Chariton courier., 1898-07-22
RecOllections of Charlton County in the
Early Seventies.

of five years In Charlton county with
my free and easy associations with
the people and the full expressions o
my convictions in preaching, it wa;
very natural that there would arise
some friction. There were very few
cases that continue in my memory to
this date. and l am pleased to say
that there were no cases of violence,
and when 1 left the county in August
1876, I felt that was parting with my
true friends. And when 1 was recalled
to the field few years later, it only
confirmed the conviction that possess
ed me when l left.
There were two cases that wish to
refer to that we may see how time and
grace can heal and bury these things.
My tongue always has seemed to me
to have two sides, one a soomth
side while the other was rath-
er sharp and at times rather
penetrating to ones nerves and
sensibilitY. Usually have passed my
days with the smooth side up and
hence my words have been pleasant
and jolly. But when any reflected Oh
me, or 1 suspected that he did so re-
fleet, in an instant the smooth side
would disappear and the sharp side
would come to hand ready to repel or
defend. The first case to which
now refer occurred after this wise: One
day several of us were about the
courthouse engaged in a game of
croquet, and all was lovely, when
man, a little my senior, came on the
yard and began to comment on
the game as most excellent Chris
tian game, with the emphasis on '.the
Christian" My first impulse was to
the effect that he was really rejecting
on me and perhaps others for playing
the game at all, and my tongue in
moment changed sides and l smote
NM y nss ssnoe and never would haNI
thought of it again, as he had begH |
it and was satisfied with its term
nation. As 1 walked home towarS
twilight, J. c. Crawley, who was
the game and walking with me, 4
buked me for my sharp words and q /.
sured me that the man was wounde |
and that he did not intend to refe 7
upon anybody by what he sal
1t was too late then to ma
honorable reparat!on as he b
gone to his home in the country. Nj
had been friendly and had had sol ;.
business transactions and all had gd /
we'll between us. cannot now "
call that we ever met again before :,
left for Virginia. When l came al
Missouri in 1882 I went to Key5 y.
vile several times, but we never NJ 4;
When was in Keytesville in =.
he was there and saw ec
and recognized me, and ca or
to me with a smiling face and III
one gave me warmer grasp OF in,
hand and said more earnest wo in
at meeting again. More than II
years had passed and time with kav
healing power had done its wy |oa
| had never had any feelings only Lio
the moment, when l felt that he II
ridiculing us for an innocent pasti fh
And even if he thought of what 10,
said three days after it occurred hll
knew that he provoked my renib
and ought not to be to persistent fne
wrath. Inn
The other case was more ser1 1vt
and worrisome. 1t came to n
> while l was preaching for New Hec
1 church in The Forks of Charlton. te
: arose between Deacon Thos. L. Vln
. diver and myself. There was /
f breach of fellowship or friendship, b
# we differed in regard to the prerdo
4 tives of pastor of a Baptist chuAv
Q He saw his way and saw my vi:
e The matter came up IN our Saturdk
a meeting and was freely discussed Al
y. neither of US got out of temper al
2 neither was convinced by the arg
Is ment of the other. presume ID
10 neither wished to be convinced