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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4176b5b --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52697 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52697) diff --git a/old/52697-0.txt b/old/52697-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d489acb..0000000 --- a/old/52697-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4248 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Five Years in the Alleghanies, by Jonathan -Cross - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Five Years in the Alleghanies - - -Author: Jonathan Cross - - - -Release Date: August 2, 2016 [eBook #52697] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE YEARS IN THE ALLEGHANIES*** - - -E-text prepared by Heiko Evermann, Wayne Hammond, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustration. - See 52697-h.htm or 52697-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52697/52697-h/52697-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52697/52697-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/fiveyearsinalleg01cros - - - - - -[Illustration: THE HAWK’S NEST, OR MARSHALL’S PILLAR. - -FAYETTE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. PAGE 167.] - - -FIVE YEARS IN THE ALLEGHANIES. - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - - -Published by the -American Tract Society, -150 Nassau-Street, New York. - -Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by the American -Tract Society, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the -Southern District of the State of New York. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - The Preparation 5 - - CHAPTER II. - - The milestone--The elegant young man--The collier--The - rich lady 15 - - CHAPTER III. - - The grog-shop--The rolling mills--The Universalist 27 - - CHAPTER IV. - - The new “relagin”--The hard father and his little - daughter--The deserted homes--The stolen books 37 - - CHAPTER V. - - Book preachers installed--“Caught with guile”--The - clenched fist--Review 49 - - CHAPTER VI. - - Governor of West Virginia--Surprising desolations--The - lodging--The dinner--“Blazing the trees” 57 - - CHAPTER VII. - - The hunter seeking books for a Sunday-school--The - first sermon--Clock pedlars 68 - - CHAPTER VIII. - - The “Ironside” preacher and distiller--Wife and - granddaughter 75 - - CHAPTER IX. - - A church dignitary--“Have you let Washington into - heaven?” 81 - - CHAPTER X. - - The pistol--The surveyor’s son--A public-house--“You - have prayed plenty”--The pocket-Bible 89 - - CHAPTER XI. - - The summit of Cheat mountain--The “fellow that - wanted to colport”--The sheriffs warrant--Wishing - to be a _tract_ agent 97 - - CHAPTER XII. - - The wickedest man in the county--The bully--The - shooting match--A gang of desperadoes 111 - - CHAPTER XIII. - - A night on guard--Old Randal Lucas 119 - - CHAPTER XIV. - - “No church, no preacher, no Sunday-school, no day-school”--A - young lady’s success 128 - - CHAPTER XV. - - “No such place as hell”--The busy lawyer--A Trinity--The - great work in L----, and in U---- 137 - - CHAPTER XVI. - - A Pentecostal season--Service in a graveyard--A Seceder - church 151 - - CHAPTER XVII. - - The Spirit’s blessing at C----, and near Marshall’s - Pillar, and at L---- B---- --Col. S----‘s household 163 - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - Grieving the Spirit--Striking effects of the Anxious - Inquirer 176 - - CHAPTER XIX. - - Work of grace at L---- --The German professor--The - wealthy young lady--“Don’t be offended”--A - distinguished civilian 188 - - THE CONCLUSION 201 - - - - -FIVE YEARS - -IN - -THE ALLEGHANIES. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -“It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” In all my -connection with the scenes here truthfully described, as in the -training and discipline of earlier years through which I was brought -into them, I have been _led in a way that I knew not_. - -I was born on the border of Western Pennsylvania and Virginia, within -the wilds of the vast range of the Alleghanies, where the howl of -the wolf, the scream of the panther, and the Indian’s tomahawk were -my dread. In infancy my father died, and a few years later my pious -mother. But God raised up a foster-mother, and in her family an -intelligent Scotch female teacher, who made me her special charge -during my first year at school. Here, in connection with faithful -preaching from a tent in the woods on the Sabbath, and instruction in -the log-cabin day-schools, I received those rudiments of education, and -was indoctrinated in that sound system of faith and morals from which -“old Scotia’s grandeur springs.” - -Conscious of my ruin by sin and need of the “new birth,” as set forth -in old standard works of Flavel and Boston which I read, for three -years from ten to thirteen, I was often deeply impressed as to the -state of my soul. I attended constantly on preaching and the monthly -examinations, committed to memory catechisms and scriptures, and -wrestled with God in prayer that I might be truly converted and become -a minister of the gospel; and sometimes I indulged a trembling hope in -Christ. - -But among the snares and flatteries of ungodly companions, my alarm -and faint hopes of salvation gradually subsided. I was at length led -to show my _manhood_ by tobacco-chewing, card-playing, and even -profanity. Next I was enticed to read works on Universalism, and for -four years sought to stifle conscience by arguments to prove that all -will be saved. Yet a still small voice was whispering, “The soul that -sinneth it shall die;” and though jovial in company, when alone hell -would seem to flash up before me in all its horrors. Two great powers -were striving in my heart: one to lead me into deeper sin; the other -crying, “Turn ye, turn ye; for why will ye die?” At seventeen I went -with an ungodly young man into the then wilderness of Central Ohio, -where for half a year I heard no sermon, hunted on the Sabbath, threw -off restraints, and as it were dared the vengeance of God. Oh how -astonishing the mercy of God, to continue to strive with such a rebel! - -When I arrived at eighteen, I spent two or three nights in a week at -the card-table, to “kill time” and drown the whispers of the Spirit. -I thought of enlisting in the army, and then resolved to go to sea: -but in the providence of God, a young woman just then engaged my -affections; thoughts of the army and the sea were dislodged, and in a -few months we were married, depending on our personal exertions for the -means of support. - -We rented a piece of land, and entered upon the scenes and -responsibilities of real life. After six months, I was seized with -acute inflammatory rheumatism, and the verdict of the physician was, -that the disease was incurable, and I must die. Every feature was -distorted with agony; and yet the agony of soul at the thought of -being dragged into the presence of God with all my sins unpardoned was -unspeakably more terrible. I saw that I had shut my heart against the -calls of God’s word and Spirit a thousand times, and that I deserved -the deepest hell. I tried to pray, but there seemed to be no God -to hear, no Saviour to intercede, no Spirit to comfort my lost and -wretched soul. - -As I was recovering, “The Afflicted Man’s Companion,” received from a -friend, was greatly blessed to me, and I resolved by God’s help to live -the life and die the death of the righteous. The struggle now began in -earnest. Such was my agony of soul, that I often went to the woods and -rolled on the ground for hours. Most of those around me, for miles in -every direction, were living in neglect of God; intemperance fearfully -prevailed; there was not one religious friend to whom I could reveal -the feelings of my heart. I tried to surrender myself to Christ, but -in vain. A voice seemed to follow me continually, “He that is ashamed -of me and of my words, of him will I be ashamed before my Father and -his holy angels.” I felt that a public acknowledgment of Christ and his -cause was the only way of relief; but I