The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-12-09
peated them good many times,
sometimes tired us.

,
sometimes tired us.
"Many times we did not stop at
the place pul upon the schedule
because of special invitation, but
we always went to The house al
lotied 10 us to preach and 10 see II
there were any notices left there
for weddings or funerals. S1ne-
times bridal couples would meet
us at the house and would be mar
ried there. though such were eX-
ceptional instances. II there was
a notice of funeral we were eX.
pecled TO leave our circuit and cut
across country TO The house, some
times Thirty miles or soto perform
the burial rite, leaving the station
TO he supplied by some local
preacher. Though people could
time their marriages so that We
could serve them, people could not
so time their deaths. We had to
90 to the graves from great dis.
tances, through rain and snow,
through mud and rivers, that those
whose friends desired them to
have christian burial might not
be disappointed.
"Atler the burial we would again
mount and gel back to our circuit
as soon as possible. Although oul
hardships Were not few, we usual
ly enjoyed ourselves, and we haC
many blessed meetings on oul
way, We were sometimes over
taken in snow squall or rain
storm, or were stopped by rive
which had overhowed its banks
Bul was never delayed in m,
travels, though many were. L wa
always fortunate enough to ge
some farmer to ferry me over the
stream, and then would Get /
horse en- the other side and 90 on
One night | was overtaken in
great storm and had to stay ou,
in the woods all night. Hundred
Of times | nave been so chillel
through that have had 10 be lift
ed from my horse. Then J woult
gel a good rubbing, Il warm meal
and would preach one of the bes
sermons OF my life. | can neve
speak OF these times without be
coming awakened and feeling
new life within me.
"a wonderful affection usual
sprang up between the circuit ri
der and his horse. Many times
haye started ont with only 25 cent
in my pocket and no place on m
plan where could stop and re
, anything to eat. In those cases
would stop at some inn and let m
horse have something to eat Will
| went all day fasting. Some
times we would come to a mire l
!, the road in the woods, and tn
horse would get stuck. Then W
: would have to dis,nouni, get ra
,, or stick of some kind and pry hi,
out. If we knew that we wei
coming to a mire, we would di
mount and let the horse get aero:
alone, and then make our way
: the other side the best we coul,
AT our stations we gave our horse
: the best care We could, though "
, ofleulimes were obliged 10 lt
j them stand in il woodshed. The
one neighbor would bring in bul
;. die of hay, another would fetch
few ears of corn, and anotht
!, would supply something else. "
!, = circuits riders were clothed
II much he same way our horse
: were fed. If our clothing becan
9 seedy we would gel pair of pan
!, aloons in one place, a vest at IL
}. }. next station, and Il coat further u
u Our pay was always in store pa,
: 1t was very seldom that we saw
: bit of money. A married circn
/ rider usually had what was callt
a rest week. That means that
G could stay with his family thr
= days out of every month. The re
y of the month he was on the roa
$ and would not see his family aga
. until he had completed the c
u cut. | have slept many Tim
= with two or three inches of sn(
= on my bed.'