The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-08-13
THE YOUNG CIRCUIT RIDER.

ward struggle eradIca,es the Adam lines and attempts to substitute an expression of iamb-hke submission. His laugh is an echo of sadness and his smile is tightly drawn and regre,ful. The struggle which produces this change begins sometime before he receives holy orders. In early youth his face doesnot exhibit any of the gravity winch afterwards settles upon II. The embryo preacher, like the boy who develops into a policeman. has an inclina- ton to iil his mouth with Water of ques- cleanliness and squirt II on ! negro. Squirt the water. no, the mouth. understand. This explanation is made to eff ftst71rr If ftie.t ln-nriing of the young eireui, rider. none bu, the mos, Iucid language should be employed. The young circuit riders tirst sermon k not an orator.cal success. The eengresa- ton. cold n that curiosity which new preacher inspires. does noJ lend the mag .-a AA.lh an al laeI G.G.h z ' s;ss- ;o draw. and the dea:ons. with the tops ot their bald hcad> shining. do not seem to be m sympathy with the preacher who struggles in portrayins ;ae terrible reiri- sulien which Mil sooner er later fai! !upnu she~.e Sed He does na, draw ] tear: he does no, inspire thrill. After services he goes nome win an oid brother. and after dinner he talks rel 5ion 10 a gisslns girl while barefoot boy hangs around he doorway and squlni> at h,m. The revieal season soon comes on. Nay young eireui, rider knows wha: he can accom- plish until he institutes ! re,!sal. The revival IS h,s harvest. and fl he iS success fIl and can score number of conversions. he may consider tha; ihe cornerstone ot hjs success ls lad. Mhen the ;rlal night comes. he approaches the church sie@lX. The congregation is already sinsins. and the candles. as Bret Haue would sas. have already begun Io shed their sofi luSier and tallow on hcad-dre>S and shawl lie walks up the a,>ie and kneel, for a momen, n the pulpi;. Then ne a5pes hl- face on a handkerchief presented to him by the irccked-faec s,rl who proies,e religion las, fall. He elvcs ou, another hymn. winch is sgng. anu then .ftc, prayer. he arises. look !: inc eongresa- ton and ,ays: And wh4. >hallit proti, . man though he gam the whole world and lose his own soai.' Then he bes!n, ta .rnpliv. He speaks of ,he unecr;aIn.N of life and the awful certainty af death. He says tha, the young ladies under the se0nd of his vo.ec. although they are blooming and needless ot Waa, another day iaal bring forth. wfii -pen be CT folded bl the chilling aFmssi death Tac young man, so proud ot hi> ,,rcn .,h. will soon be called upon ;o face eternity "A And ,hc old man and the old woman. he continues. "how can they stay away when ;hcir ,e,terin@ footsteps are already Knocking dirt lr;o the grave. Come an. all oi lou. Remember the pra.n,>e ,"ya made ,o ] dying mother Mothers re- member the death k'>s of vo4r dv..ls child. Come all ind parake of the water, oi lif, frecly Now is the accepted ;iiae. Tomorrow may be loo la,e. All who desire to % io heaven. kneel down. The congregation knccl>, and an old man prays w::h fcnor. Then. during a stir rng h>mn. the invitation to come .s pressed. One young woman ariscs and approaches the altar. Thank the Lord. :" e>e!am> the minister n broken accents. ",ha; one has thc courage 10 come. Then young nan. ~ho has jus; "swopped " horses w-;h ene)of ;he Me L4ushl.n boys down a; the ,pnng. arises. approaches the mouraers' bench and kneels. The preacher then appeals 10 BIll Hobdy. bu, Bill. who IS ease-hafdcned. together with Inn Staggs. gets out of the way. while Self Payne and John Johnson. become victims, and kneei al the bench. Then the work begins ln earnest. The mourners. Tn agonitng remembrance of their .ins. ory ou, in anguish. while the brethren sing lustik. The young mlnis- ter. leaning on he pulpit. looks down and inwardly counts. one. two. three. fou<. and then reflects: Well. that, not bad If the revival Is successful. the young man gains confidence n himself. Mex, sea- son. nine chances to one. the same mourn CTS come up as back-sliders. The young circuit rider, however. is losing his lnfiu- enoe. as the birthstone doctrine IS on the ~ane. In the rural districts, however. he is still prominen, religious feature. and season after season. reSels among the sinners at the bench.