Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-01

N mada puddle on the floor. Dear
suz, SAYS he, when size got thru with
aim. ssufEmers about six. i don't feeis
It there was a thing left of me- He Wa
as weak as a rag, for more'n three daya
but it cured him. Il can't say enjoy
Mis- Spratt's docto-;~' says he but it's
thurrer." 1t don't sceSs's ef Mis- Spratt's
ben dead nigh on to ten years. does it!''
1T don't, so,'' responded Mrs. Porter.
i feel more m more ev'ry day the truth
O what it says in that hymn Deacon Sny-
der's allus a singin':
Time is wingin' us away
In his etarnal fight
Wall, we've all got 10 drop off'n the stage
of action sooner or later. n ef we're
prepared to go. dunno's it Eiakes much
diffrunce when. 1t allus sets me a think
in o such things at camp meetin' time, !"
and she heaved 4 little sigh. appropriate
to the occasion and the subject under con-
sideration.
Such preparations as were made for
this first camp meeting in Brownsville.
1t was to the good housewives on the set
Element what Thanksgiving time is to the
New England matron.
material at hand.
pie tinber's awful ska'se," old Mrs.
Snyder said, 'hut they'll hev tn hey pies
O some kind"
Cakes were compounded as much like
those of down East" rs it was possible
to make them. Loaves of ''ry'n-injua"
were baked by the dozen, and pork and
beans Drowned to toothsome crispness
stood on the shelves of every pantry in
Brownsville. A good many visitors were
expected from down below" and they
must be as Hospitality entertained as the
limited means OF the settlement would
admit of.
They sh'll hev all they want of it, SIGH
as IT'S" was the sentiment prevailing
among Brownsville housewives.
The men were no less busy in prepar-
ing for the great event so near at h. I'D.
A place was cleared for the camp in a
grove on Mr. Porter's farm. The thick
underbrush was cut down and the small
trees thinned out, leaving some great oaks
to give shade and shelter. When the
work of clearing was completed, it was
like being in q cathedral rooted in by a
green dome, upheld by. curiously carved
and twisted arches. Here and there the
rays of sunshine struck through the
leaves and made fecks of gold on the soft
moss, which carpeted the place; but for
the most part the space beneath the trees
was filed with a shadowy and subdued
light that was delightful and seemed to
impart to the scene a character quite un-
like that of the open spot where sunshine
met with no obstruction, and all was
fright and suggestive of the farm and
field, and the work that had to be done
there. The soft, green gloom made the
place seem like one set apart for worship
Benches were made of Eastwood logs
split in two, with two legs at each end
These were placed about the little open
ing in the center of the great group OF
trees in such manner that they all faced
the minister's stand, which was fear
fully and wonderfully constructed thing
Looks suthin' like a hearse Off
wheels, an suthin' like the cabin of q
canaw-boat," said Bill Green, irrever
entity. Zone good pint about it is thai
it's stout, anil stan heap O. pounding Z
| In front Of this stand was an anxious
seat, to be occupied by conscience strick
en- sinners who were expected TO seel
salvation in this season of grace. Al
each corner of the camp platforms were
built on stakes driven into the earth
These platforms were covered with sol
| to the depth of a foot. On them fires
would be built at night whose lurid glow
| would give the scene a brilliance it haC
lacked by day, and impart to the place
a weird, strange splendor that would moi
be without an element of fascination fol
the most matter-of-fact attendant
Among the ''women-folks" horse steal
| ing was almost entirely forgotten in the
pleasanter excitement of camp meeting
In this saying | should except, how
ever the families of Mr.. Boone and Mr.
| Porter.
| With them anxiety for Dicks safety
| took away the capacity foraenjoying thu
camp meeting as they would have enjoy
ed it under other and pleasanter circum
| stances.
Il wish the man who stole my hosses'C
| feel the power O. the Lord constrainin
| him to come forrud an confess an re
store to me my hard-airnt proputy," sale
Deacon Snyder. II do hope there'll bt
such an outpourin' O. the sperrit as We
hain't seen fer years. We need it. W.
all need it. | feel the need O. reviyin
an strengthenin' more'n than | ever die
afore, fer | hain't ben able to stan the
loss O. them bosses as s'pose perfessol
orter. I've felt rebelyus about it.
hain't ben meek n 'umble-mindec
enough. l know it. But it did so ag'ins
the grain to hev them bosses stole, an
it does yit when l think how hard
worked to arm them animiles. But
hope N pray it won't be the means o
hinderin' me from doin' what l can II
my weak way an manner to help on tho
gospill chariut when it comes this way
a-sailin' for the kingdom. | don't want
to be a stumblin' block. an | hain't a
goin' tu.'
Ito be continued.)