The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-05-07
CHAPTER NNNH.
THE CAMP MEETING.

4
THE CAMP MEETING.
The incessant activity of a travel.
ing preachers life did not allow Nor.
ton much opportunity for the society
of the convalescent Ann Eliza. For
tNnately. For when he was with her
out of meeting he found her rather
dull. To all expressions of religious
sentiment and emotion she responded
sincerely and with JUNCTION: to Nor
tons highest aspirations for life Of
real selfsscritice she only answered
with look OF perplexitv. She could
not understand him, He was $50
queer" she SAID.
But people whose lives are joined
ought to make the best of each other
Ann Eliza loved Morton, and because
she loved him she could endure what
seemed 10 her an unaccountable &C.
centr.city. IL Goodwin found him,
self tempted to think her lacking in
some of the highest qualities, he com
for,ed himself with rejecting that all
women were probably deficient in
these regards. For men generalize
about wumen,not from manv but from
one. And men, being egotists, suffer
a woman love for themselves to hide
a multitude Of sins. And then Nor
ton took refuge in other people S opin-
ions. Ever, body thought that Sister
Meacham was just the wife for him.
1t plea ant to have the opinion OF all
the world on your SIDE where youi
own heart is doubtful.
Sometimes, alas. the ghost of an
old love fitted through the mind Of
Morton Goodwin and gave him mo-
ment Of fright But Patty was one
of the things Of this world which he
had solemnlv given up. OF her con
version hr had not heard. Mails wer"
few and postage cost a silver quarter
on every letter; with poor people,
correspondence was an extravaganza
not 10 he thought of except ON the
occasion Of death or wedding. At
fartherest, one letter Il year was all
that might be afforded. As il was,
Morton was neither very happy nor
very IN SCRABBLE as he rode NJ to the
New Canaan camp-pr und on Il pleas
| ant midsummer afternoon with Ann
Eliza by his side.
Sister Meacham did not lack hospi
table entertainment. So earnest and
gifted a christian AS she was always
welcome: and now that she held a
mortgage on the popular preacher
every tent on the ground would have
been honored by her presence. Nor
ton found a lodging at the preachers
tent, where one bed, larger, ,ransyer-
selv, than that Of the giant Og, was
provided tor tie collective repose Of
the preachers, of whom there were
half-a dozen present. It was always
a solemn mystery to me, by what in
genious overlapping of sheets, blank
cts and blue coverlcts the sisters who
made this bed gave cross wise con
tinuity t. bed, lothing.
This meeting was held just six
weeks after the quarterly meeting
spoken OF n the last chap'er. Good
wins circuit lav on the west bank o.
the Big Wiaki rivet, and this camp
meeting was held on the east bank Of
thai stream.
1t Was customary FOR all the neigh
bor ng preachers to leave their cir
cui and lend their help in a camp
IN, citing. All detached parties were
drawn III t. make ready for a pitched
battle. Morton had. in his ringing
voice. earnest delivery, unfaltering
courage and quick wit, rare qualitca
tions for the rude campaign, and, as
the nearest preacher, he was, of
course, expected to help.
Tn" presiding elder order to like
to repair to Joncsvillc circuit had
gone after the Jealous iiinerant like
ian arrow after wild goose, and he
had only received it in season to close
his affairs on Pottawo,tomic Creek
circuit and reach this camp-meeting
on his wav to his new work His en-
aciated face smote Morton's heart
with terror. The old comrade thought
that the death which like all bu;
longed for could not be very far awav.
And even now the Jealous and aus
tere young man was So eager to reach
his circuit Of Peterborough that he
would oalv consent to tarry long en-
onuh to preach on the first evening.
Hs voice was weak, and his appeals
were drowned III the uproar Of "A mob
that had come determined to make an
end Of the meeting,
So violent was the opposition Of
the row;lies from Jenknsville and
Sal: Fork that the brethren were de-
moralized. Aftcr the close of the ser
vice they gathered in groups debat
ING whether or not they should give
up the meeting. But two iuvinciblc
me-, .toea in the pulpit lnokin" out
over tie scene. Without Il thought
o. snrrcuslering. Magrudcr and Nor
tor Goodwin were consulting in regard
to police arrangements.
.,Broticr Goodwin said Magru,
| der, 1--WE shall have the sheriff here in
The morning. ] am afraid he hasn't
got back bone enough to handle these
fellows. DO YOU know him."
"Burchard: Yes, I've known him
two or three years
Norton could not help liking the
man who had so generously forgiven
his gambling debt, but he had reason
to believe that sheriff who went to
Brewers Hole to get votes would find
his hands tied by his political allan
ces.
"Goodwin," said Magruder, II do
not know how TO spare you from
preaching and eNhorting, but you must
take charge of the police and keep
order"
..You had better not trust me, said
Goodwin.
sWhy:'
"If am in command there'll be