shrunk from the duty, wishing -to be a secret Christian, and go to the Saviour, like Nicodemus, by -night. This distress continued for some months. - -At length I was enabled to ask a blessing at my table, which seemed -a hard task before my then irreligious wife; and after this it was a -struggle of six months before I could summon courage to commence family -prayer, even on a Sabbath evening. This duty was then performed, and -peace of mind followed. After a few months I made known the state of my -mind to the officers of a church some miles distant, and was admitted, -though with many sore misgivings and fears that I had no right to the -Lord’s supper, and was self-deceived. - -God graciously removed these doubts, and I felt the claims of Christ to -do something for others. I first engaged in loaning such good books as -I could get, especially The Afflicted Man’s Companion, Doddridge’s Rise -and Progress, and Pike’s Persuasives to Early Piety; feeling assured -that no one could prayerfully read either of these books without being -converted. - -When I was in my twenty-third year, a devoted Christian settled in a -very wicked community about five miles from me, where he started a -Sabbath-school. I went to see it, and was greatly pleased with it. At -the close, I was introduced to Mr. P----; and to his influence, under -God, more than to that of any other individual, is to be traced all -I have been enabled to do for the salvation of souls. He told me all -about the management of a Sabbath-school, and how to get books from -the American Sunday-school Union, which had just begun its heaven-born -work in our country. I immediately set to work, raised five dollars, -procured ten dollars’ worth of books, and opened a Sabbath-school -in my own house. The room soon became too small; but God put it into -the heart of an irreligious neighbor to offer a larger room, where -the school was continued for a year, and where I also held a weekly -meeting, usually reading one of Burder’s Village Sermons. More room -soon became necessary, and a large school-house was built; and there, -for twelve long years, the Sabbath-school and religious meetings were -kept up, until nearly all the youth and most of the adult population in -the neighborhood were brought into the church. - -This Sabbath-school and that of Mr. P---- were the means God used to -build up a good congregation in one of the most wicked and hopeless -communities. - -With these results before me, as soon as I heard of Colportage my heart -beat with joy at the thought that the poor would soon have the gospel -preached to them, and that thousands of children, untaught at home, -would be reached by soul-saving truth adapted to their opening minds. - -But the question came into my mind at once, “Who will go into these -ignorant communities, and deny themselves the comforts of home, to do -this work?” little thinking that God, by fifteen years training, had -selected me for that very work in the Alleghanies. - -An incident that occurred some years previous made a deep impression -on my mind. The ecclesiastical body with which I was connected had -requested the officers of vacant churches to visit all the families in -those churches, and talk and pray with them. I shrunk from the task; -but encouraged by Mr. P----, I entered on it with fear and trembling. -By the time the first visit was paid I felt as if I should like to -spend my days in such a work. Late in the evening of my first day I -stopped at a house where the man and his wife were members of our -church. A young man was present who was to be married in a few days. I -had some acquaintance with him, and asked him if he had ever felt any -concern about his soul. He said, “A little sometimes, but not much.” I -urged him to seek first the kingdom of God: and his righteousness, and -said to him, “For aught you know, before another morning you may be -dead, or on a sick-bed from which you may never rise.” At midnight that -night he woke up sick. In a day or two I was sent for. He told me the -moment he woke sick he thought of what I said, and felt that he should -never get well. He lingered three months; but more than a month before -he died he professed his faith in Christ. From that time till he died, -he daily urged his ungodly, intemperate parents to repent and meet him -in heaven. The father soon became much distressed about his soul; and -a year after, he died a most triumphant death, committing his children -to my care for religious instruction. Within a few years the mother -and most of the children were united with God’s people. All attributed -their salvation to the exhortations of that son and those of us who -attended him and his father. This encouraged me to try to do more. - -On the morning of October 20, 1844, I rose in peace, with my happy -little family around me; but a holy Providence ordered that in twelve -hours my dear wife was to be in the cold embrace of death, and that her -death was to be the first of a chain of providences to lead me “out -into the highways and hedges.” - -The next Sabbath morning our pulpit was occupied by Rev. Mr. W----, who -presented the moral and religious wants of our country, and tenderly -appealed for laborers. At the close of the service I was introduced -to him, and he accompanied me to the new-made grave of my beloved -companion. The band that had bound me to my home was loosed. On Monday -morning the preacher called on me again; preliminaries were arranged; -and I was commissioned as colporteur for Western Virginia, consenting -first to labor a short time among the colliers in Western Pennsylvania. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -I left home for the field of labor assigned me on the first day of -November, 1844. - -On my way on horseback I came alongside of a young gentleman of very -fine appearance. We immediately entered into conversation about the -beautiful farms and fine improvements we passed. - -When we had rode some distance, I observed _a mile-stone_, which -reminded me of a promise made some years before, that I would never -travel a mile or spend an hour alone with any person without talking on -the subject of religion. I immediately set about to find something to -make an introduction out of. The first thing that caught my eye was a -very tall hickory pole, raised by one of the political parties of the -time, and said I feared the political excitement was very seriously -affecting the interests of the church. - -The evasive reply of the elegant young man led me to suppose he was a -gay, thoughtless young lawyer or physician, as I had discovered that -he was an educated man. - -I then observed to him that as we were providentially thrown together, -and I had made a promise not to travel a mile or spend an hour with -any one without speaking on the subject of religion, I hoped he had no -objections to such conversation. - -He said, “It is no doubt an important subject,” but said it in such a -way that I still thought he was an irreligious man. - -I then observed that I felt a deep interest in young men, especially as -the destinies of the church and nation would soon be in their hands. -That the only safeguard of either was real piety. I then repeated the -text, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” -And after preaching him a sermon from it near a mile long, he observed, - -“Well, sir, that is very good theology.” - -The manner in which it was said led me to reply, “Perhaps I have run -against a preacher.” - -“Yes, sir,” said he, “I am a new beginner at it, and you have given me -one of the best lessons that I have ever learned. I thank you for it; -it needs no apology, and I hope God will give me grace always to do -likewise.” - -Our journey as we continued it to Pittsburg was pleasant and profitable. - -In the evening I reached the hospitable home of the Rev. Mr. J---- -in the village of T----, near to the city. It had been arranged for -his house to be my headquarters, and I shall never forget the nights -I spent with him and his devoted companion. I thought him as nigh -Christian perfection as man is ever raised in this world. Had