The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-04-02
GFOr the Democratic statesman
Limestone and FreestOne Counties
Trinity COllege-Eairlleld-G rOesbeek-
Sister JRne-JOe Mcdonald, etc.

The section of country embracing Lime
stone and Freestone counties is finely
watered by the Navasots, Trinity, Tehua-
cana, Richlsnd, Keeehi, Caney, Steele,
Christmas, and other beautiful streams. II
IS one of the finest agricultural portions Of
the State, and being mostly settled by
Georgians, Alabamians Tenpesseans aud
Flordians, contains population of intelli-
gent, moral and Industrious yeomanry,
amongwhom the immigrant seeking home
In Texas can find good neighbOrs and fine
society.
The soil is q sandy loan, exceedingly
rich and productive, covered alternately by
the meadowy grass of the prairie and forest
trees, among which the post oak FREEDOM
mates.
Groesbeck, the county seat of Limestone
county, named in honor of Mr.. A. Groes-
beck, vice president Of the Houston and
Texas Central Railway Company, is onthe
Central Railway, half way between Kosse
and Mexia.
Groesbeck contains few hundred in
habitants, but will, IN time, doubtlessly
contain,a few thousand.
Fairfield was laid off in 1851, when Free
stone county was severed from Limestone
and organized; il contains about 500 in
habitants, is a beautiful, healthy little
town and may justly feel proud of its ex-
cellent female college, where the fair
daughters of Texas seize and use the golden
moments as they fly by and join the irrevo-
cable past, in the Improvement of their
minds and manners, as we'll as in the acoui-
sition of learning and those gentle, winning,
witching ways which please, fascinate and
enslave the hearts of men.
In this section is also located Trinity
College, one of the best in the State,
wherein the Cumberland Presbyterians
educate their children and teach them the
lovely precepts of Divine revelation, the
folly of sin, the wisdom Of virtue and the
sublime principle of faith.
And here for the edifcatiOn Of the reader
l will relate the story of Sister Jane and the
enthusiastic young preacher.
Sister Jane,was very pious good Chris
tian, who, one day while discussing the idea
of faith with the preacher, said she had
faith, and sometimes she felt as if she could
fly. ~.
The preacher asserted that if she had
faith and believed she could fy-that with
out doubt, she could fig; and insisted on
Sister JAMES making the trial of her faith,
Sister Jane consented--a table was placed
out in the yard, Sister Jane mounted the
table, clapped her hands and jumped of,
striking the air with her arms as bird in
fight does with its wings. ntjt.t q
Sister Jane came to the ground with
greater speed than grace, when the enthusi-
astic minister while aiding her to rise, said
to her: tN 90 .ifi
''You were mistaken, sister You havnt
faith, if you had, you could have flown
through the air as dove"
Sister Jane answered: 81 have faith,
brother, and still believe 1 can fly, but I
didn't get the right flop" al
The early settlers of Limestone county
who built their houses in the wilderness
and although often troubled by the Indians,
converted it into green fields and happy
homes, were truly men of faithl 'o
Indeed, if success is any evidence of
merit and getting the right flop, leads on to
fortune, it may be said of the pioneer set
tiers of this magnificent farming country,
''They got the right flop" aaii
They not only converted wilderness into
green fields and happy homes, but they built
schools, colleges and churches. Nor did
they stop here, but led by an abiding faith
in God, who had so long defended them
against the tomahawk of the cruel, blood
thirsty savages, they joined hands and
hearts, formed bands more numerous than
that of Gideon, and made the wilderness
resOund with the songs and shouts of their
glorious old time-honored camp meetings.
I have attended camp meetings and lis
tened with delight to songs similar to the
following: