The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-11-08
Life Sin the RrnSh.O

Life Sin the Brush"
Somewhere about thirty years ago
a young man who had just graduated
from Union Theological Seminary in
New Y ork, and who was under ap-
Dointment as missionary to West
Africa, was taken with hemorrhages
from the lungs. Thus, suddenly, the
whole current Of his. Career was turned
into new channel. Five years of
travel by land and sea suficed to re-
cover his voice so that he was able to
preach, but the decision of the physi-
clans was against settled pastorate
as fatal undertaking, and III favor Of
some sphere of activity that would
involve large amount of exercise IN
the open air. 0ne result was that the
young man took an agency from the
American Bible Society, and rode
horseback through the wild regions
in the Southwest till he knew that
section and its people, and their prcu-
liarities, probably as thoroughly as
any man living; another Was the
writing of this graphic history of the
social life of generation and OF ii
state of civilization which, as he says,
are rapidly passing away, never to re-
appear, and that otherwise would
have had no memorial only as per-
petuated in the traditions of the peo-
pie. The young man Was Rev. Ham
ilton w. Pierson, who afterward be-
came President of Cumberland Col
lrge in Kentucky. There is nothing
in this volume that did not enter into
his experience as trayelling-agent
in "the Brush" He is by no means
the only agent and missionary that
has traversed the same ground, but he
is the first who has had the percep-
tion and humor, in word, the happy
com bination Of faculties, that fits one
to tell such story as it ought to be
told in order both to be read and to
live as a real chapter added to the his
tory Of our national Development
A START IN THE BRUSH.
For a start the outfit was not large.
the chief and most important item
being a horse. The requirements
called for by Mr.. Pierson in horse
remind one In their number, at least,
Of the requirements sometimes called
for by churches in minister. In
short, he wanted horse that could go
throu gh what he himself expected to,
horse as characteristic as the people
among whom his lot was to be cast
This is the picture the agent draws of
himself.
"Hehold me, then, with my new
and complete outfit, mounted and
starting for the Brush, in broad
brimmed white hat, snuff-colored
overcoat, butternut-dyed pantaloons,
legeins, heavj boots, and spurs. Ny
snddle-bags were thrown across the
saddle, and my blanket-shawl and
umbrella strapped behind it. AS |
rode out of the city into the country,
[ met countryman on his way to
town, who greeted me with pleasant
How d'y, sir ?" and as he scanned
with pleasant face my outfit. he
added. Travelling. sir A country
n,an, and to the manner born" that
was his quick recognition and ap-
proval Of the perfection and complete
ness Of my outfit for the Brush"
FIRST EXPERIENCES.
The first days ride will give fair
idea of the lower lying sections. 1t
was g. country rough and broken.
with light, sandy soil. sparsely cover
{. d with small, scruhhy oak-trees, call
ed "black-j jacks" The houses were
mostly poor and comfortless, the
barns small log structures, the cattle
poor and scrawny. Occasionly black,
dirty, ragged slaves-'uncles," ''aun-
ties" and their children-revealed the
whites Of their eyes and their shining
ivory as they stared earnestly at the
rare sight of a passing stranger. The
ride was cheerless enough. but at its
end oaG.a "a cordial reception, and :
bountiful supper of the rarest of fried
chicken and hot corn-bread. flankrC
with a nper-abundance of Other
dishes, and over all tina aroma of tht
richest cofee. The first sermon Wa
preached in a little church but a few
rods from the spot where Lincoln wa
horn, and the congregation lifted ;
collection for the society to tn,
amount of Sc S5. Not many day
afterward came the first night ip th
loft of log cabin. Of Shat lie says
The Cabin was entirely unceiled
aud the roof was so low that | had t.
stoop to make my way to my bed
and when | could easily place IN.
hands upon the roof boards and raft
ers. The openings between the log
afforded ahundans ventilation. L
tha morning, [ found such conven
, fences as We're afforded for washing
not in my room, but out of doors, a
the side of the we'll. Afterward
slept in hundreds of such cabin-lofts.
Mr. Pierson was not always put /
the loft, however. Some Of his stop
/ ping-places did net boast even so muc