it not -been for their wise Christian counsel and earnest prayers, my faith and -courage would have yielded when I came to look on my field of labor. -My new work, to which everybody was a stranger, and to be done among -strangers in the bustle of business and worldly excitements, seemed to -be too formidable an undertaking. All nations seemed to be represented; -scores intoxicated, and blaspheming God’s holy name. And what added to -the difficulty was, that my books did not come to hand for three days, -leaving me that time to magnify molehills into mountains of difficulty. - -But this delay was the most important part of my training. Those were -days of most earnest searchings of heart, while such passages of -Scripture as, “He that is ashamed of me and my words, of him will I be -ashamed before my Father and his holy angels,” were constantly ringing -in my ears. - -On the evening of the third day the box of books came. I had engaged -a class-leader in the Methodist church to go with me the first day; -but the sight of the box made me tremble, and so great was the dread -of beginning the work that evening, that I resolved that if God did -not give me strength by the next morning, I would start home and give -it up. The night was spent without sleep. I can truly say I was in an -agony till four o’clock in the morning. Then in a moment of time all -my fears were gone, and I longed for the morning to come that I might -begin my work. - -By eight o’clock in the morning I called on Mr. S---- who was to -accompany me, with my basket filled with good books and tracts. - -In a few minutes we entered the first house. They were Germans; very -irreligious. We talked and prayed with them, and sold some books. They -seemed pleased with the visit, and thanked us for it. - -The next house we entered bore the brand of intemperance. The husband -was sitting by the fire with a sore hand and red eyes. We preached -to him “righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come,” till he -trembled and wept like a child. He promised to drink no more, joined a -temperance society that night, became a church-going man, provided for -his family, and as far as I know has turned out well. - -During that day we visited twenty-seven families, talked and prayed -with all of them, and distributed near twenty dollars’ worth of books. -Many shed tears while we talked with them of Christ and salvation, and -promised to attend to the “one thing needful.” - -Mr. S----, my fellow-laborer, was so stirred in soul with the day’s -work, that he said he must let his business stand and go the next day. - -The next morning we started, full of zeal and hope. We met with many -of the most wicked and degraded people that I had ever seen. Some -listened to us with attention, while others treated us with contempt. -Late in the evening, while we were visiting a row of board shanties, -occupied by coal diggers, I was told not to venture into one of the -shanties; that the man was almost a giant in size and strength, and a -very dangerous man; that he was a terror to the neighborhood, and had -beaten his wife very badly the day before. I replied there was the more -need to see him, and I would go in. My friend would not even come to -the door of the shanty, for fear of him. - -The shanty was sixteen feet square, no floor but the earth; neither -chair, table, nor bed except a bundle of straw in one corner. He was -seated on a large block of coal at one side of the fire, and his wife -on another block at the other side, while the children were lying on -the ground playing between them. The woman’s face bore testimony of the -beating she had gotten the day before. - -He was one of the most fiendish-looking men I ever saw. He was of -enormous size, was clothed with rags, and did not appear as if he had -been washed for months. He was as black as coal-dust could make him. I -must confess it required all the courage I could summon to speak to him. - -I approached him, and extended my hand, and said to him, “I have come -to supply you with some good books to comfort you and point you to -heaven. Have you a Bible?” “No,” said he. “Can you read?” “Yes, a -little.” “Do you love Jesus Christ?” “I fear not, sir.” I then urged -him by every thing sacred to attend to his soul’s salvation without -delay; that death, judgment, and eternity were hastening on, and -pictured to him as well as I could the awful consequences of dying in -his sins. The tears ran down his blackened cheeks till the coal-dust -was washed away below his eyes. I gave him a book, and prayed with him. -He begged me to call again, and said, “You are the first man that ever -spoke to me about my soul.” - -During this day we visited twenty-two families, and had religious -conversation and prayer with each of them. Mr. S---- had become so -deeply interested, that he said he must go another day. - -The next day we concluded to visit a coal digger’s boarding-house, said -to be the wickedest den that was to be found in the whole district. -I will not attempt to describe its character. We entered late in the -evening, as this was the only time we could find the men in. The house -was kept by an old woman and her sons, who worked in the mines and were -notorious for their daring profanity. - -When we entered the house several men were playing cards, others were -lying on benches about the room in various stages of intoxication. My -colaborer was a small, timid man, and seemed somewhat alarmed. - -I introduced our errand by proposing to sell them some good books, -which they declined even to look at. I then commenced a general -exhortation, which had no effect more than pouring water on a rock. I -then called on my friend to pray, as it was his turn, and we had agreed -to lead in turns. This he did with great fervor, and was responded to -by the men with vulgar songs, and such other behavior as I have never -seen before or since. - -At the close of his prayer I turned to the old woman and told her I was -astonished at the mercy of God that permitted such a family to live, -and portrayed the awful consequences of her meeting her household in -hell. I drew every alarming picture I could summon from the Bible or -the resources of my own mind. After some time the old woman began to -weep, and she promised to attend the mission chapel the next Sabbath. -After supplying them with a copy of Baxter’s Call, and a number of -suitable tracts, we left them. - -The next Sabbath the old woman was at the chapel. A series of religious -meetings began that day, and before its close, as my friend informed -me, who was a worshipper there, the old woman and one of her sons -professed religion. - -One day we entered a room where a man was lying sick. We introduced the -subject of religion to him. He ground his teeth with rage, and swore he -did not want to hear any thing on that subject. I then began to inquire -about his complaints, and to prescribe some simple remedies, and he -soon became calm. After some time I remarked that afflictions did not -come by chance, neither did trouble spring out of the ground, but they -were all sent of God for some wise purpose. “Do you think so?” said -he. “Yes,” said I, “and for our good.” He then listened attentively, -and soon shed tears. Though he was very poor, he bought some books. -I prayed with him, and left him, but not without many thanks and -entreaties to come and see him as often as I could. - -This closed the work of three days, in which time we had visited -eighty-five families. - -These three days were the most interesting days that I had ever spent. -By the next morning I found my voice almost gone, and all my limbs -trembling. The excitement of the work and intensity of feeling had -prostrated me before I was aware of it. - -After a day or two of rest I resumed my labors for three weeks, when I -went home a few days. - -I then returned to the same place, and spent a month in visiting new -families and revisiting old ones; and I shall never forget the cordial -shake of the hand that I got almost every day, when I would meet some -one in the house or on the street whom I had before conversed