The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-24
Copyright by Robert Bonner's Sons.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CONTINUED.

Copyright by Robert Bonner's Sons.
CHAPTER XVIII.
There was to be q camp-meetlng-
the first one ever held in Brownsville.
"Conference" had graciously seen tit
to grant that this opportunity for the
outpouring of the spirit should be at
forded the settlers in this frontier re-
gion, and they hailed the prospect with
that delight which occasions of this
kind always afford the country neigh
borhood, be it a new or an old one.
In those days, more than at pres
ent, camp-meetings were held to be
events that were not to be passed over
lightly. They were considered some
thing in the light of religious carnl-
val. The interest of every one in the
neighborhood and its vicinity was
aroused and excited. It mattered not
whether they were saints or sinners,
whether they considered themselves
as of the elect or the unregenerate,
they were all interested alike. The
elect attended to pray for the welfare
of the non-elect, and for spiritual
STRENGTHENING and refreshment for
church and individual; and the unre-
generate went to be amused, possibly
benefited, and because everybody else
would be sure to be there. The so
oial feature was one of the chief at
fractions which the camp-meeting held
out to young and old in those days. Ii
there was not a growth in grace as the
result of attendance, they certainly
felt better acquainted with their neigh
bors.
"I jest delight in a camp-meetin'," !"
said Mrs. Boone to Mrs. Porter, as
they sat talking about the treat in
store for tho Brownsvillians. 1T g
Jest like great long visit, or a picnic
that holds over. I always calcilated
on gittin' lots O. good out O camp
meetin's, when I us't to go to 'em,
down East, spiritually an otherwise:
The very last one I went to I got that
recipe for salt-risin's bread from Mis-
David slocum, an the pattern I made
my red and black delaine up by. You
remember that black and red delaine,
don't ys? There is some Of it in that
there chair-cushi'n ye're settin' on
this minnit. An when Mamie was a
baby an had the 'hoopin' cough, 1 got
some drops of Of Mis- Spratt, that
lived down by Hunts Holler, that did
her more good than all the doctors
stuff. Mis- Spratt, she was master
ham when there was sickness round.
I've allus thought an I allus shall,
that ef we'd had her when Solomon's
father was sick and died, std O. Doc
tor Bangs, she'd ha' bro't him thro'.
One reason why I allus felt leanin'
lords her docterin' was, that you knew
suthin' was bein' done. 1t was power
full, an no mistake, an when folks is
awful sick it stan's to reason that they
orter hev suthin' strong to correspond
to the sickness, seems to me. Now
Mis- Spratt, she was great on 'metlcs
an sweats. I know onct Solomon, he
KEEP a complainin' O. not feelin' we'll,
had pain in his back, an his side, an
his legs, an purity much all over him,
an KEEP givin' him cammy-mile an
thoroughwort, an putin on smart
weed an hops-an' vinegar, but he
didn't seem to git any better. They
don't take holt, says he. Send fer
Mis- Spratt. I'd feel her med'cin'.'
So had brother Job 60 over after her,
and she come, an brung bag O.
lobely. His stummick 8 out O. kilter,
says she, a givin' him jest one look.
Il knew it was. He's got to throw up
afore he'll feel any better Solomon,
he groaned, fer he know'd what was
comm. He'd took her lobely 'metics
afore. Lam sakes! how he did throw
up! never see nobody come SO nigh
turnin' wrong-side out'ards as he did.
She KEEP him a heavin' till much 8
three o'clock, an then she SWEET him
set him over wash-tub full O. hem
lock boughs, n poured bilin' hot water
on 'em, with a quilt wrapped round
him up tight to his neck. You'd jest
orter ha' seen the SWEET roll off'n him!
It run down his face in streams, an
made a puddle on the floor. Dear
suz,' saysh he, when she got thru with
him, summers about six, Il don't feel
g eff there was anything left Of me. ;
He was as weak as a rag, for more'n
three days, but it cured him. 81
can't say enjoy Mis- Spratt's docter-
i'm says he, but it's thurrer.' 1t
don't seem s ef Mis- Pratt's ben dead
nigh on to ten years, does it?"
'sIt don't So" responded Mrs.
Porter. "I feel more'n' more ev'ry
day the truth O. what it says in that
hymn Deacon Snyder's allus singin':
"'Time is wingin' us away
In his etarnal fight
Wall, we've all got to drop off'n the
stage of action sooner or later, n eff
we're prepared to go, I dunno's it
makes much diffrunce when. 1t allus
sets me a thinkin' O. such things at
camp meetin' time" and she heaved o
little sigh, appropriate to the oc-
casion and the subject under con-
sideration.
Such preparations as were made for
this first camp-meeting in Browns
vile! It was to the good housewives
of the settlement what Thanksgiving
time is to the New England matron.
Pies were concocted out of the
limited material at hand.
'sPie timber's awful ska'se," old
Mrs. Snyder said, ''but they'll hev tu