Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-19
A PIONEER PREACHER.

RecOIeetieHs OF Rev. Isaac TOde-
VIne-IRAe FORduess for His Horse
and DOS-StnEHIaT FuIfiIIment of
n Dream
From the Life and Times Of Elder Reuben RO.s
Elder Isaac Todevine, a Baptist
preacher, well known in the vicinity of
Claksville, Tennessee, fifty years ago,
emigrxted west from North Carolina,
about the year 1900.
As l Remember him, be was short of
stature, and rather thick set, with full
round face, and large black eyes. He
wore q round-sreasted coat and waistCOat,
short knee brceches and stockings; his
shoes were fastened with large buckles,
on the whole, his appearance was rather
respectable. The costume described
above, was common smong elderly men,
in the carly part of the present century.
He was lively and brisk in his manner,
and revcr st loss for something 10 talk
about. used, when boy, to think his
conversation very amusing. In his
movements he was rather too quick to be
graceful. His uttersnce was rapid,
though distinc:, and his sentences short
6llu dUIupl- liz NOuINs oyALNA4hNcs NAAIA
no one was expecting il, commence sing
ing one OF the fine old hymns of Watts,
Newton, or COwper. 1t was useless for
any one to join in with him-nO one could
Sing hymn of the same length, in the
same time.
He lived in solitary cabin, six or eight
miles north of GAINESVILLE, Tenn, on the
banks of pretty stream, very appTopri-
ately called Spring creek, on sccount of
the number of fiBe springs, whose waters
unite TO form it Some of these, in classic
times, would have been thought fEvorite
abodes of the rymphs-dOD1us yyDlphd-
7rln1-Ou account of their romantic beau
tY. The maple, beech and wild flowers,
that once grew around them have mostly
disappeared, but their sparkling waters
still flow on.
When at home, the only companions
the old solitary had, were his horse,
Snip" and his dog, pup" The farm
ers of the neighborhOod grstuitOusly sup
piled food sufficient for himself and his
two companions. He, himself, prepared
his own simple meals. HIS lady friends
kind hearted and good then IS now,
and as they ever will be--supplied him
with clothing.
l do not remember TO have heard any
one say in what manner he spent bis
solitary hours; think, though, be was
fond OF reading. have heard him speak
of Fiavel, Toplsdy, Bunysn, BoOthe's
Reign of Grace, and ellis Body of Di-
vinity, as if he were familiar with these
hne, old writers.
He read lis bible much, no doubt lin
geriEg with especial delight on those pas
sAges hat, 70 his misd, proved the doc
sise Of election, Prsdestnation and the
final perseverance of the Saints.
When tired Of home he would saddle
I'D Ssip, lock the door of his cabin, and
together with Pup, set cut on a circuit
among the churches Of the Baptist Asso-
citation TO which he belonged. All three
were kindly received, wherever they
We1t.
Pup was always permitted by the good
old sisters to take his place by his master,
at the table, who, while eating, would
give him part of whatever he had on
his plate. The young dartIes waiting
around the table, thought Pop got more
good things than 8 dog was entitled %,
and were rather i'll disposed towards him
on that &c o ant. De Was = gJOL-n-turcd,
lazy, worthless fellow, but not the less
beloved by his master on that account
Pap used to have a gay time Of it, al
ths big meetings, playing and romping
with the other dogs, while his master was
preaching.
The old MAJ Was at times quite uneasy
for fear he would leave him. 1t is said,
en- one occasion when preaching, hl
looked out al the window, and seeing
Pup, ss be thought going off with
stranger, stopped and requested one o
the brethren to 60 aud bring him bach
for him. as re thought he was about Il
90 off, and then went on with his dis
course.
Every morning, after breakfast, with
biscuit or two in his pocket for Snip, tn
old man would go out to the stable or lot
The horse. SO soon az he saw his master
woulI 90 10 meet hun He would the
ask Sni7 how he was getting Oh; Wheihe
they gave him enough to eat and drink
etc. Tue horse would lay back his ears
indulge 10 q low whinny, and paw tn
ground slightly | used to think tha
this looked little Ike witCh-cratt, an,
could BOT help feeling somewhat atral
of them.
In prayer he was quite fluent, and o.
this account would be requested to cor
duet the family worship, when out anon
fRs brethren. He would commence bl
invoking the choicest blessings on III
family under whose hospi;ab.e root h
might 10 at the TIM; then on the sur
rounding communicates; then on til
nation and its rulers; then on Su men
everywASEe; fi1Illy on the Church, tha
her waste places might be built up, an
that she might awake and put on he
beautiful sarGents, that her CORY mlgf
fill the whale earth. IL The most artlef
and feeling manner he never failed 1
pray for al women everywhere, wh
were about to be confined, that the
might pass safely through all the attend
ant perils asi suffering, and have abuI
dsnt reason 70 bless AMI magnify tn
name Of their Heavenly Father, for h
goodness asd his mercy.
He and the darkies were far from b,
ing on good terms Whom preaching G
the dusrc- If m- , IS ami servants, /
used b H. gr.t pains TO conVIn(
them tina they ought to be. very thanl