with -and supplied with a book or tract. Special services had been held -in several churches, and quite a number had professed religion. One -minister told me he had taken into his church forty, many of whom dated -their first religious impressions to reading the books and tracts I had -sold or given them, others referred to the visits as the means of their -awakening. - -There was one thing in the work which struck me with great force--the -effect on Christian people. I tried as far as possible to get some good -man to go with me in my visits. It was a great help to me and added to -my success, and at the same time it stirred up many to work for Christ -that had never done any thing before. - -One instance I will name of a Miss L----, though she had been a worker. -She was a lady of large wealth, and had a number of poor tenants living -on her property. She heard of my work, and came to see me. At her -request I went to visit her “parish,” as she called it. I went at the -set time, and she was ready to go with me, basket in hand. During the -day we visited thirty families, and talked and prayed in every house. -When my strength failed she took it up, and such entreaties to sinners -I have seldom heard, and such prayers are seldom offered. During that -day I found eleven persons that attributed their conversion to her -efforts with books and tracts. She said she was a colporteur before, -but did not know it till that day. Reader, go and do likewise. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -I now add a number of facts and incidents that occurred during these -two months of labor. - -There was a Mr. G----, a coal-digger, of desperate character, that I -had been warned not to visit. I was told that he was such an abandoned -character that he was hopeless; that he spent the most of every night -in a miserable doggery, drinking and fighting. I had passed his house -every day for some time, but did not feel satisfied with myself for -neglecting it. - -At last I felt constrained to call one evening; but he had not returned -from his work. I had a long, earnest talk with his wife, who seemed -very careless and wicked. All I could say made no impression on her. I -gave her a copy of Baxter’s Call, with the earnest request that she and -her husband would read it. What followed I will relate as near as I can -in his own words in a prayer-meeting in his own house about two weeks -after. - -“While eating my supper, my wife told me some man had been here and -left a book, which he was very desirous she and I should read. I got -the book to look at it, and read a few pages without much interest; but -as I was very tired, I concluded not to go to the grog-shop that night. -In the morning, which was Sunday morning, I felt inclined to go and get -my bitters; but seeing the book, I concluded to read till breakfast, -and then go. By the time breakfast was ready I felt pretty serious, and -asked my wife if she would not like to go to church--a place we had not -been in for eight years. She said she had no objections. I read till -it was time to go, and began to feel somewhat anxious about my soul. I -listened to the preaching with intense interest. I read the book nearly -through that evening, went back to the church that night, and when -those who desired to have an interest in Christ were called for, I came -forward. A week after, I found peace.” - -He then added, “If it had not been for that book, I think myself and -wife would have been in hell to-night. That gun was loaded,” pointing -to an old gun in the corner, “with a view of killing myself and wife -near a month ago, and if God had not saved me, it would likely have -been done before this time. I was a miserable man; life was a burden; -but now I am happy.” - -This narrative brought tears to all our eyes, and joy to our hearts. - -I visited some of the grog-shops around the village every day to -supply their customers with temperance tracts. In the village proper, -no liquor could be sold, as in all the deeds for lots there was a -temperance clause that forfeited the property if liquor was sold; but -all round the village the grog was abundant, and customers plenty. - -Passing one of these drinking places one day I saw several customers -in, and entered the bar-room with my tracts. The liquor-sellers had -got to know me, and often looked daggers at me. A good-looking man, -well dressed, and about half drunk, was approaching the counter to get -a six-cent drink. Said I, “My friend, I can give you something for -six cents that will do you much more good, and no harm.” He asked me -what it was, when I presented to him Baxter’s Call. I told him the -liquor might kill him, and if he would read that book with prayerful -attention, it might save his soul. He said he would buy the book if he -had the money, but that he had only six cents to pay for that glass of -liquor, which by this time was standing on the counter. - -We both came up to the counter, when I laid the book beside the glass, -saying, “Here is life or death for six cents.” The grog-seller said -I had no business to come there annoying his customers, and injuring -his business. I urged the man at the risk of losing his soul to buy -and read the book. The struggle seemed to be between life and death. -At last he handed me the money, took the book, and went out of the -room. I then handed the landlord a book worth more than the whiskey, -and told him to read it, and then sell it to make up the loss. This is -only a sample of every day occurrences in village and city colportage. -Eternity only will reveal the results. - -At the request of the proprietors of a large rolling-mill, I visited -those in their employ. - -Among them was a man that professed to be a kind of Universalist -preacher. He was a boss over a number of hands, and I was told was -shrewd and fond of argument, and was doing much injury in propagating -his opinions. Late one evening I called at his rooms. There was no one -in but his wife. I conversed with her some time, and found her a pious -Christian woman. I asked her about her husband. She burst into tears, -and said he was a kind husband, but a wicked man; that he preached -sometimes, and was a Universalist. - -While I was urging her to labor and pray for his salvation, a -fine-looking man, of a haughty mien and deportment, came in. - -I arose and introduced myself, and asked if he was Mr. V----, the -gentleman of the house. He replied that he was. I then told him I was a -colporteur visiting from house to house, selling and giving books, and -talking and praying with the people. - -“Oh, I have heard of you about here for two or three days. I am a -Universalist, sir; I don’t believe there is any such place as hell.” I -replied that it would be well for many of us if that doctrine was true, -and asked him how long he had been a Universalist. He said about eight -years; that his mother had belonged to the orthodox, and taught him in -his early years about a terrible place called hell, and that he knew no -better till about eight years ago. That for three or four years after -he heard the true doctrine of the salvation of all men, he was troubled -with those foolish prejudices; but for the last four years he had never -had a solitary _pang_ on that subject. - -I replied that it was often hard to get rid of a mother’s instructions -and prayers; that it had taken the devil four years to silence his -conscience, and get them put to sleep. - -“Do you feel confident,” I said, “that you are this moment prepared to -enter heaven if you were to die?” “Yes,” said he, “as certain as I am -that the sun rises and sets.” “Well,” said I, “is not this rather a -toilsome world to live in?” “Yes,” said he, “it is, and I have a full -share of it.” “Then,” said I, “why not cut your throat, and go right -to heaven this evening?” “Oh,” said he, “I have my wife to provide -for.” “Oh,” said I, “cut her throat, and take her along.” “Oh,” said -he, “that would be wrong.” “No,” said I, “if your creed is right, it -cannot be wrong; and even if it should, you would be done with all the -consequences of the wrong as soon as you were