The Van Buren press., 1894-09-01
A WONDERFUL RIDE.
One OF the Adventures Of John
Gilpin. Junior,


Gilpin, Junior.
no doubt You have all read "the di.
Verting history of John Gilpins Ride
"a holiday jaunt Of hundred wears
ago The sad Mr.. Cowper's CAV ac-
count Of this expedition races from
London down to Wan, and back, much
eftef the manner OF the calender's
horse. In fact, the verses are so lively
that l seriously believe John Gilpip,
sr., is destined, POLITICALLY speaking, to
race up and down to the end of the
English language. My hero's story
must amble along in the most unas-
suming OF prose.
John Gilpln, Jr.-thnt was not his real
name, but 1t serves my purpose-lived
In a little town "out west" He had
great big shining gray eyes, fresh
rosy face, and rolliclking laugh that
set everybody laughing who heard it.
When funny thought struck him, he
had to break out, no matter II he was
In school with the teacher looking
straight at him; whereupon the laugh
would 20 round the room-just like
marble knocking out line OF mar
bles, one striking another-and then
the teacher would start him home to
receive due punishment there. She
couldn't whip him any moro than she
could q butterny-ho was so bright
and innocent-and 1t seemed dreadful
to punish anyone for being too happy;
but she must have order. 1t happened,
however, that John seldom reached
the door before the teacher relented-
the little face looked so sober and con.
trite, the little trowsers 80 short and
primary, that discipline was impossi-
BILE. Besides, Miss Beach felt sure that
Johns father, being q minister, had
great respect for Solomon's advice ns
to the rearing OF children, and that he
would try to do his duty--a proceed
Ing she couldn't, for two consecutive
minutes, think Of furthering.
John went to Sunday school and
church on Sunday forenoons, went up
stairs and read some chapters In the
Bible In the afternoons, and went to
church In the evenings. And he went
to prayer meetings on Wednesday
nights, to learn the formulas Of some
good and unchangeable brethren. On
week days he was always going some
whcre-climbing up trees and ladders,
sliding down hill! and rolling over en-
banlmcnts. to mirnculously escape
death about every ten minutes Of his
life. And every night, at precisely
Eve minutes after nine o'clock, he went
to sleep. Now and then, on bright
Sunday afternoons, his father would
take him to points In the field which
must be cultivated" And John sup
posed schoolhouse was called q
"fleld" because it was in the country,
and because the women who sat in it
wore sunbonnets. He would wrlggie
through the sermon trying to under
stand what adoption" meant while
watching the free grace Of squirrels
darting up and down, in and out, OF
the trees which skirted the school
house. But 1t was the glorious buggy
ride to and from .the field" which
filed him with special and secular de-
light. To be r'going, going, 60
ing" was his idea OF bliss, ter
restrial as we'll as celestial Tho
cars which rolled twice day through
his town stirred wild longings as they
came anH went across the prairies'
They seemed to him to DO carrying
happyI travellers into enchanted re-
gions! He knows better now. lie
knows that hearts can ache in palace
car and break in a great city. He Is a
young, happy fellow yet-only he
doesn't break out into the rollicking
laugh Of his early years. II wish l
couldr' heard him say not long ago'
But to my story. III have seemed a
long time in getting started in it, re,
member that several years have passed
over Johns brown head since began
TO introduce him to you.
An important event neared the town
OF Plainview. In twenty-four hours
ministers from far and near would as
semble under the white frame belfry
for their semi-annual meeting, ana
Johns mother felt that chickens, sue
culently prepared, must be In readi-
ness to support church counsels' Two
miles away lived Mrs. Bird, who was
known to have excellent poultry ana
70 sell II at reasonable rates, ana
th,ther It was determined to send John
and ,old Ponce" for supplies. John
was now eight years OF age-which
was young for a man; Ponce was
s,xteen-which was old for
horse. but the two were inti-
mate friends. AZ for Ponce
NAV saw that, as family acquisition
hc was second only to John himself IN
General esteem. He helped in u SUP
ordinate but very important way-,o
cheer the dcspondcnt, to warn 'ne
crring. to marry and bury people, anu
to carry the gospel over large area w
of d rairie.paganism. In the perform,
orce of this last duty he showed an
unswerving regard for denominat'onal
oorrtesv. lie knew at what gates 70
baIt and what gates to pass deiica,eiy
bv, And II Johns faith ever stoppea
ot n house with an alien creeu' IL ""s
ana,nst the distinct remonstrance OF
Ponce He was not dangerous seeeu'
a,noo Jobn's mother, a slim, soft-speah,
,n, woman, could drive him aimos'
anywhere, and turn round WIN n.o o.
too!-but the fire OF coltnoou aas;on. na