The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-21
PlUnk0ff' SL8ff0r
written for The Weekly constitutiOnJ

written for The Weekly constitutional
1t was a sweet relief TO get away from
everything political and spend day
among the good old HardsheLs-
From time immemorial the second sat
urdav and Sunday in May has been
great occasion at the old church OF Hard
eman and me and Brown seldom miss
befnp there Hardeman is an olu-ume
meeting house and the people VINO gather
there have nothing of the faint OF new
tangled ways and fashion. from every
direction these good people gather' soine
in buggies, Some in wagons. some a-ho,
hack and some afoot. At the church they
rest under the trees in groups. the men
70 themselves and the women together'
and what Is not learned about the matters
of the settlements is not worth ieaVhihS'
Altogether tho time before the meeting
begins is the most sociable time ever
enjoyed by the country people dSS
among these groups and learn the news
If any have died you will know 1t speedily
and learn all the characteristics OF the
departed ones life. If any are sick they
are missed and talked about and more
than apt you will hear of the doctor
who is attending them, OF the medicine
they are using and all the particulars OF
the sick room. If any have married iateiy
YOU are sure to hear OF this ana you are
sure TO ma out the OplulOilS VI liz PNSf1-~
on the prospects of the match. II ths
has come any new babies into the hos
you will learn all about them-their sex.
the color of their eyes and whether the
babe takes after the fathers side or the
house or the mothers. Such gossip as TINS
furnishes a pleasant pastiIne TIL the ar
rival of the preacher and then very soon
song is started inside the church and
the groups break UP and gather there.
Tbara is OOfhinQ strange in all this
to people who have been in the habit of
attending these old-time meetings. but
that a congregation should remain all
these simple and delightful manners with
out a faint of modern progress. right at
the gates of the most progressive city of
the south. may strike many as thing
not expected and a thing not the best to
be desired To me and Brown there was
nothing strange or out of place. but IT
was all full of pleasantrieS and stirred up
the most delightful memories. The very
squat of the men In rings, whiting as
they talked. was thing of pleasure for
us to look upon. The preachers coming
and his motions as he tied his horse 10
| q swinging limb and then passed among
the brothers" and Sisters shaking
hands was a feast TO us. There could be
| nothing but a fountain OF the happiest
memories stirred by the sight of all these
| old customs. to reach the climax when
| there rolled from the church the sweet
melody OF voices as they sing
"All hail the power OF Jesus's name.
| Let angels PROSTATE fall;
| Bring forth the royal diadem
| And crown Him Lord of all
These voices-this tenor. bass and treble
| carried us back to the good old times.
10 the glorious scenes and the happy folks
of the long. long years ago. and we lived
I s1~a~ hrad
| carelessly passed. but which We have long
| since learned were the happiest moments
ever allotted to our life. We got inside
| early and then watched the rest as they
poured in through door at the end for
the males and a door at the side for the
| females. The boys and girls were our
| special delight as we watched their COM
| ing In. The sweetest memories swelled
| In our hearts as some pretty girl. who re-
| minded Of one we knew in the long ago
| swept up the aisle and crowded between
| the benches among her mates. One sweet
| thought after another crowded upon
| as the crowd had settled and were waiting
/ for the services to begin. There seemed
| to be a special place allotted for the young
mothers who were there with their pretty
babies, and these babies crowed or cried
| or laughed just as they pleased and not
| a single person seemed disturbed at what
/ ever they done. 1t was especially delight
! full 10 watch with what pride these young
mothers handled their pretty babes and
| with what taste they had worked the
! lacing in their pretty garments. These
mothers have a right TO be proud and
! old Hardeman has a right to be cOngrat-
| ulated that these babies can be brought
| to the church without disturbing the con-
| gregation or the preacher. Especially did
| the preachers on Sunday-there were
three-impress us that they had no fear
/ of not being heard. and 1 may as well