dead.” He hung his head, -and made no further reply. I told him I hoped that he had seen the -fallacy of his belief, and would at once abandon such soul-destroying -opinions. I sold him several books, and left him. - -As the men worked by turns all night in the rolling-mills, and it was -difficult to gain access to them, one of the proprietors proposed -that he would join me to visit them all the next Sabbath, when they -often gathered in groups to play cards and drink. Accordingly the next -Sabbath morning we were joined by a theological student, and commenced -going round the houses and rooms, near one hundred in number. - -Late in the evening we entered the apartments of Mr. V---- and his -wife. They were sitting reading new books, which I think were those I -had sold them. I said, “Good evening, Mr. V----. I have come to talk -with you again, and I am glad to see you reading those books. I hope -you have changed your mind on religious subjects.” “No,” said he, “I am -more convinced than ever that I am right.” “Well,” said I, “I want to -ask you a few questions by the way of information, as you profess to -have a near cut to heaven.” Said he, “I am not going to answer any more -of your questions. I don’t like to be criticized.” I told him I would -only ask him easy questions; that I wanted to know what that scripture -meant which speaks of a class of men who “shall not be forgiven, -neither in this world, nor in the world to come.” Said he, “I am not -going to answer any more questions.” - -Mr. R---- said he would like to ask him one question. “There were two -thieves crucified with Christ. He said to the one, ‘This day shalt thou -be with me in paradise;’ where did the other go?” He made no answer. - -We all three united in urging him to repent and believe in Christ, but -he made no answer. At last I said, “Brethren, unless God will hear and -answer prayer in this man’s behalf, he is a lost man.” His wife was -weeping as if her heart would break. We knelt in prayer, and I think -there were four earnest hearts lifted up to God. He sat still some -minutes, but at last he knelt. When we rose from our knees the tears -were running down his cheeks. I said, “Do you feel no ‘pangs’ now?” -With a sob that seemed to come from his heart, he said, “I don’t know -what has come over me.” We then pointed him to the Saviour, and told -him we believed his feelings were produced by the Spirit of God. Of all -the penitents that I have ever seen, I hardly remember one who seemed -so deeply moved as this man. During the time he remained in that place -he seemed to be an entirely changed man. - -One day, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. J----, we called at the office of -a very fine-looking gentleman, and introduced the subject of religion -to him. He was rather surly and sceptical. I proposed to sell him a -book, but he declined, saying that he seldom read such books. At last -I proposed to give him a copy of Nelson on Infidelity, and went on to -say that it equalled any romance in interest. At last he said, “I have -money plenty to buy books, and as you are so urgent about it, I will -buy it, and read it; and if it is not as good as you say it is, I will -give you a thrashing the first time I catch you.” I told him I would -run the risk of that if he would read the book carefully. - -About ten days after we were passing again, and called on him. He met -us in the most cordial manner. I told him I had called to see whether -he would thrash me or not for the book I had sold him. “Oh,” said he, -“it is the best book I ever read. I would not take five dollars for it, -if I could not get another like it.” We found him deeply anxious about -his soul. After a long talk with him, I told him I was about to close -my labors there, and never expected to meet him again in this world, -and urged him to meet me in heaven. With tears running down his cheeks, -he said to Mr. J----, “Will _you_ not come and see me again?” Mr. J---- -said with tears that he would, and he no doubt did very frequently. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -Calling one day at a fine country-house in Western Pennsylvania, I -found a prosperous Irish family of more than ordinary intelligence. I -inquired if they wanted some good religious books. The father replied, -“What kind of _relagin_ do you teach?” I replied, “The holy catholic -religion.” “Ah, it’s not the Roman-catholic relagin. What objection -have you to the Roman-catholic relagin?” I replied that all that I -desired was, to teach the people to repent and believe in the Lord -Jesus Christ and to lead holy lives, and that I was not going about to -argue with people about their churches. Still he insisted on my telling -him what objections I had to the Roman-catholic church. - -At last I told him they violated the second commandment by the use of -images in the worship of God. But this he denied. I asked him to get -his Bible and compare it with mine. He brought out the Douay Catechism -to prove he was right, and told me that was his Bible. I got mine; -but he forbade my reading it, as it was a heretic’s Bible. I insisted -on having Bible authority for the use of images in God’s worship. As -the old man seemed to be at a loss to defend his position, one of his -daughters, a beautiful girl, presented herself before me, and said, “I -can give you Bible plenty for the use of images, and the good resulting -from the use of them. What was it that Moses put up on the pole for the -Israelites to look at when the fiery serpents bit them?” I explained -to her that the brazen serpent was set up, not to be worshipped, but -simply looked at as a type of Christ, to whom dying sinners may look -and live. But all my efforts were in vain. As I left them, she was -still asking me to repent, and come over to the true Roman-catholic -church as the only place of safety. - -A few days after, the Rev. Mr. J---- requested me to visit the town -of S----, where he occasionally preached, and had made an appointment -for me to address the people at night, preparatory to visiting all the -families. He gave me a letter of introduction to one of his members, -who lived a mile from the village, and who he expected would go with -me. I came to his house near dark, almost frozen. He received me very -coldly, and neither offered me food or company. I inquired the way to -town, and soon left. - -The night was dark, the snow deep, the cold intense, and I was an -entire stranger in the place. As I rode along the street, every door -and window was shut, till I came to a store. I tied my horse and -stepped in, and found a large, fine-looking man sitting by the stove -alone. By asking a few questions, I learned it was Mr. S----, the -proprietor of the town. I told him I was glad to make his acquaintance. -That I had come there at the request of the Rev. Mr. J----, to hold a -meeting that night, and to spend a few days visiting his people and -supplying them with good religious books, and I would be glad to have -his counsel and advice as to the best way to do it. - -Said he, “It depends very much, sir, on the kind of religious books you -want to circulate here. I suppose you have the Confession of Faith of -the Presbyterian church among them, and I can prove that it is full of -falsehoods; and more than that, I want you to know, sir, that I have -made a promise to kick out of my house every man that comes in it that -has graduated at Jefferson College, and studied theology at the Western -Seminary.” As he closed the sentence, he stood up before me, as if he -was going to make good his promise. I requested him to wait till I -should explain my object. I told him I had no Confessions of Faith, nor -any denominational books; that they were all the books of the American -Tract Society, and approved by nearly all evangelical Christians, -and consequently not sectarian. And as to the other objection, I had -never graduated either at Jefferson College or the Western Theological -Seminary, consequently he was barking up the wrong tree. “Why,” said -he, “are you not a Presbyterian preacher?” “No, sir,” said I, “I have -not the honor