restored, the preach
er 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 was seated
in his molher's lap, was engaged in earnest
whispering with her. He said, Nanny,
nanny" and she, "Hushw w At length ne
seemed TO think that endurance had ceased
TO be virtne, and brawled out, "I say,
nanny, scratch my back" She, in fiery
indignation, boxed his ears soundly where
at he set Up terrible YELL She rose, and
dragging her promising offspring after her,
forced her way among the auditors, rushed
BY the preacher in the door, and once began
the satisfactory operation of troucing, she
shouting "hush! !" and he, won',-scratch
my back n' This last attack was too much
for the preachers equanimiiy, and the excl
ted state of his risibles obliged him 10 close
the services on the instant.
A JOURNEY WITH FANCY CREEK MINISTER'S.
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
TO lend me 10 them for a weeks round,
promising 10 deliver me safe and sound at
his appointment the mex, Saturday. He as
sented, and away trotted with my new
made friends. Our first stopping place was
at house much like the one before des-
cribed, where the senior preacher was TO
solemnize marriage. We arrived at mid.
day, and found large company assembled
the future man and wife chatting gaily
with their friends, as though the knot had
been already lied. The ceremony was at
once attended TO. and the congratulations
delivered, when the company was summon
ed TO the most sumptuous banquet that the
region could afford, wish | were versed in
the techncalities OF feminine attire, that
might favor my lady readers with des.
cripton of The dresses worn on this gala
day, and comical one it would be; but
failing in this, car only commemorate one
incident that struck me at the time. A great
bowl of boiled custard was placed with
other delicacies, on the groaning board. A
gentleman hurried through with The more
substantial part o: the repasl, seized the
bowl and tablespoon and commenced in.
gulfng the contents. A bystander, s,me.
wha, shocked at this private appropria ion
of what was designed for the community,
remarked to him, "You don't seem 10 know
what that is"
"Know what it is !" responded the other,
indignantly, "of course do; was brought
up on tit is thickened milk"
AS we rode away, the preacher who had
united the man and wife said to me, "Bllly,
what do you suppose that chap gave me
for feeq
"l don't know" replied. give dollars,
suppose"
"He is a hog without brist!es," was the
strong me,apholical reply of the other; "he
didn't give me nary red."
AS we proceeded he told me l should
have TO preach that afternoon at O'Clock,