Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-10-29
OLD-TIME "REMINISCENCES.
Scenes and Incidents at an Od-Fashioned
Camp-Meeting.
nv W W


One of those occasions, which surely
for agreeable "reminiscences never will
be forgotten by any one whose privil-
eye it may have been to participate in
them, was the old-fashioned comp-meet-
ing of Kentucky and Tennessee, with
it's genial associations and recognitions,
its hearty earnestness, simplicity and
religious devotion, along with it's
Astounding hospitality; for no decently
appearing stranger could possibly make
his appearance at one of them without
having more kind and cordial invita-
tons extended to him to partake of
their good cheer than he possibly could
know what to do with.
Usually held in some exceptionally
pleasant location and open grove, where
plenty of good shade would be over
head and fine water abundant, the COM
pany would determinedly lay them
selves out for good time in every re-
spect; and, if they didn't have it men
tally, physically and spiritually" it
wouldn't be for want of pleasant sur
roundings in regard to the first two
conditions mentioned, Or for the third,
to the presence of two or three revival
preachers" the Boanerges of the circuit,
or of two or three adjoining circuits,
whoever he might be, bronchitis :"
being very little known among them.
Upon the particular occasion in ques-
ton which I propose to describe, I hap
pened to be the guest of "local
preacher" and campers" and the gath
erlng took place at cluster of tents"
although they were really cabins" and
stood there permanently, in one of the
pleasantest valleys of Tennessee, adjoin-
ing Kentucky. The ground was level
and turfy, and where not abundantly
supplied with close green sward, was
gravelly, as along the bank of the clear,
little brooklet, which was supplied by
countless springs scattered along up the
sides of the valley. Held, too, just at
the close of summer, when everybody
feels like taking a long breath" as it
were, with the hardest and hottest of
rural labor over for the season, there
came inevitably with such occasions a
sense of rest, that permitted one to
abandon himself for the time being to
whatever was calculated to remind him
that life was not made altogether for
hard work; but that rest was thing to
be hoped for and enjoyed, both here
and in the hereafter.
And, although certain preparations
were indeed made for cooking, these
were to but small extent, or something
like picnicking more than aught else,
these preparations being to prepare
coffee and tea, get up hot biscuit &C.
casionally, and certain dishes that re-
quired the merest minimum OF labor /,
and this was heartily performed, too,
for was it not noveI-a kind of child's
play, as it were, this camping"
For what constituted good living be-
sides--a great feature upon these occa-
sions-there was prodigal preparation
made before starting from home, testi-
fed to by any amount of great hampers
almost bursting with cold roasted
turkeys, chickens, boiled hams, pies,
cakes, pickles, jellies, honey, and, in
deed, whatever else could be pressed
into service from Astounding supplies,
such as hardly any country besides on
the face of the broad earth could sur
pass, VI tscu 0dudl, 1Ao "AOA 'AO JILL
ner hour came, and the long, white Ia
ble-cloths were spread upon the green
sward, and the matrons, aided by their
dustered servants, began to roll out
these edible luxuries, the young girls,
all on the alert, too, with quick and
graceful steps to arrange everything
with an eye not only to comfort and
convenience, but to some prettiness be-
sides, it was sight-this apparent ex-
travagance in quantity-to make the
cosmopolite from other and less fortu-
nate countries wonder, and, more than
that, concede that this is not only the
land of promise, but of performance
and plenty also.
And then, how sharp thu appetites
fostered by this neutrality-suspicious.