to be a preacher.” He turned instantly and walked out, -leaving me alone. - -I stepped to the door, and asked a little boy who was passing if there -was a Mr. G---- living in the town. “Yes,” said he, “he lives in the -adjoining house.” I stepped to the door, and was cordially greeted by -an old acquaintance. In a few minutes I was seated at a sumptuously -supplied table, which I very much needed; and an hour after was in a -school-house, holding forth to the people, with my belligerent friend -for one of my hearers. I visited all the town; but Mr. S---- carefully -avoided meeting me, always turning away to shun me; but I supplied his -family with a good stock of books. - - * * * * * - -At the close of my labors in that town, I entered a very hilly region -of country, and stopped over night with a Mr. W----, an aged, infirm -man, who sent his son with me the next day to hunt up the cabins of the -poor. The son had spent some years in a roving life, and seemed totally -indifferent about religion. - -In the first cabin we called at, we found a young woman in the last -stages of a decline. I have seldom seen any soul so full of joy and -peace. She talked more like an inhabitant of heaven than of earth. -While we spoke of Christ’s love, and what he had done for her, I saw -the tears course down my companion’s cheeks. When we left her he said, -“Religion is a reality.” - -After visiting a few more families, we came in sight of a beautiful -farm, which lay in a valley. Mr. W---- said to me, “I will not go with -you to that man’s house. He is an unbeliever, and a shrewd fellow, and -if you talk to him on religion as you have done to others, he will get -mad, and insult you. His wife is pious; but I have heard him say that -when the preacher came to visit his family he kept out of the way, -because he did not wish to insult him; and he will certainly insult -you, if you speak to him on that subject.” Said I, “He has the more -need to be visited. Such persons are the very ones I am sent to hunt -up; but as he may take offence at you for leading me to his house, you -may fall behind, and come up after me,” which he concluded to do. - -As I approached the house, I got off my horse, and took my big -saddle-bags, filled with books, on my arm, and stepped into the house. -In a few minutes all the children were in. They were fine, intelligent -children; and to my surprise, I recognized their mother as a once -dashing young lady I had known well fifteen years before; but she had -entirely forgotten me. - -In a few minutes in came my travelling companion and Mr. C---- with -him; Mr. C----’s face indicating great determination and firmness. I -immediately began to hunt for a text to begin with, and chose a little -girl of three or four years old, whom I called to my side. I began to -tell her about Jesus, and what he did to save sinners, and how deeply -praying fathers and mothers felt for their dear children, whom they -would soon meet at the bar of God. I asked her if father and mother -did not pray for her. By this time the mother and the oldest daughter -were weeping freely. I asked the mother if she would not rather see -her children converted to God than any thing else. “Oh, yes,” she -exclaimed, “it burdens my heart.” I cast my eye round towards Mr. C---- -and Mr. W----, and both were weeping. - -“Mr. C----,” said I, “don’t you feel concerned about the souls of this -interesting group of children which God has given you to train up for -Him?” “Not as much as I ought to do.” His heart was so full he could -scarcely utter one word. Said I, “Are you not a professor of religion?” -“No, I am not. I have been a very careless man on that subject. When -I was a young man I was very much concerned for a while, but I fell -in with wicked young men, and read bad books, and I have entirely -neglected religion ever since. But I don’t know what has come over me -now.” - -“I trust,” said I, “it is the Spirit of God that has touched your -heart, and I beseech you now to yield to his divine solicitations; -not to delay for one moment. If you resist the Holy Ghost now, he may -leave you for ever, and then your doom will be sealed; but if you now -give up all for Christ, you will find peace, and there may be joy in -heaven among the angels this moment.” He cried out in the agony of his -soul, “What shall I do to be saved?” I urged him to enter that night -on all the duties that God had enjoined on him; to read his Bible, and -pray for himself and family. He pledged his word to me to do it. He -kept that pledge. I prayed with him, sold him eighteen volumes of good -books, and left the whole family in tears. He soon after joined the -church; and Mr. W----, I was told, professed religion soon after, and -attributed his conversion to a day’s travel with a colporteur. - -I held a prayer-meeting that night at the house of Mr. H----, a man of -remarkable piety and benevolence. He told me of an incident that marked -his whole life, and made him what he was. Said he, “I served my time -with a hard master to learn the wagon-making business. I had engaged to -go, the day I was free, some forty miles to work as a journeyman. The -evening before I was to start, a good man gave me his advice, and at -the close asked me if I had money to pay my way. I told him I had no -money, but could get there, as I was going to walk. He handed me fifty -cents, all he had, as a present. While on my way I met a poor miserable -man begging. He told me he was starving. I gave him the fifty cents, as -I had no way to divide it. Before I had gone many rods I found a silver -dollar lying on the road, over which he had stepped. I said to myself, -‘_God sent this_,’ and I determined to serve him all the days of my -life; and he has blessed me ever since.” - - * * * * * - -In a few days I commenced labor along the line between Western -Pennsylvania and Western Virginia. The Rev. Mr. R---- took a deep -interest in my work, and travelled more than a week with me. Our work -made quite a stir among the people. The news spread that we were -entering every house, talking and praying. - -We set a day to visit a neighborhood that was noted for its wickedness. -There were several families owning fine farms who never entered a -church. On the day set, we took an early start. As we approached the -first house, we saw all the inmates running to the barn. We knocked at -the door, but no answer. We went to the barn; but before we reached it -they were running across the adjoining field. We understood the cause, -and came back to the house, and put in at the window Baxter’s Call and -a few suitable tracts, with the earnest prayer for God’s blessing to -attend the reading of them. - -We went on to the next house, but it was closed, and no one to be -found. We here also installed Baxter and several other preachers -through the window; and so on till we had visited six families. -At every one of these houses the people either fled or concealed -themselves at our approach. Mr. R---- pleasantly observed, as we -were poor men, he thought the best thing we could do for our worldly -interests would be to take possession of the property, for he supposed -they would never come to dispossess us. Great fear fell upon sinners at -our approach. - -A few miles distant I held a prayer-meeting one night, and had a large -crowd. At the close, I laid my books on the table, and told them that I -would sell to any that wanted to buy. In a little time the man of the -house told me that a man had _stolen_ his pocket full; that he was a -very bad man, and we should have a fight if we attempted to take them -from him. Among them was a fine pocket Bible. So I concluded to let -them go, and pray that God would overrule his wickedness for good. - -Some weeks after, while visiting along the Ohio river hills among the -wood-choppers near the same place, I called at a cabin, and found a -woman in deep distress about her soul. She told me she had got a book -that was the cause. That a man had sold it to a neighbor. They were -the fourth family that had read it, and all were concerned about their -souls. I found all the families she named, and the book thus blessed -was a copy of Baxter’s Call which that man stole from me and sold to -one of these families. