Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-02-14

now owned ny JdCk ollltiII, I15u. Wy liiiol-
nation may be incorrect as to locality.
This infirmary was of great benefit, especial
ly when the scourge of small poX prevailed.
Many, after preparing their systems for
the disease, were taken to DR.. AleXan-
der's to be inoculatcd with the pOX and
would remain under hiscare till we'll. This
was before the wonderful discovery of Jen-
ner's mode of vaccination was introduced,
and DR.. Alexander's benefcYent establish
ment was much valued and esteemed by
the surrounding country. His strongehorts
for the Whig party made him SO very OBJ
noxious to the opposite side, that he deem
ed it a necessary precautlon usually TO as
cend the pulpit, gun in hand, to have 1t
ready for self-defence, in case of any outrage.
| What picture to the minds eye! The rude
place of worship amid the primeval forest
| the few aged men all armed to some eX-
| tent-the anXiOus-faced Women-the pale,
care-WOrn children, and the frall, lame
preacher-who, with rifle in hand, limps up
| the aisle and ascends the pulpit! The car
nal weapon is put aside, and the voice, OF
supplication is heard, for spiritual weapons
| to fight the good fight of faith to be OF
good cheer through evil as we'll as good re-
| port. Amen. A hushedsilence throughout
| the little group, as the words Of the chapter
are read for precious food are they for
weekday memory. Then comes the text,
| followed by the brave eXhortation to endur-
ance, trust and faith in Gods love, for he
wW surely avenge his elect, who cry. to him
day and night. The services ended, few
words to one another about absent husbands
and sons, an interchange of the last news
from the battlefield, camp or prison, a
warm pressure and shake Of the hands IN
farewell, and they take the paths to their
several lonely dwellings, encouraged by the
word preached that day for the onerous tri-
ais and duties of the week begun.
DIR. Alexander continued in the exercise
of his ministerial functions until very aged
His mind was weakened, and his artlcula-
ton 50 indistinct, from feebleness and loss
of teeth, that one could not understand what
he said, sufficientlyto keep the thread OF his
discourse. / remember seeing and hearing
him. He was small old man, with moth
ing which struck me as remarkable in his
appearance, except that he wore a clOse-tit-
ting white linen skull cap. After he relin-
quished his school, the Rev. George Reid
took charge of the academy at Bullock's
Creek for few years, but soon removed
elsewhere.
| | have tried, but without success, to learn
the period of the Rev. William Cummings
labors at Bethel. This church was organ
lied as early as the year 1854, by the Rev.
Mr.. Richardson, though they did not have
a regular preacher until in ITO, when the
Rev. Mr.. Balch took charge. The troubles
of the war, it is probable, caused his remov-
al, for during the Revolution he emigrated
| to East Tennessee. / think Rev. Mr. Cum
mings preached in this congregation soon
| after the war. This is conjecture merely
from concurrent testimony. While living
school of good standing, and numbered
among his pupils, too, the future hero of
New Orleans, Gen. Andrew Jackson. l
know this from his own lips. dined with
General Jackson in 1882, and the pleasure
of my entertainment at the White House
was greatly enhanced by the Presidents
| lively recOllectOns of his SchOOl-bOy days IN
York, and the enjoyment he evidently de-
| rived from our mutual "reminiscences, and
my ability therefrom to give him the later
history of many Of his early friends. In
his inquiries the old veteran used vernac-
uar very familiar once to my ears, but now
so obsolete l will have to explain his mean
| ing: "Can you tell me anything" he asked,
"of DIR. John Allison, who married Miss
Betsy Hill, while | was at Bethel, going to
school to the Rev. Mr.. Cummings? lie
was but nineteen, she only seventeen, and
they were the handsomeSt couple l ever saw
| make their upDeoyrylce" When was young
a bridal pairs attendance at church, on the
| first Sunday after marriage, was always
called making their appearance, and ever at
terward the expression was applied to deslg-
nate that particular Sunday in their lives.
l know literally nothing of Mr.. Cummings
| individually, more than after preaching and
| teaching some years at Bethel, he removed
to Georgia and there died.
Mr.. Reid taught but Il few years at Bull
locks Creek, and when he reinQuished the
school, Rev. Mr.. Walker, a sOn-in-laW OF
| DR.. Alexander, opened 4 classical acade-
my in the Bethesda congregation, about
the year 1906. This he ably conducted
many years. Most Of those who were his
pupils are gathered to their silent homes;
but some live still who enjoyed his instruc-
ton, among them your Septuagenarian.
There was a feature in his school very pleas
ing to both pupil and patron, which l
recommend to principals Of male schools
now. 1t was called an Exhibition, and
was much more agreeable, in its studied
variety, than tile examinations now in
vogue. These consisted of dialogues, speech
es, and several scenic representations, COM
edies, farces, and sometimes even tragedy,
acted by the boys, which used to draw a
large concourse Of people to witness them.
Never lived there Il better man than this
good preacher and teacher, yet taking a
little wine for the stomach's sake, through
the intirity Of the flesh, he sinned. recall
one Friday, when Mr.. Walker stopped at
my fathers gate on his way to Chester. He
refused the invitation to come in and take
social glass. My father, con hospitable
thought INTENT" proposed to bring out the
dcCanter to him, as he sat on the horse.
"No! no! as you insist, Pll go n-not take
drink on horseback" He was goingto see
criminal who was to be hung the follow
ing Frday-a man named Floyd, who had
killed the sheriff of Chester District, Colo
mel Num-. My step-mother was much in
terested in the mans case, and begged her
preacher to call as he returned, and tell her
if the man seemed penitent and to have
laid hold on the precious promises held up
for his acceptance. He kindly promised he
would crafty her. About an hour before
sundown, l, with my father, was under the
shade of a big chestnut tree which stood
near the barn, he irving boards and L plling
them, when Mr.. Walker hove in sight at a
full gallop; as the horse neared the gate,
expecting to be checked up at the frequent
stopping place, he fell into long trot,
which almost caused the rider to lose his
perpendicular, but urged on he resumed
the canter Mr.. Walker righted himself;
the proper equlibriun-and passed with a
dignified "Good afternoon, Squire" I
lifted up my head, big with the discernment
of a lad of ten. "Neyer stir! father, If MIR.
Walker wasn't drunk" My father turned
sternly: "Let me ever hear Of you saying
such thing as that again, sir, and III give
you such whipping as you never had in your
life !" Mum was the word after that. In
Il few moments my father threw down the
frower and walked to the house. follow
ed, for my task was done when he stopped