Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-12-29
FREE HILL.

Christmas ia here and with 1t much cheer,
judging from the many nice presents received.
Miss A. s. Hale, teaching near Austin
Springs, is at home on her holiday vacation.
Samuel H. Hale, Of the Tenth District, is
visiting relatives at Free Hill. San is q lively
boy.
Another curious relic OF the past was
brought to light near the south wall OF the
Baptist Church at Buffalo Ridge-one Of the
earliest churches In Tennessee, built here by
the Baptist denomination. John Leah felled
one OF the old shade trees, a whiteoak, and
in working up the tree found a dogwood pin
three inches long and one and one half inches
in diameter near the heart OF this sacred oak
with near a hundred wood growths between
that pin and the bark. Our Oldest citizens
think the Baptist fathers improvised here a
temporary shelf for the preachers water pail
and books when he 50 freely dispensed the
words OF truth to the pioneer audience on the
slope below. A hundred years ago who done
the preaching at this old first place OF wor-
ship; fifty years reaches Mulkey and Bayless,
but they, we suppose, were not the earliest
pioneer Baptist preachers. It is supposed
the native forest then covered the ground
and that another tree near contained O SINH
lar pin which supported the other end OF the
slab or plank cut by the old whip saw then in
use. The old graveyard here contains much
sacred dust from Mulkey down to Davidson.
But the first burial is back Of the memory Of
any now living.
G. G. Cox is doing a rushing business in
Christmas goods.
Loafer's Glory is in session here every day
and now discussing the potent reasons for
reorganization. There Is thought to he q hot
contest on the important question OF who Of
our members would make a first class dude
We ere enjoying some theological discussions
at Doves Mill. 1t usually begins by q free
expression OF opinion as to Slmms' dying
declaration. The truth OF Simms' last decla.
ration is the dominant issue at all sessions
regular or extra Of Loafer's Glory. O, what
virtue was there in Pritchett's hangman's
roper
Another natural but unusually curious ex.
hibition at Free Hill was a mail carrier tryinp
to walk over all parts OF CoI's store at the
same time. II @ certain contractor don't
send sober carriers to Free Hill there will be
a report on the way to Washington, D. C.
Misses Inez and Bessie Martin and their
teacher, Prof. Henry Ketron and family, are
taking Christmas at Free Hill.
Chas. Harrison, Jr., brings her in from Sui.
Ivan County tomorrow. The boys are get.
ting ready to receive him and his fair one
with a shiveree.
The magisterial campaign lie we'll on, ever
before Esq. Gresham resigns.
Our community and church going people
at Buffalo Ridge were surprised when Jas
Harrison and Julia Conner premeditatedly
unceremoniously and without malice afore.
thought. did on Christmas day. and in the
Baptist Church. In the presence Of a large
audience OF worshipers, ct al, deliberately and
lovingly raise up and demand the Rev. VIM.
Cox to unite them in the holy bonds OF matri.
mony, and yet not q worshiper ever said
they we're disturbed in the least. Such things
are happening all around US and the sun still
rises and sets, and our prayer is, let the
good work 60 on.
Mrs. Milton Archer died Christmas night
and was buried at the Ridge today.
DR.. Hale took dinner Sunday with two Of
his first students Of near fifty years ago.
Poor Jack Rabbit must be dead again,
from the cotton market, the Yellow Jack
scare and the Texas northers. Iguess when
he was lodging in the grass from Yellow Jack
he must have fallen in a Texas drouth, black
"--. VIO.i~u auu paoscu un W n8ueS.
DHALE.