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -During my labors in this region I was frequently requested to -visit G----, a town that had been laid out about the close of the -Revolutionary war, and is noticed in the history of the Indian wars as -being near the scene of some bloody struggles. It contained over three -hundred inhabitants, but never had a church in it. A good man built one -near by. - -The Rev. Mr. R---- sent a notice that he and I would be there on a -certain evening to hold a meeting. A few came. He preached, and I made -a statement about my work, and told them I was going to visit the town -to talk and pray with each family, and supply them with religious -books. I had engaged a class-leader in the Methodist church, who lived -a few miles distant, to go with me. - -We entered the village the next morning soon after breakfast. The first -four or five houses we stopped at we could find no one at home, and -we soon found they were hiding from us. We could see heads out at -the doors and windows as we approached the house; but when we would -knock there was no answer. As soon as we understood the matter, I -told my colaborer they should not foil us in this way; that I would -install preachers in every house before I left the place. I immediately -commenced pushing in the old hats that were stuck in the broken -windows, and threw into the houses a Baxter’s Call, Alleine’s Alarm, or -a Sabbath Manual, and some of the most awakening tracts. - -We spent two days in this work. With all the skill we could use, we did -not get into one third of the houses; but we put good books into every -one. - -Some few months after, a minister who was preaching near by found -many interested about their souls. He held daily meetings for some -time, and more than fifty professed faith in Christ; many dating their -first religious impressions to the silent preachers thrown into their -houses at the time of our visit. In 1861, on the railroad, I passed in -sight of this town lying across the Ohio river, and instead of the old -dilapidated village it was seventeen years before, it looked to be new -and flourishing. - -At the close of my labors in that community I went to B---- county, -Va., at the request of Rev. Mr. W----, who had a large country charge -and was laid up by bad health. He requested me, in addition to -visiting all the families, to hold prayer-meetings among his people -every night. This I did for one month, and God’s Spirit seemed to be -present at every meeting. Every one I talked with seemed to be moved -by the Spirit. I sold more than $200 worth of books; and a few months -after, more than one hundred persons were added to the churches. Mr. -W---- afterwards stated that a large portion of them had been led to -consideration by reading the books we scattered among them. - -He often gave me directions where to go, and what kind of people -I should find them to be. On one occasion he directed me to a -neighborhood where he had four or five families living some miles -from the church. The parents all professors, with large irreligious -families, and no family altars. - -The first family of them I called on, I soon found to be but little -interested about religion. I spoke with the father as if he were -a devout praying man; but told him I had no doubt there were some -prayerless families in that neighborhood; and that God had declared -that he would “pour out his fury on the families that call not on his -name.” I spoke of the sad effect of such ungodly living on children, -and urged him to try and talk with all his neighbors about it, and to -go with me a day or two till we should try to wake up such professors -of religion. His family were present. I saw his very soul was pierced. - -I visited all the families the same way. God’s Spirit seemed to stir -every soul. In a few months after, the pastor was able to visit them, -and found that each had established the family altar. Each one resolved -that he would begin to pray in his own family, and then he could go and -urge others to do the same. Neither of them supposed that I suspected -them of living without prayer till they began to compare notes; and -then they found I had talked to all the same way. They sent me their -thanks by their pastor for “catching them with guile.” - -In another neighborhood, I was urged by a very good man to visit his -brother-in-law, who he told me was a wicked man, and raising a large -family like heathen. He told me that he was a gentleman in his behavior -to strangers, and would treat me kindly; but to secure for me a kind -reception, he sent with me a young man who was a nephew both of himself -and of the gentleman. The day was extremely cold, and the distance some -four or five miles. We visited several cabins along the river hills, -and expected to reach his house about noon, and remain there till the -next day. - -About one o’clock we came to the place. It seemed to be the abode of -plenty. We tied our horses, and entered a large front room. Mr. C----, -the head of the family, was in it alone, shelling corn on a machine, -keeping up a hot fire by burning the cobs. His nephew introduced me to -him, but he scarce looked at me, spoke very little, and went on with -his work, without asking me even to sit down. We both sat some time -without a word being spoken, when the young man passed through into -another room, where the family were talking. As soon as I got warm, -I concluded to try and do my work and leave the house, as every thing -looked rather gloomy. - -He was a big, fierce-looking man. His countenance indicated that he was -a very wicked man, which proved to be the fact. I sometimes thought it -would be best to leave him without saying any thing, but my conscience -would not let me do that. At last I said, “Mr. C----, I am engaged in -distributing good religious books, published by the American Tract -Society, and I have called to supply you and your family with them.” I -had scarcely got the words spoken, when he sprang right before me, with -his fist clinched, and called me a horse-thief and robber, and every -vile name that a vile tongue could use, interspersed with the most -awful oaths I ever heard. He rubbed his fist under my nose, and swore -he would smash my face into a jelly. I sat still for some time without -speaking, in the hope that he would stop, that I might reason with him; -but it was in vain. - -At last I thought, if I am the cause of this man’s sinning so much, I -will leave him. I rose to my feet and said, “Mr. C----, if you will -stop a moment till I speak, I will leave your house. I came here at -the special request of Mr. E----, your brother-in-law, to try to do -good to you and your family. And now, sir, I warn you, that if you do -not repent you will perish. I leave a message from God to you on this -table,” placing there Baxter’s Call and a number of tracts; “and if you -reject them, they will meet you as witnesses on the judgment-day.” The -wicked man quailed, and tried to make apologies for his abuse of me; -but I told him to ask God for pardon, and not me, for I was not in the -least injured. I never saw the place or the man afterwards; but I heard -he soon went to ruin. None of the family showed their faces during the -interview. - -Eighteen years have now passed since these labors were performed, and -sufficient time has elapsed for all the dust and excitement to pass -away; and on a calm review of that period of my life and labors, I -look on it as the most important of any through which I ever passed: -not in actual results, but in the development of a great system of -evangelization, which has carried salvation to thousands who had never -been reached by saving truth. A few had previously entered this field -of Christian effort for the destitute, and done much, north and west; -but this was the beginning of the work in the middle and southern -states, which has reached millions of all classes and conditions, both -bond and free. As to myself, I found it the best school I ever entered -for spiritual and intellectual improvement, and if I have since been -the instrument of any good to my fellow-men, the labors of the little -time referred to prepared me for it. - -At the close of this month’s work, two gentlemen called on me one -evening, and requested me to take a walk in the village of P----. I -was soon led into a tailor’s shop, and had my measure taken; and then -from one store to another, till a fine new suit, from head to foot, was -selected, costing near fifty dollars. