Milford chronicle., 1929-10-25
PERSONAL "REMINISCENCES
OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE OF
COOLSPRING AND IT'S CHURCH
FIFTY YEARS OR MORE AGO

FIFTY YEARS OR MORE AGO
To the members and friends of
Coolspring Presbyterian Church
AS l am limited to fifteen minutes
1 hope the audience will not grow
restless.
1t was my custom when a small
boy to visit, during the summer, my
grandfather, Peter ]. Houkins; who
was an elder in this church.
1 usually remained with him a
week at time-whether those Wis
it's were as enjoyable to him as they
were to me 1 have my doubts. 1t was
his custom to go to Milton Satur-
days and 1 would accompany him
home late in the afternoon. AS it
gradually grew dark-and every
thing on the farm became still, be-
came little homesick-but after
supper which was always at candle
light in those days, 1 was kindly
tucked away in big feather bed in
to which 1 climbed by the aid of a
chair. I was soon asleep and awoke
in the morning and the homesickness
was gone.
Those Sunday mornings on the
farm 1 shall never forget. They did
not arise as early as during the week
days. After the team was cared for
and the fowls fed-in which 1 took
a part, we were called by my Aunt
Mary, to breakfast. My grandmother
died before 1 was born and my aunt
kept house. There was a man who
lived with them by the name of
James P. Leonard. He was taken by
nv grandfather when a small boy
and raised to manhood, and while no
blood relation, is the only living rel
ative on my fathers side. I always
look upon him as some relative to
me. These three composed the
humble family.
Those Sunday mornings on the
farm shall never forget.
After the food was placed on the
fable grandfather took the Bible
from shelf and began to read.
It occurs to me he always read the
same chapter.
Lord this has been our dwelling
place for generations" etc.
After the chapter was read we all
knelt by our chairs and grandfather
began to pray:
Lord we thank Thee for thls
heautiful Sunday morning-the
bright sun, the pretty fowers-for
our health and happiness. Thou mast
always been good to us-more than
we deserve. Thou art gracious, Thou
art gracious. Thou art kind. Thou
art merciful. Forgive us our trans
gressions and short comlngs anu
NAV we in the future learn to appre-
ciate Thy kindness more"
Thus he would pray in a thankful
mood and in his conclusions Loiu
remember the old-be Thou thell
comfort. To the middle aged VINO are
hearing the burdens Of the day, grant
+bero strength and support. 10 the
'-oI,no I'm incline their ways to wisdom.
always thought this applied 70
na-and finally he would pray re-
-l,on,har rr1o the sick and distressed, De
Thou their physician" Those prayers
have never faded from my menloI y.
T. was the custom in those DAYS u
hold the services Sunday mornlnss
n After breakfast preparations were
o,ada to attend church. While granu-
father nv aunt, and mysen WEI Is
5rossing d"SI fhe horse was groomeu anu
titcbad ~ to the old phaeton carrlase
some of you older people may az
member Polly the horse one to-. VI LIN IN
,naoet sprightly and fastest trottels III II
4l,o n,oN neiohborhood. When we were a.
co+ad ello She was turned toWaluS
Soo1snring I'r Church. She knew eAacI,
y, 80 bor destination and as she neareo rev
~ nei a1,,1rcb she increased her pace
5 one orandfather would ch1de her ~.
aliu Tacl-Iess speed and pull haru VI
+ba M reins. While grandfather ape ~ !
ent1v did not approve Oh H. go S~+ !
rather think he enjoyed IT, a' ie''''
did. Cd roco11ections my
III 5sc+tor n,y was the leader OF tns
gg.,sn;ngNor glaIiTts' as they termed it ralseu o
stne1 s,.a bymns" In this he took spe, !
Cne rride-he was somewhat ol
mnsician-as he could sing ga ~ mn nv
7 + snnnose from him l lnnerlIeu 4,a.o ~
ioTa for music. There came d IN
i'o,uo1or ~ m when an organ was talkeu
nbo,t especially by the younsei
,aao,,o hers of the congregation anu
was finally installed to the cnasil1 ~,
of many of the older ones. They lei,
o+cb an innovation sacriligious anu
EXPRESSED themselves-"when Ins
devil was introduced into the cnuleI
If was time for them to get OUT
Several absented themselves 1oi
0uite a time; among them my grand
father FINALLY they became reconcll'
ed and returned.
The services in those DAYS WeI'
strictly Presbyterian. The congrega'
tion all stood during prayers. AItel
the services were conducted, tn'
congregation fingered quite while
in friendly greetings and CONVERSE
ton.
AS was the custom in those times
invitations were extended u
friends, especially those who came
from a distance to accept their hos
pitality to their homes for dinner
On many occasions was my GRANDPA
ther the entertainer of welcome
guests.
In those times the food for Sunda!
was prepared on Saturday as it wal
not considered strictly Presbyterian
to cook on Sundays unless expedi
ent.
Sundays on the farm was one da.
of absolute rest. To a boy full of lif'
the afternoon to sit quietly-o
read the Catachism-was a task.
did once venture to break the mon
otony-not knowing my grandfathe
saw me-drop a brick in the we'll II