Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-07-31
THE GRAIN RANGE CIRCUIT.
CHAPTER |.

CHAPTER |.
Young Sallus McBrail after rcceiy-
ing liberal education, Joined the
Methodist ministry, and was immc-
diatcly appointed by conference TO take
charge of the Grain Range circuit.
This circuit embraced large extent
Jf thinly populated territory, with
only three churches, situated Il DAYS
ride apart. To be ass igned to such IN
unimportant mission sprinkled cold
water on the young mans ardOr, but
realizing that he must make Il begin
ming somewhere, he threw his saddle
bags over his horse, an animal which
he had purchased ut the sacrifice of
valuable old watch descended from
his grandfather, and set out for the
scene of his reformatory labors. He
had n letter of introduction to old Pc
ter Moley, the ''main stay of the cir
cult. Old Peter welcomed him with
warmth which the young preacher
received with gratitude. When the
horse had been cared for, Peter convok-
ed his family in the "big room" and an
nounccd that prayers would be offered
The Grain Range circuit had fallen
into neglect. In fact, three years had
elapsed since regular preacher had
taken the sinners in hand, so, when
prayer was announced, Peters three
boys, and his "gangling' daughter,
Sue, manifested decided unwilling
ness 10 partakc of the souls sympo-
stun.
"Comc on here, Avery, | tell yc,"
cried the old man. Sue. We gawky
thing, if ye don't come here now an
jinc in pra'r, I'll make the lint fly
from yer garments"
Don't force Them" said Mr.. Ne
Brazil, secretly wishing that he had not
come.
Eyes, but that amt no way to do.
They shall jinc in cf halter go out in
the highways an hedges an compel
'em to come in. Muir, addressing his
wife, grab that child.'
Finally, after much difficulty, the
children were "hcrdcd," but when the
preacher began to pray, Sue giggled
and Avery snortcd, while San. AMI
Ligc, unable to restrain themselves,
pinched each other and Uttered. The
old man was enragcd. "Hold on,
BROTHER said he; put off these cxcr-
cises till | git hickory saplin.' I'll
be hanged if my chillun shall act like
they never had no raisin'."
wait, Brother Moley," said the
preacher, arising. LET the children
20, and on some future occasion, when
they are not so frolicsomc, they may
join u.s."
CLAIR out o. here, thcn," exclaimed
the old man, and the children, only
too glad to obey proclamation of
such liberty, rushed from the house,
and were soon climbing trees in the
woods. The prayer proceeded with
out interruption, and, at its conclusion,
Mrs. Molcy declared that she had not
been so "hope up" for many day.
After the preacher had gone to bed,
he lay in dissatisfaction, contemplate
ing the difficulty of his work. The
rough, broken country, the ignorance
of the people, the complete isolation,
all suggested meagre reward even
though he should gain the victery.
Through holes in the roof he could see
the stars twinkling, but they winked
at him instead of smiling in cncour-
agement. He thought that he saw Il
face at the little window near his bed,
and started. He pIopped himself up
on his elbows and strained his eyes.
Must have been fancy, No, for it
came again. A sudden motion, II cry,
and cat fell on his breast. He
sprang out of bed, went to the win
dow and looked out. No one in sight.
The cat, n hideous yellow thing, re-
treated to corner of the
room and glared at him. He
lighted candle, but when he turned
again the cat was gone. He lay
down and at last sank into troubled
sleep At the breakfast table the next
morning he related the circumstance.
The old man declared that he did not
know who it could have been, us all of
the children were in bed. Was the
preacher sure that he saw a face?
Yes, and it seemed to be pale and
anxious. "Anxious to be slapped" "
the old man replied, "fur anybody
that'll prowl round mans house
airter dark, don't mean no good"
The preacher anxiously awaited the
coming of Sunday. Preaching would
break the dullness which surrounded
him in that lonely place. The children
improved but little. Sue Uttered
when he said grace, and Avery kept
up a constan giggle. At last Sunday
arrived. They went to church in a
wagon. Sue would not sit on the seat
with him. What peculiar girl, he
thought. Once by accident he was
enabled to get good look at her eyes.
They were beautiful.
When he arrived at the church, n
tumble down log house which bore
suspicious marks of having been dis
tillery, he did not feel joyous thrill
the fulfllment of a hope that bright
faces would greet him. There were
few bright faces. Even the children
looked old and careworn. There were
no demonstrations of welcome at the
approach of the preacher. The men
sat in groups under the trees. When
the preacher entered the house the
men followed him. They sat in un-
concern, except tho younger
attendants, who, despite threaten
inp looks from their mothers,
giggled, and then engaging in
those sly glances, which between boys
under restraint is fatal to gravity,
they would snort and laugh until the
tears of vexation ran down their
mothers sallow cheeks. Woman is
the main support of the church. No
matte. how long 1t has been since she
heard the sound Of the gospel, and no
matter how entangled her husband
may be in the trammel net of unbe-