Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-01-19
LETTER FROM GAINESVILLE.
A White Slave In Clarassiile-A Clergy.
man in q Bad Light-NO Place
Like Iowa-COunty Seat.
CLARKsviLLE, TO-, Jan. sth, 1866.

| To the Editors ofthe Cedar Falls Gazette.
Quite an excitement in a small way
was produced in this village week or
two ago, on account of one Martin, q
preacher of the sect known as limited
! Brethren" who came here to live few
months ago and brought with him a
girl of some seventeen years, whom he
had taken and used as o mental servant
in his family for some four years. This
| girl being nearly naked for want of
clothes the Rev. gentleman complained
to the poor masters that she WAS foolish
and therefore could not earn enough to
pay for her clothes, and asked that they
should furnish clothing for her at the
expense of the county.
Believing his statement to be true,
they accordingly bought, at his sugges-
ton, hoopskirt and a dress, together
with other " fixens enough to ciothe
the girl decently. After waiting sever
al days to see the girl i'm her new dress,
hoops, ETC., and not seeing her so rugged
out, an old lady living near by, after
mousing around espied the new dress
and skirt OH the wife of the Rev.. She
Immediately dispatched messenger to
the proper authorities, VINO made haste
to ascertain who was really wearing
"that dress"
After very short reconnaissance
they went to the preachers house, when
10, and behold! the first that met their
vision was Mrs. Preacher, in her easy
chair, and wearing that same dress and
skirt which they had bought for the
girl! They voluntarily offered their
assistance in disrobing her ladyship of
these articles, provided she needed more
than three minutes to do the same her.
self. But happily she accomplished the
job without assistance in p minutes
Their next order was to the girl, to put
on that dress, etc, and follow them to
ole of the neighbors, which she d d,
and now holds up her head and talks
quite freely about her late situation,
showing decidedly that she is not much
of Il fool. Some young ladies took her
home, which she said was the first time
she had ever been to meeting, notwith.
standing that she had lived with this
preacher four years! After what has
transpired in reference to this poor GIRL
some people are so uncharitable as to
say that Martin might rs well do his
preaching in some other field as to try
to convert souls here.
Mr.. McRoberts, his son John. and
Frank Phillips have returned from
Montana, bringing with them fine
pair of young elks, and several ponies.
They all look healthy, and say they
have enjoyed life well since leaving
here-which will be two years in the
spring. Nc. has been offered $4,000
for his claim since he returned, (the
offer came by MALL, but refused it, say
ing that it would soon fetch 500, 0O0.--
They all talk of returning in the spring.
Prof. Duncan has been sick and con-
sequently was obliged to adjourn school
in the Institute for week. He is bet
ter now.
One man in GAINESVILLE is getting
anxious to have the county seat return
ed to this place, but your correspondent
thinks that hotel, decently kept, is
perhaps the greatest need of the town at
present.
Mr.. Luckey Burton, who, wrote you,
went to Missouri as agent to seek loca
tons for himsSf and others, and after
returning, moved his family there, re-
manned three weeks, then came back to
GAINESVILLE.
So many people have moved away
from GAINESVILLE and returned so soon
thereafter, that it is very discouraging
to others who wish to go, to try it, fear
ing that they too may be glad to come
back.
CITIZEN.