Year: 1872

to the stile, this hospitable mansion
appeared deserted During one of the
ftiul blazes of light, uncle Harry, a
faithful old servant, who was cutting
wood near by, Immediately stepped up
to my side and invited me to alight.
"But. said he, "thc white folks are
not st home, and | think the house is
locked, and as we are going to have a
fearful storm. | will gladly give you
shelter beneath my hubble cabin" /
thanked Uncle Harry, for his kind
offer, but remarked to him that on
account of the absence of the white
portion. of the family, | would try
and reach my fathers house before
the storm in its threatened violence,
should burst upon me. Uncle Harry,
in his kindness of heart, entered a
demurrer to this, fled several pleas in
order to sustain said demurrer, all of
which were finally overruled by me,
and 4 bid him kind goodnight.


Although ! had ridden nearly forty
miles since one O'Clock, Knight sprang
forward as strong and elastic as though
groomed for Saratoga My pathway
led down the hill, and thence along
the deep tortuous windings of the ra-
vine, at the head of which, and stand
ing on the cminence overlooking the
same, was Spring Creek Church This
church stood nearly one mile from Mr..
W hltfields, and was considered very
old editice at the time of which | write.
| think | have heard old father Whit
field and Rev. u. w. Nixon both say
that this church was built about the
year 1910. | am thus particular in
giving descriptive diagnosis of this
church and its surroundings, because
the incidents am now relating, or
rather the particular one which ] am
about to relate, has entailed thought,
care and anxiety upon me, which will
leave its impress indelibly stamped,
when hoary time shall claim me as his
victim.


When arrived at the foot of the
hill on which the church stood, | felt
confident that / would not be able to
reach my fathers before the storm
would burst upon me. In truth, judg-
ing from the general index of nature $
lmmutable laws, it was near, very near
at hand already. At the base of the
hill there were two roads. or at least
the main road forked, the left one con
tinuing up the ravine, and the other as
cending precipitously the hill on which
the church stood. 1t now occurred to
me for the first time that / would be
under the necessity of seeking shelter
within its sacred portals. My direct
road, however, ran Immediately by the
church, but when l arrived at the base
of the hill, my horse veered to the left,
with a seeming determination Of con
tinuing up the ravine. / reined him
in with some difficulty, and tried to
force him up the main road. For the
first time during long years of close
intimacy, did / find Knight refractory;
never did / know Of his unwillingness
or even hesitancy of readily yielding
to my desires. Could it be possible
that the poor dumb creature could
scent danger2 My horse evidently
was frightened, and for me to say that
his rider partook Of his phrensy would
not be great departure from truth,
now forced him, nolens yolens, up the
steep ascent, and it was with extreme
difficulty that | could maintain my
seat, owing to his erratic and impulsivc
movements. From the base of the
hill to the church, was not over one
hundred and fifty yards, yet it took me
longer to make this short distance than
I it did to make any mile during the
evenings ride 1t was now as dark as
Erebus, with nothing to guide me save
the occasional fitiul glare of the light
ming. Finally | rode up into the
churchyard, and on nearing the church
| saw, to my dismay, by sudden flash
of lightning, that it was closed-yea,
to all exterior appearances, it was
locked, bolted and barred, with the
window sash down, and the shutters
sealed. | sat on my horse for a mo.
ment in great pcrplexity, not knowing
now what course to pursue. | could
hear the distant mutterngs of the
storm-king as he rode in the flaming
chariots Of his anger. read with un-
dimmcd eye, yet with faltcring heart
the initials of his power. Moses in
junction to the people now suddenly
stamped itself upon me, Fear ye not
stand still and see the salvation of the
Lord" | could hear the low but i'm
pressivc soughing of the wind as il
swept over and through the entangled
forests, but az yet not breath of air
had disturbed the pendant leaf in its
stiffness in and around the old church
yard. When the sudden blast came
it was with n terrific force. Trees
thot l. n 4 ctnod anI b,aoe1ol A. o.. .o..-
for centuries, now yielded to the gale
like slender reeds, or broke in twain
like weakened pipe stems with the first
dash of the hurricane One of the
blinds of the old Church flew open as
if by some gigantic hand striking the
side of the house, producing such a
concussion as to be heard high above
the din of maddened elements. i'm
mediately availed myself of this open
ing into the church, so as to insure
protection against the storm.


Notwithstanding the extreme res
tiveness of Knight, | forced him up
near the window, leaped to the ground,
unbucklod my saddle, and threw it
with all my strength through the open
window, and | Immediately followed in
the same direction. After | had par
TALLY parted company with Knight,
he was more restiye than ever, paving,
neighing, and giving every indication
of extreme fear. The window sill was
about six feet from the ground, conse-
quently | had to swing into the win
dow by drawing myself up; | did not
in the meantime lose my hold on the
bride rein. The benches in the
church were ranged at right angles
with the window, instead Of hang
placed horizontal with the same. AZ
ter getting into the church | readily
gained footing on the floor, and eau
tiously felt about me for a scat, which