The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-05-07
THE NEW MEETING HOUSE.
isN WILLARD SACKETT.


Come right up to the fire. and warm
yourself. Gettin' purity cod out, amt
it? Guess we will have \ reg'lar down
East night. like some We used to have
back in Maine where | come from.
What. you from down East? Shake
hands again, stranger. ii does my old
eyes good to see a man from the place
where lived so long. Yes. l was born
an bred IN Maine, but times got hard
an we heard 50 many stories Of how
poor eople was Settin' itch out West
here, an so we packed up an moved out
here, but we aint in no better fix than
we was back East. I'm lawn up every
cent can an some day hope to have
enough to take me an my wife back to
the only place that will ever seem like
home to US. An / want to go to meet
in in the new mcetin house down in
the grove once more; lore die.
If yorl like, stranger. I'll tell you
how the new meetin-h u e was first
built up on hill but was afterward
moved down into the grove at the foot.
That was nigh onto eight years ago.
Eight years ago next September.
We allus used to have meetin' in the
old school ol-house: but YOU know our chii-
dren was CROWN up an havin' children OF
their own, an first thing We knew the
school-hou>e was Ge!tln' tco small to hold
all OF us comfortably, an SO we decided
to build Eew meetln house.
s'pose it allus d es happen so, but
there were six or seven spots chosen
for the location Of tie church: hut af-
TO- il ho =,
two an there We stuck. You see all
the older folks wanted it built down ia
the grove right near the old school
house, cause we had gone to meetin so
many times in the old school house
that we were kind o attached to the
old location, an wanted the new one
as rear it as we could get it. 1t was
such nice, shaddy place to tie your
horse on a hot Sunday afternoon, an
the birds used to build their nests in
the trees, an there were lots of rab-
bits a. d squirrels i'll the wocdl. au' it
seemed to be jnst the right place to
bul ID our new meetin house.
But the younger folks had got some
high falutiu' notions into their heads,
an' they were bound to have it built
upon the hill. | spose we older reo-
pie had lest good deal Of our strong
headedness an stubbornness in tightin'
life's hard battle: anyhow The Young
folks had their own way, an prerara-
tions were made to build the new
meetln' house on tie hill.
Well, we knew we wouldn't have
much longer to tend mee.in' in the Old
school house, so we made the most of
our time an resigned ourselves to it.
We knew it nd came out all right, for
such things always do. Things went
on for some time an the new meetin'
house was done an we were to have
only one more meetin in the old school
house.
Don't remember that last Sunday
we went down to the school house to
hear our good old pastor, Dr. Simmons,
preach for the last time? 1t was a
beautiful day in September. The
leaves We're just fallin'. an' they made
beautiful shower of red an brown an
gold. the rurtiest sight I'd seen for many
day. Old DIR. Simmons preached a
fine sermon that day. an when he was
through he give out the hymn-"O
Hundred | b'leve you could have
heard us half mile off when we sang
j.
During that week the doctor took
sick, ali said he didn't think he would
be able to preacl, the next Sunday.
When Sam Sewell heard this, he ac
cused the doctor of irwin to put off u>il,
the new meetin' house as long as he
could. Now Sam had been the leader
of the young folks who wanted the new
church built on the hill. an he was a
hot headed young fellow who spoke be
fore he thought an who didn't NEAR
half he said. When DIR. Simmons heard
this he told Sam that he would preach
in the new meetin' house sure--if he
was alive.
We tried our best to persuade hin
not to think of it at all, but he said he
had made up his mind to do it, ant
nothing would keep him from it. Well
the rext Sunday came round ia due
time, an sure enough, when our new
meetin house was chuck full, our poor
sick old minister, bowed an tremblin,
came i'll an walked mp to the rulpi
steps.
Here he stoprad an rested fe, mo
ments, an then he tried to go ny; bu
he sank down again, an we could hea
him mutter Welt weilr' to himself
In minute dozen of us were arount
him, an Liza an tried to get him t.
let us take him home; but he said tina
he had promised to preach there tina
day an he Was goin' to keep hi
promise. We helped him up into th
pulpit. The church was as still as tn
grave. shall never forget how I fel
when he turned his kind old eyes o
his People. Sam Sewell sat there a,
fidge'ed i'll his seat, an his pale fac
told what an impression it was makii
on him. l can see him now as he sa
there; and when DR.. Simmons tottere
an sank to the floor. he ran forward a,
caught him, an turning towards us Il
asked us to he quiet, rs tie doctc
wished to say few words
Il want to ask favor of you" h
said,s very feebly; I'm afraid you wi
think it childish, but l feel that if
could go back to the old schcol-hous
once more, that would be as strong {
ever"
We all rose aud left the church, an
went down to the old school-house h
the path through the trees. Sara helpe
the old doctor along with his arm
around him, almost carrying him, an