Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-26


mo conc6s. and was off at last on his fifty
n,;le drive across the prairie to the Cedar
Valley regions. :, .s
a great pity he had no gun to stop the
prairie chickens who buzzed SO frequently
out of the thickets of tall grass.
The next distinct sensation he felt was
that it seemed very much like being at sea
no house or tree being within sight, ane
the white-canvas top of wagon IN the
distance looking very ike schooner sal
10 the offing.
The third distinct sensation was an un
defined fear that he might miss the road
and, after going over the grass for lon!
while in circle, might find himself bacl
at Parson Jambeau's.
The fourth feeling was an overpower
ing sense OF loneliness mixed with falnt
ness. for by this time it was one O'Clock
SO Sam came to halt by creek VIII
some dwarf willow-trees, and the iuhct
basket came out, and the oat-bag, ahe
then Friar William, feeling pretty solemn
began a fine series OF wonderings. Ht
wondered if there were any roughs OH
that route. and, if so, what on earth they
would take him to be.
He wondered if it wasn't just In some
such place as this that Eugene Aram muir,
dered his victim. 1t was pity he had
lust been reading Bulwer's story and
Hoods poem.
He wondered what he should do in case
he didn't get to--at night, where there
was rough Western hotel. He wondered
how be was going to stand this kind OF
life. or whether he would get sick and
never go East again.
However, two O'Clock put a stop to these
wondeIiDgs, and, after steady pun Oh
four hours. in which he passed Meet OF
white sails, which seemed like literal ships
of the desert, he alighted at the Brown
vile Rising SUM- Hotel. and the circuit
riders first day was completed.
Sam went round to the stable, and made
himself ready for oats. The friar walked
up the steps of the piazza in the presence
of collection of rough.looking drovers,
and was met by the gentlemanly proprie-
tor of the hotel, whereupon the following
conversation ensued.
Have you come out to drive eattlil
mo, SIR"
Travelling for any house?"
mo"
'Lookiug out after land?'
"No.n
"Out for a lark-shooting on the prai-
ries, you know?'
mo. SIR"
"Going up into Minnesoty a-lumbern' ~
NO"
well, then. stranger, what in thunder
air YOU out here forP What in the d
are you up to ?"
..Well, my friend" replied the friar to
the searching looks with which he was
raked by eight pair of suspicious-looking
eyes, II am out here for definite pur-
pose. Come, now, I'll give you one more
guess. and then, if you can't guess 1t,
you'll have to give it up.
oval, now" said the host, once more
measuring his guest, and making final
and rapidly decisive mental inventory OF
his general get-up, stranger. it appears
TO me you air one of two things; either
you air a strollin' preacher, or else you
air Chicago hummer ~
That evening the missionary put down
some notes in his journal, of which the
following is an extract:
July 5th.-Taken by hotel keeper
for Chicago hummer, or else strolling
preacher. Why this strange alternative /?
Extremes meet: Hotel keeper probably
thought me either very innocent, or else
trying to appear so; hence these typical
categ0ries SO far apart and yet so near
preachers and bummers. Subject for SER
mon on the field for hypocrisy afforded by
the ministry. See illustrations: Dick
ens-Chadband and Stiggins. Text: Be
ware of wolves IN sleeps clothing, in
wardly ravening wolves" ETC."
The proprietor of the Rising Sun want
ed the circuit-rider to sleep with certain
judge who was present. with white vest
and yellow linen coat, but the missionary
demurred to such an extent that another
room was provided. After he had retired
he was walked up again and informed that
five strangers had come, who must share
his room.
Never" shouted out the furious friar
"take them to the haymow, or l will be
off this night, and will advertise your
wretched hotel in every paper in the
State" Had he been very wicked man
and not an embryo missionary, he would
have followed up this answer with strong,
round oath, but he was too good and too
sleepy to say more. And thus the first
night rolled itself away into the morning.
After leaving the hotel. the judge, having
had his farewell nip" with the proprie-
tor, overlook the missionary, whereupon,
in their walks and standstill, they had a
sprawling conversation, like the charac'
tiers in ''Pilgrim's Progress" who walk
and talk together alike through heavy
reasoning and through stony. billy ground
"Oh," said the Judge, abiding to the
circuit-rider's description of his nocturna
adventure, "that amt nothin' out of the
way. Did you ever hear the story Of Old
Bit Crooks when he stayed with the squire
down to the Rising Sun p
lcoSTINUED Tomorrow