Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-09-23

keeplng up the rafting sound, opening
aus Jaws, and darting out at us its forked
tonguei
81 asks three dollars fer imp" the
man said eagerly, after showing off mis-
prize, which he had Just caught with
forked stick in the woods. On being
answered In the negative, he went on
his way.
We next came to a little village m
co slstlng of two or three log cabins,
three small framed houses. anda store
the latter somewhat larger than a
shoe box. There were few pieces of
cheap calico on the counter. sone
strips of bacon, salt pork,-dry packed
"a lew dishes, some tinwIre. and a
barrel OF bour, etc, near by, while in
front OF this store was specimen of
porcine of the ''Tazor- back" type. with
her family of fen pigs digging mp tue
soft earth with their long snouts. and
champing the refuse thrown out in
front.
This edifice had a sign nearly one
halt the size of the front of tue bnild-
ing, on which was painted in large qlar-
ing black letters Trading PnIaceg
we continued on onr way. Rou.d-
Ing curve in the road, We entered a
dense pine forest through which the
breeze whispered mysteriously, as 1t
swayed and swung the hanging mass.
ga mockIng bird trillelits sweet mel
ody from the top of tree trunk COM
pletely covered with the yellow las
mine, which grows wild in all that Sec
ton of the South, and which is such a
prolific bloomer that the green leaves
are nearly concealed by the trumpet
shaped blossoms, while in the distance.
with the dark green of the pines for a
background, it stood out in the per-
spective like a pillar of gold. High
overhead, on the long outstretched
limb of dead tree that looked like the
arm of a skeleton spectre pointing
towards some dire d stiny in the be-
yond, were huddled six large turkey
buzzards as lovingly as turtle doves; on
another limb were two or three more,
their glossy black feathers glistening
in the waning sunlight, with their
heads tucked under their wings. On
solitary branch alone, high above and
apart from the others sat another old
buzzard as though in the most woeful
and morose mood.
Whether he was recently a bereaved
widower, an incorr1gibIe old bachelor.
or had had his affections slighted by
some tickle feminine heart, our party
could not determine, as he sat there
taking no note of the domestic tran
quillity of three roosting above him,
nor of the happiness OF dozen OF more
that were slowly sailing ID circles in the
blue sky far above US, that they looked
like floating black notes.
Under the oyerhangiug branches OF
these stately old forest pines we rode,
where were seemingly hundreds of
buzzards, either slowly flying high
above or rOosting contentedly and
lazlly on the high branches. The birds |
took no notice Of our laughing, merry
party as we passed under their resting
place, except few that slowly craued
their necks, like chickens disturbed on
a roost, and peered downward at us
curiously.
Soon the voice of song broke on our
ears, waited through the pine forest
like the sound of the breakers on far
away shore. 1t was q weird strange
melody, the combined voices of null
tltude, and grew louder an more dis
tinct as we approached nearer.
Emerging at an opening among the
trees, we found large l5g cabin, which
by its size we at once recognized as a
church. Singular and grotesque look
ing teams of OK carts, mules and few
horses were hitched about, TO the trees
and fence.
We were informed by a colored man
stationed outside, that the lizard
Shelled Baptlsts' were ''havin per-
tracted meetin, and invited MS to stop
and attend the services which invita-
ton we gladly accepted.
"Brodder Bowser am now preachin;
he's pow'ful eloquent preacher" was
the information he impaired, as ne as
sisted us by hitehiDg our horses to a
pine tree near by, and then conducted
us to seats inside.
Like the school house before men
toned, this building wa without lath
or plaster, and loose boards were laid
down for floor. It had the same kind
of slab seats, while little raised plat
form in the rear, was surmounted by
rude desk so high as to almost conceal
the preacher, who was loudly voclierat-
ing to the edifcation of his congrega-
tion.
Soon after being seated, the preacher
beckoned to one of his brethren, who
went to the desk and received whis- .
pered message. The good brother i'm
mediately came to where We were |
seated, and said to the most grave
looking of the gentlemen of our party:
"Brodder Bower wants ter know eff
yer haint a minister, an won't take a
seat in de pulpit, Sah." On receiving
a reply in the negative, and declining
the honor, further civllities were ex
tended by asking to take tie hats O.
the gentlemen, which he placed upon
the rude table in front of the pulpit. /
'De holy Bible say.-an' yer, feet
shall be like de hines fee, t,-my bred .
deren an sisteren," continued the
preacher in his discourse, Eyer feet .
Shall be like de hines feetl Now de /
m Gaming of dis chere scripter ls dis.
De psalms didn't mean to say htns
he mean ter say hen, - hen's feet.
DE orig'nal Greek bein' hens teeti
Now in considerin' dis chere pas
ace. let us les keep inmin' de
hens feet. Yer all know how tbs
wild yer, when yer is in de deep
.nire and de clay, yer feet sink down.
sink down furder on de udder fut, and
yer cries TO- help. But when yer fut
is planted on de rock oh Aiges ali,
with loud voice and violent gesticUla.
ton, and responsive emotion IN the
Show de miro, ah-and
de pit-ah-can hab no mo pow'--ah-
to sink yer down IN de depths of sin
destruction-ah-fo' like de
hens feet dat clings tight to de roos.,
or de limb ob de ole apple tree, yer Is
and secure; an' de winds ob
beaben M " blow, an de storm beat on
dat hen, and sill her feet cling to de
roos'l So yer feet shall be like de
hens feet dat de lurements OBJ sin an
satan kyant move from de roos oh de
rock of aigesl"
During this exhortation the preacher
wildly gestured and shouted, stopping
to mop the perspiratlon
from his shining ace with bright yel-
low handkerchief. while his cougrega-