The Southern herald., 1892-03-25


place glad by their slillful and indus.
trious efforts. The pioneer clergyman
was, therefore, the intrepid explorer
OF our frontier regions; and it would
not be an exaggeration to aver that
volumes could be written about his
struggles, triumphs and adventures
in those primeval days which tested
to the utmost the bravery and the re.
ligious faith of men.
A lucky circumstance having thrown
me into the company of one Of those
pioneer preachers, he took pains to re-
late to me the following bit of ex-
perieEce he had had when dashing
young circuit rider.
ut was In the winter of '76-77," said
the clergyman, that there happened,
In connection with my labors as a pio.
neer preacher one Of those memorable
incidents with which the life of back
woods parson is crowded. was then
in control of what was known as the
Fayette and Manistique circuit, To-
Gated on the north shore OF Lake Mich.
igan and in the upper peninsula. This
circuit was nearly forty miles in
length; and, despite this tremendous
distance, l managed to cover it every
Sabbath, with hut few exceptions.
frequently the roads were made liter
ally impossible for horses, owing to a
heavy snowfall, or a windstorm which
hurled great trees across the way so as
to obstruct travel, or to the rising
floods in the spring Of the year sweep
ing away one or more of the innuner-
able frail bridges which spanned the
streams. This being the case it is not
to be wondered at that | was often
obliged to walk portion of the dis
tance at least, to some of my appoint.
ments. My circuit was one of the
most difficult to work, because of these
and other reasons. Besides, being the
only ordained clergyman in that re.
gioR those days, | was, of course, not
infrequently called upon to take long
and perilous journeys in order to visit
the sick, bury the dead administer the
rite of baptism, or perform the mar
riage ceremony. ] would travel for
miles without catching glimpse Of an
abode or a human being; and the Sc
verify of the winters In that locality
tended to intensity the ferocity of the
wolves, which were alarmingly nu.
merous in the dense and wild forests
along those bleak shores.
zone bitter cold morning, just before
the close of the year '76, got my horse
and cutter ready for trip across what
is known as Garden bay on the newly.
formed ice, which appeared to be per-
! sectly safe and sound. Some of the
settlers had crossed with their teams
only few days before, and l deemed
it safe enough to go that way, too Be-
sides, 1t was considerable of a short
cut, saving me an unnecessary drive Of
at least fifteen miles. The distance
across the ice was about twelve miles
"My horse was a noble and trusty
animal, and very tractable withal.
Having driven him through many dan
gerous places and thoroughly tested
his staying qualities and evenness sf
temper. learned to put all confidence
in him. / drove him briskly on the ice
that morning, for had no more time
than. needed in which to reach my
objective point. 1t was an important
wedding which called me away, and
the contracting parties were particular
friends of mine. The brides ia
ther-at whose residence the GER.
emony was to take place-was a
very prominent and wealthy lumber