The Russellville Democrat., 1883-03-08
OUR TRIP TO THE COUNTRY

and Strengthened ourselves, some
strangers who seemed to know a
great deal more about us than We
knew about them, ordered us to get
in two wagons that stood on the
shore with mules hitched to them.
We did not dispute their right to
order us but proceeded to obey at
once. In a few minutes we were
comfortably seated in the wagons,
some on spring seats prepared espe-
cially for them, some on chairs pre-
pared for their comfort and others
on the floors of the wagon beds. 1t
did not make any difference, howev-
er, whether we had spring seats,
chairs, or floors, so that we were per-
mitted to ride, and thereby saved
from the inconvenience of the mud.
There was a very material and per-
ceptible change in the topography of
the country, the surface being higher
and drier, with here and there a bed
of rocks cropping out. The wagons
like those we had just abandoned,
kept up continuous clucking, rat
Ting and jolting but the jocular dis
position of the crowd was unabating.
The hills on one side of us were dot
ted here and there with modest farm
houses, and the doors of these houses
were ornamented with women and
children who seemed to be amazed at
the appearance of so many men. At
ter comparatively short distance
the Wild Cat mountain loomed up
on the other side of us, and looked
as if the clouds were dragging over
its summit. Soon our wagon came
to halt, and the driver, whose man
ner and words evinced the fact that he
was proprietor of the premises, step
ped down and out, and in the po-
litest manner possible, said: sect
out gentlemen" We did not hesi-
tate, but proceeded to unload our
wagons, and conveyed our baggage
to the gallery. The substantials of
life that lay smoking on the table in
full view was prima facie evidence
to us at least that another perform
ance had to be gone through before
leaving the premises. We dispatched
the supper prepared for the occasion
in u great deal less time than was re-
quired for its preparation, and imme-
diately after departed or foot for the
church. There we met others who
had gone there. actuated by like mo-
tives as ourselves, and who had also
gone there through tribulations sim
liar to those through which we had
gone. Rev. 4. NJ. Roach of Russell
vile preached very excellent SER
mon for our edification. After the
sermon the committee appointed for
that purpose assigned us to our
homes. Rev. j. d. Boone of Van
Buren, and the editor were sent to
the same place to domicile during
the session of Presbytery. We did
not begin to tell you anything about
the business fpresbytery, but sim.
ply to give you few of the princi-
pie events of the journey. We would
say however, that all the business Of
the meeting was transacted in the
usual dignified manner, and with
special reference to the glory of God
and the salvation of men. Rev. j
d. Boone and the editor started ou,
for the place of their sojourn, and
after accomplishing distance o.
one and three quarter miles, were
told that the house before whose gate
they stood, was the one designated
by the committee The hospitali
ties of the family were extended
without stint. The father and
mother of the household knew how
to provide for the wants of company
because they were accustomed tc
considerable company all the time
as they had only fourteen children
of their own. They were not all al
home though, and we did not have
the pleasure of their acquaintance
On account of the distance, the i'm
mensc quantity of mud, the water
and the rain, some of our friends
thought il would facilitate our trans
portation to and from church Il
/ furnish us a horse and a mule Rev
j. ID. Boone rode little mule tha
did not appear much larger thar
himself, and the editor went jogging
along on poor flea bitten gray horse
that was hardly able to carry him
The horse had on a blind bride
rope reins, and dilapidatcd saddle