Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-04-17

DuSItS. W piVNuNS " AN-'~'''' '
enough to suit anybody. No wonder
that the preachers were tough. No
nonsense about 'em. There's material
enough lying around loose here to turn
out hell without any great strain on
the imagination. The old man got bis
religion and his mission TO preach direct
from here and from God. He didn't
belong to no denomination. but set out
on his own hoax. He didn't take nc
pay, and went about rs the apostles
did. wherever the spirit called him.
Lord, how he used to sail into preach
ers that got salaries lie had ideas Of
his own, and was independent Of every
one and every thins-'specially fashion.
H. always wore his beard long when
everybody else shaved theirs of, and
he wore an old straw hat, summer aur
winter, with the brim half tore of. liz
was particular to wear it in winter. Ey-
er, body went to hear him. and when II
Ils known that Old Dow was going to
preach. all the other meetings were de-
serted. The boys sometimes put u
Jobs tor him. though. | recollect once
that he was to preach in an orchard,
and big crowd gathered to hear him.
Well. just before the meeting began
the fellows got him great hOgshead to
stand on. aud flied it about two-thrds
full of water. They put in the head
rather loosely, and waited for fun.
Dow mounted on the barrel, gave out
his text. got fred up, and was prancing
and thumping round on that barrel
he ad in lively style. and suddenly N
she went, splash, slush. boards, Dow.
straw lat and all. The water was
about up to his neck, and he scrambled
out dripping all over. Jerusalem, how
the people laughed, and how Dow
we'll. he went right IN preaching on The
ground, but (signifcantly) he had CON-
mcncrd IN grace. mercy and peace. hut
he wound up on hell fire and eternal
damnatiOn.
"AnOlher anecdotc, lllustratrn- the
ready wit Of bow. is well known, but
this is fact. and is worth telling aeain.
The old nan was lodging over n ght
with certain minister. whose pulpit
he was to occupy on the following day
Sunday The clergyman. with a view
of getting the best Of DOW. proposed
that the latter should preach from a
text that should not be announced 10
him until the moment before he was
to speak. Dow accepted the proposal
and the next day. as he entered tie
pulpit. the clergyman handed him :
slip of pal er bearing these words 4;
And Balaam saddled his ass Dow
stepped to the front and said: MY
friends. am to speak to you tonight
from the text: And Bllaam saddled
his ass And Balaam saddled his ass.
and repeated it in a loud voice, lookin-
srayely over the audience. 'Balaam.
4
take it. my friends he continued IN
slow. solemn style, refers to youl
minister. his salary is his saddle, and
the congregation is his ass
To the same point is another story
One cold. clustering day Dow was dirty
ng in his sleigh along a narrow country
road that was banked high with snow.
He encountered man who was dnvlns
IN the opposite direction: There was
only one path, and that in the centre o'
the road one or the other mu't turn
ont Dow took in the situation at
glance and rising erect in his Seat
wbip il, hand and With threatening Wis
.,.,o o.d mauaer. calling out sternly.
Turn out. turs out. | say. or pll serve
-, os do man Just back here Th'
.,,anyer, oyerawed. neryously Obeyed.
ard wallowed through the deep snow OIL
the roadside till he could regain the
path. Then he turned toward the re-
tiring figure and asked somewhat angri-
Iy: We'll, how did you serve thai
other man?' Nhy.' Dow replied COM
posedly, he wouldn't turn out for me.
50 turned out Tor him.
One of the funniest incidents in Dow's
nfe, and which shall never forget, was
tne suit against him in which two mill
owners CHARGED that he had illegally
applied water privileges. The outlet oi
Oxoboxo pond is a noble stream, that
lumbles over a rocky bed tor several
rules. until it empteS into the Thames
RIVER. a few miles above New London.
Along its banks are many oil the most
ilourshln. mill properties in the eoun-
try. Well, Dow took it into his head
that he wanted mill at the point
where the brook poured out Of tie
pond, and also a larger reservoir than
vas provided by the old dam. Hence
,e raised and extended the dam seyera
leet. The .ulll owners below complain
ed that the addition to the dam inter-
..red with their water supply. and
threatened to prosecute. Dow cooly
told them to 20 ahead and prosecute.
declaring that he held his title to th
mill site direct from the great Indian
chiefwho formerly owned the country.
lie went on grinding IN his mill, and at
length suit was instituted against him.
in the Norwich court. 10 recover $1,000
and costs. Tie case WAS decided
against him, and an appeal was taken
to the Superior Court. Dow watched
the proceedings closely and critically.
t. l.. loor,od thot tho docieion