The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-07-30
. s. Breath From
} Georgian Pines. I
PART II.

boarding the vehicle drawn by that
sturdy iron horse of whose going you
are 50 proud, speed away to the south.
ward, never staying your flight until
you alight in this quaint, little village
among the crested slopes Of northern
Georgia.
It is late, Saturday evening, when
you arrive and you enter the comfort
able bed prepared for your occupancy
with delicious sense of repose after
the jar and commotion of the cars and
fall at once into restful, dreamless
sleep. The sun is awake before YOU
on the beautiful Sabbath morning and
the feeciest of soft, white clouds are
sailing through the boundless blue,
SO near, it seems as if you might
plunge into their cool depths for your
morning ablution, and a refreshing
breeze from the southwest comes
breathing upon you the redolence of
the pines.
To church? Oh yes; we will go out
to Appalachee church to-day as it is
the fourth Sunday in the month and
the day for services there. A shad-
owy path leads us through the fra
grant wood and out upon the highway
where the sun seems ever shining on
the warm rich-red of the beaten road.
and passing two or three typical south
ern residences with hall running
through the center, shaded at either
door by vine-embowered verandas, a
few minutes walk brings us to the
church crowning the hilltop in its
grove OF pines and standing guard over
the little cemetery enclosed within it's
paling hard by. Groups Of people are
lounglng about under the trees but we
hear singing within so enter the build
ing and find seats midway, taking care
that they are in the half reserved for
our sex as we find an inexorable law
governs this matter Of seating.
In one corner sit the deacons in
solemn array; facing them from the
extreme opposite corner are the sisters
and, verify, Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.
Delicate silks and laces of the younger
members OF the flock sit side by side
with the sunbonnets and colored
aprons of the matrons and children
with snowy dresses and bare feet seem
alike homogeneous as to attire. On tie
lull attendant upon finding another
hymn, we have opportunity to notice
all this and to look about the church a
little. 1t is ceiled from floor to roof
with the prettily-grained Georgia pine,
has several windows on either side.
three doors, two at the the main en-
trance and one near the preachers
stand, " and the long benches with slat-
like seats supposed to be adapted to
the human form are fearfully and won
derfully made. A pail of water oc-
cupies a rough stand in front of the
pulpit and tin dipper IS frequently
filled from its contents to regale some
thirsty member of the congregation.
The leader of the singing now sounds
the Keynote, runs up the scale for the
tenors, sopranos and altos chime in
and the mrsic commences. They are
only rehearsing we find and each hymn
is sung through by note before the
words are applied. BY note but the like
we have never heard before! ssFa-sol-
la" are the only syllables used and these
are fitted to every tone in the scale,
each tune ending with protracted
wall upon the syllable ''la.'' The
The sopranos are nasal and : one
Woman's counter" scars aloft bounded
only by the arching roof, the voices Of
the men roll out rich and voluminous.
the time is perfect and though not by
any means unmusical the effect is mex
pressibly melancholy. The preacher
man in ordinary, work-a-days clothes
and complexion like a Spaniard's,
saunters in and up the aisle with his
hat on, taking seat near the pulpit
within easy expectorating distance of
the window, and frequently avails
himself OF the privilege this conven-
lence affords. He at length calls a
halt in the singing by announcing a
i've minutes intermission and the CON
gregation flock out, some to stroll
among the tombstones, some gathering
in groups to discuss the weather and
prospective crops. Suddenly, an aged
brother startles the stiffness of the
sanctuary with: How Firm Found
alton, rolling out the words to the air
OF an ancient melody in a firm clear
voice, the people re-enter and join in
the music, every word of the good old
hymn is sung, and meeting has com.
menced.
We almost believe the clock Of time
has really turned backward and thai
the hand is pointing to the beginning
rather than to the going out Of the
nineteenth centuary when the preacher
L