West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-07-06
Notes by Alpha.

and forty miles east gives one the
feeling that there has been great
change in the temperature. A cool,
blessed wind is passing over hlli
and valley, reviving every life with
its toning power. Leaving the
cars at "Hutton's," I was soon IN
the saddle and cantering away to
Ashbv's, which is reached in four
miles A good dinner and an
hours rest, and the people are seen
fastening to the White Church
near by to hear the Word. This is
dispensed at 2 p. M, followed by a
business meeting, and all are dis
tributed for the night.
On Sabbath morning at 9 o'clock,
in spite Of the rain, the house is
| half filled, and "testimony meet
ing' Of much interest follows, IN
which words of wisdom and power
were spoken. The very pleasant
flow of religious feeling was arres-
ted by a ludicrous blunder made
by a woman in relating her reli-
gious experience. After referring
to her trials and difficulties" She
closed by saying, "but, brethren
and sisters, it Will not be long be-
fore we reach that bar-roone above,
where our troubles will all be over"
The effect of this statement can
hardly be imagined,
At this same place, several years
ago, a minister who was passing
through to some other point turned
aside for the Sabbath, and being In
vited to preach, did so in very
practical way Among other things
he referred to the evils of 'tattling."
Said he, Gotten in a neighborhood
there is some old Betsy Ann who,
mounted on an old grey mare, and
going from house to house, does
more harm in day than a preach
er can do good in u year" Now it
so happened that there was present
an old gossip whose name was Betsy
Ann, and who rode just such a horse
and did just such work as the
preacher described
There was a sensation and a
storm that has hardly passed away
yet, though the preacher is dead
and in a land to which this out
rider will hardly go.
There is an opportunity for trout
fishing in the mountain streams.
| know this by experience. 1mag-
inc you see me with a pair of No. II
boots on, having a number of holes
in them to let the water out, stand
ing or wading in mountain
stream, with dark, dense pine for
ests and tangled laurel fields all
about me, watching eagerly for the
signal to hoist, and then when the
signal is given, enter if you can
into the feeling of exultation with
which the speckled prize is grasp
ed, and you may have some idea of
the excitement Of trout fishing.
Our latest venture was in a stream
called Lead Mine Run. The local
tradition has it that once upon a
time a man camping out" by the
side of this stream found lead
mine. Like all cases Of this kind,
however, he never could find it
again, and now all that is left of it
is the name. Well, in this case,
there is not much in a name,
There is the widest scenery here l
ever saw, and there are thousands
of acres that can never be redeemed
to cultivation. Wild turkeys and
deer abound. I saw a large wild
turkey running alongside the road
as though he was part owner of the
soil. My impression is that he was
an old bachelor, or had left his wife
at home. One cannot get any veni-
son in these mountains, but very
good quality of mountain mutton
may be had for a consideration
The kindcst-hearted people l ever
saw, are here. All that they have
seems to be free to the stranger.
They make no charges, and will re-
ceive nothing for anything they
give or do. 1t is true they are
strangers to many Of the refinements
and luxuriNs of life, but they are
temperate, frugal, and in many in
stances truly pious.
Wild strawberries, "sarveces, :"
&c, abundant, the former with the
| 4 L IL L.