The leader., 1902-04-23
FROM BOGUE CHITTO TO HAT
TIESBURG.

trip on the Northeastern and G.. d 5.
l. railroads. / was absent three weeks.
left home SO hours previous to the
great freshet, and where / was, ten
miles above Columbia on this side of
the Pearl river, it did not rain enough
to wet a man, and | made days jour
ney in the direction of Hattiesburg
without knowing anything relative to
the great flood; but when | came in
contact with the waters of Bowie and
Leaf rivers, realized that something
had broken loose "up- ahead. Provi-
dence church, in the fork of Bowie
and Leaf rivers, was my point of des
tination for the fifth Sunday and Sat
urday before. The high water and
wrecked bridges sternly forbade my
reaching the church on Saturday, and
of "Uncle Ben" Rawls and his estima-
BILE family of Rawls Springs. May the
Lord bless and reward them for their
exceeding kindness to a wayfaring
man. "Uncle Ben" is prosperous far
mer and a survey OF the M. d K. c.
railroad runs straight through his
beautiful farm. On Sunday morning
the waters had rece ded sufficient to
reach the church, where | met large
congr egation of fine looking, we'll be
haved people. | went there at the
earnest solicitation of their young pas
tor, Rev. A. j. Rogers, to assist in the
ordination of two young ministers, to-
wit: Bryant and Moore. Bro. Bryant
is worthy son of Mrs. Sarah Shep-
herd Bryant, who was a schoolmate of
mine in the days agone. Little did she
or think when she, grown young
lady, and |, a lit tie bare footed urchin
tripping across the old fields in Law
renee county, chasing butterflies, grass
hoppers, etc, little did either of us
think that | would some day assist in
the ordination of her son to the Gospel
ministry; but one never knows the
turn things will take in this life and
it is we'll that we don't. In the alb
sence of the pastor, who was critically
ill at the time, it fell to my lot to
preach the ordination sermon, which
was followed by close interrogation
of the candidates by Rev. Josie Davis
and laying on of hands. | was pleased
to note that Bro. A. j. Rogers is doing
a noble work among country churches
in Perry county. baptized Alexander
, in Copiah county when he was quite a
lad and he began preaching under my
ministry. To appreciate him one must
know the strong current Of wind and
tide against which he has had to strug-
: gle.
The week following the fifth Sunday
| spent in visiting several points in
the rural districts out from Hatties-
burg. In all of my travels have never
found any section of the country
! where old fashioned Southern hospi.
tally abounds more than in Perry and
Covington counties. Taking advantage
; of little dead time" | boarded the
G. & S. |. and ran down to Virgins to
visit my brother Dan. Virgins is the
, most thriving town between Hatties-
, burg and Gulfport. Dan has built up
a fine graded school there and is ably
assisted by Miss Addie Smith, one of
Lincoln county's noblest girls. DR.. r.
w. Hall is there doing fine practice.
| was the first school teacher that
Roland ever went to. taught him his
, letters when his aspirations seemed to
; run no higher than catching flies. A
, nice young lady in Virgins said she
, would not live in a house without a
Hall in it. DR.. Ed. Cowart, another
one of Lincoln's worthy sons, is al
Bond, doing lucrative practice. | did
, not see him, but heard many words oil
praise concerning him.
: On the first Saturday and Sunday
| was billed to return to Providence and
! give them two days service, it being
! their regular time for service, theil
pastor not yet being able to attend
J On Saturday | met an appreciative
: audience and, in my humble way, tried
: to tell them of Saviors dying love
From the church, by invitation, l drove
to the hospitable home of old Bro
Thomas Nixon and his Christian fam
lily. Late in the afternoon, while sit
ting in his house pleasantly conversing
with Bro. Nixon and family, some one
hailed at the front and inquired fol-
, me.
On walking out, | recognized "Unclt
, Ben Rawls holding a letter in his
, hand, saying: 81 have sad news foI
brother Dan at Virgins, stating that
be had received telegram from my
, wife, bearing the sad intelligence Of
the sudden death of my daughter
Mrs. Mamie Boyd. Notwithstanding
the infirmities of age, and not being
accustomed to riding on horseback, or
receipt of this letter Uncle Ber
mounted his horse and rode several
miles hunting me up. God bless the
old man.
Early Sunday morning | turned my
: face homeward, driving all day with g
heavy heart. At nightfall drove up
/ to Mr.. Laurin McGee's, one of the
old landmarks of Covington county
living five miles beyond Mt. Carmel
He and his son, Wade Hampton, anG
5 two grand daughters, showed me nc
little kindness. Mr.. MCGEE has gone
, beyond his three-scoie and ten and is
an ardent lover of agriculture. In his
yard, lying under a large cedar tree,
saw huge pile of old rusty, worn out
, plOWs | asked him what dispositior