Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-24
@ltssEias Bssistss
AN APOSTLE OF THE TUlES.
Bert Eayte, in LOngAda's Magasias.

q more barren, oreary, monOtouOus anu uu'
inviting landscape never stretched before
human eye; it could not have been for con-
veniencs or cOntiguity, rs the nearest settle
ment was thirty miles away; it could not
have been for health or sslubritY, as the
breath Of the ssue-hAunted tules in the out
lying Stockton marshes swept through the
valley; it could not have been for space or
comfort, for, encamped on an unlimited
plain, men and women we're huddled to-
gether IS closely as in an urban tenement
house, without the freedom or deceney OF
rural isolation; it could not have been Tor
pleasant companionship, IS detection, men
tai anxiety. tears and lamentation were the
dominant expression it was not a hurried
fight from present or impending calamity,
for the camp had been deliberately planned,
and for week pioneer wagons had been
slowly arriving, it was not an irreyokable
exodus, for some bad already returned to
their homes that others might take their
places 1t was simply religious revival OF
one or two UNCONVENTIONAL sects, known as
"csmpmeeting."
A large central tent served for the as
ssmbling of the principal congregation;
smaller tents served for prsyer-meeungs
and class rooms, known to the few unoeiey-
ers as side shows" while the actual dwell
hDgs of he worshipers were rudely extern
porized shanties of boards and canvas, some
times mere corrsls or Enclosures open 10 the
cloudless sky, or more ofteu the unhitehed
covered wagon which had brought them
there. The singular resemblance to cir
Gus, already proianely suggested, was carried
out by q struggling fringe Of boys and halt
grown men on the outskirts OF the eneamp'
ment acrimonious with disappointed cur
iosity, lazy without the careless ease of ysg-
rancy, and vicious without the excitement
OF dissipation. For the coarse poverty and
brutal economy OF the larger arrangements,
the dresry panorama OF unlovely and I'M
wholesome domestic details always before
the eyes, were hardly exciting to the senses.
The circus might have been more dangerous
but scarcely more brutshZing. The actors
themselves, hard and aggressive though prse-
teal struggles, often warped and twisted
with chronic forms Of smaller diseases, or
malformed and crippled through csrelessness
and neglect, and restless aud uneasy through
some vague mental distress aud inquietude
that they had added to their burdens, were
scarcely amusing performers The rheu.
matte Parkinsons, trom Green Springs; the
opihalmic Flgses from Alder Creek; the
ague stricken Harneys from Martinez BeUd,
and the feebls-hmbei Steptons, from Sugar
Mill might in theireom5ined families have
suggested hospital rather than any other
sCclal asssmblsge. Even their companion
ship wbicn had little of cheerful fellowship
In It. would have been grotesque but tor the
pathetic instinct of some mutual vague ap-
peal from the hardness of their lives and
the helplessness of their conditions that had
brought them together. Nor was this 50.
peal to Higher Power any the less paths-
tic that it bore no reference whatever to
their respective needs or deficiencies, but
was always on invocation for light which,
when they believed they had found it, to un-
regenerate eyes scarcely seemed to ilumine
the rugged path in which their feet were
continually stumbling. One might have
smiled at the idea of the Notwithstanding
Ferguses praying for justification By faith,
but the actual spectacle Of old Simon Fergus,
whose shotgun was still in his wagon, offer
ing up that appeal with streaming eyes and
agonized features was painful beyond a
doubt. To seek and obtain an exsltation
OF feeling vaguely known IS 1T, or less
vaguely yelling q sacred name, was the bur
den of the general appeal
The large tent had been filed, and be-
tween the exhorts.ions q certain gloomy
enthusiasm had been kept up by singing,
which had the effect of continuing in an
easy, rhythmical, i'm personal and irresponsi-
BILE way the sympathies Of the meeting
This was interrupted by young man who
rose suddenly with that spontsneity OF I'M
pulse which characterized the speakers but
unlike his predecessors, he remained for
moment mute, trembling and irresolute.
The fatal hesitation seemed to check the
unreasoning, monotonous flow of emotion,
and to recall to some extent the reason and
even the criticism of the Worshipers. de
stammered prayer whose esrnestness was
undoubted, whose humility was but two sp.
parent, but his words fell on faculties al
ready benumbed by repetition and rhythm.
A slight movement Of curiosity in the rear
benches, aud whisper that IL was the NAL
den effort of new preacher, hel ped to pro
lorg the interruption. A heavy man OF
suong physical expression sprsng to the res
cue with an hysteriesl cry OF GLORY! and
a tumultuous Auency of epithst and sacred
sdiuration. Still the meeting wsyered.
With one final paroxysmal cry the powerful
man threw his arms around his nearest
peighbor and burst into silent tears. Al
III i. -. L-a. aef
confined TO sob on his neighbor shoulder.
Almost before the fact could De eonmsntet
ppon il was noticed that the entire rank OF
worshioers on the bench beside him were
CRYING also; the second aud third rows were
speedily dissolved in tears, until even the
very Youthful seoffers in the last benches
suddenly found their hslfhysterical laugh
fer turned to sobs. The danger was ayerted,
, the reaction was compleate; the singing
was commenced, and IN few moments the
hapless cause Of the interruption aud the
man who had retriyed the disaster stood to-
getter outside the tent A horse pieketed
near them.
The victor was still painting from his late
exertions, and was more or less diluYiAl in
eve and nostril, but neither eye nor nostril
d DOIo lne sLghleSe O0uOh VI SS0SA
sion. His face was stolid and peteetly in
keeping with his physique-heayy, animal
and unintelhgent.
. "Ye onghter trusted in the Lord" he said
to the young preacher.
But l die" responded the young man
! earnestly.
That's it. Justifyin yourself by works
instead o lesnin' onto Him! Find Hin,
SEE you! Git Hin, SEE you! Works IS
vain. Glory glory" be continued, with
fluent vscuity and wondering dali o5ssr-
want eyes.
But if l had little more practice IN
class, Brother Silss more educstionH
The latter killeth," interrupted Brother
Silas. Here his wandering eyes took dull
cognizance of two feamale faces psering
- IL IL. La nv