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -April 1, 1845, I commenced my labors in the town of F----, in Western -Virginia. As soon as the object of my visit to that region was known, I -received a cordial welcome from a large majority of the people, who did -all they could to aid me in my work. Mr. P----, a young lawyer at that -time, and since governor of Western Virginia, volunteered to go with me -to every house in the town. His high position and universal popularity -made the work pleasant and successful. In three days my buggy load of -books were circulated in the village. - -I immediately replenished my stock, and commenced my work in the -country among the mountains. It was like a translation from sunlight -into darkness--from a high civilization into one of ignorance and -superstition, with here and there a family of wealth and refinement. - -The very broken, rugged state of the country, with a sparse population, -rendered it impossible for the people to support either schools or -churches. Consequently in many isolated communities whole families -grew up without any one knowing the alphabet, and very few places had -preaching more than once in a month, and that on a week-day in some -log cabin to a few women. I have visited as many as ten families in -succession, in one case fourteen, without finding a Bible. It will -hardly be thought strange that youth of both sexes were often found who -could not tell who is the Saviour of sinners, and that when they were -told of Christ dying for sinners, they would look incredulous and say, -we live so much out of the way that we never hear any news. They often -lived in small cabins, without any furniture but such as they made with -an axe and an auger. All they raised to eat was corn and potatoes, with -a few hogs; most of their meat being that of the various wild animals -which abounded in the mountains. They were mostly kind and hospitable, -and seemed to be sorry that they could not accommodate me better. I -shall endeavor faithfully to describe one journey, which will represent -many more. - -About the time I went into that region, a new missionary circuit had -been laid out by the Methodist Protestant church through a broken -mountain country, where the gospel had never been preached; and the -Rev. Mr. C---- was appointed to go round it once in each month, which -required a ride of more than one hundred miles, most of the way by mere -bridle paths. - -He had been once or twice round the circuit before I became acquainted -with him. As soon as he learned my business he invited me to go with -him. He told me the people were without books of any kind, that very -few could read, and that many of them were not half civilized; that at -one house, where he spent the night, they cut off the skirts of his -saddle to sole their moccasins, and at another the woman cut off the -tail of his overcoat to make a pair of pants for a little boy. I agreed -to go, and at the set time we filled each of our saddle-bags with -little books and tracts, and our pockets with lunch. - -The first appointment was some twenty miles distant, and we had to -start the evening before. We stopped over night with a wealthy -Christian family, and fared sumptuously. - -The next day we rode twelve miles to the place where he was to preach. -They had a church built of round logs. It had no floor but the ground, -and was neither chinked nor daubed, consequently it was only used in -warm weather. The house was full at the appointed hour. More than half -of the congregation were barefooted, and but few had on them more than -two garments. Most of the men came in with their guns in their hands, -and a good supply of small game they had killed by the way. The guns -were all set up in the corner of the church, and the game laid beside -them. - -At the request of Mr. C---- I conducted the service. The constant -responses and loud amens indicated the deep interest they seemed to -feel. At the close of the service I requested them to keep their seats, -and told them I would go round and give each a tract or little book. -More than half the families represented were destitute of the Bible. -The tracts and books were received with very great joy, though few -could read a word in them. - -At the close we had to ride some miles to a stopping place for the -night. We found the cabin small and destitute of any seats except -stools. The beds were poles put through the corners, covered with the -skins of deers and bears. Many of the spaces between the logs were wide -enough for the dogs and cats to pass out and in at pleasure. The food -was bread made of corn ground in a hand mill, or pounded in a hominy -block. The meat was coon or opossum, and the coffee made of chestnuts. -The night was spent in self-defence against unseen foes, and in dread -of snakes. After partaking of a breakfast similar to the dinner and -supper just described, and praying with the family, we left them. - -Our appointment for that day was about twelve miles distant, with a -constant succession of mountains to cross. We stopped at all the cabins -by the way, which were about like that just referred to, with one -exception; and as the house and family were different from any that I -have ever seen, I shall try to describe them. - -The cabin was about eighteen feet square; had been the birthplace of -a large family; had neither floor--except the earth--upper story, -chimney, chair, table, or bed, except a pile of straw in one corner, -and an old spinning wheel and loom. The family we saw consisted of the -father, mother, and five daughters, no one of which, we supposed, would -weigh less than one hundred and fifty pounds. Each of the females had -on a single garment made of coarse linen, held on by a drawing-string -round the neck, all fleshy and hearty, while we could not see any thing -for them to live upon. - -No one of them knew a letter in the alphabet, or who was the Saviour of -sinners. They were children of nature isolated from the world, equally -ignorant of both its vices and its virtues. We spent more than an hour -trying to teach them the alphabet of Christianity, and then commended -them to God. They seemed amazed at what we said; God only knows the -results. - -We reached the place where our evening meeting was to be held after -one o’clock, exhausted with hunger and heat. The cabin was but little -better than the one just described; it contained some kind of table -and a few stools, but had neither door nor floor, and cattle and hogs -ran into it to avoid the flies when they chose. - -Mr. C----, whose patience was nearly exhausted, told the woman that we -were almost starved, and to hurry and get us something to eat, and to -make it as _clean_ and as good as she could. The children were sent to -borrow tools; a fire was soon blazing under an arbor made of bushes -near the house; a pail of meal set beside it, waiting for the _skillet_ -to heat, out of which the hens helped themselves every time she turned -her back to them. The children soon returned with a little coffee-pot -minus the handle, and with a knife and a fork one prong lacking. - -We were soon invited in to our dinner from under the shade of a tree -where we had observed the whole process. The table was a block of wood, -with four legs to hold it up, and a stool at each side for us to sit -on. Some pet pigs were under it waiting for the crumbs: they tramped -on our toes, which led us to kick them; but our kind hostess soon made -the children catch them and confine them behind my back in a big gumm, -a tub sawn off a hollow log, which treatment, from their noise, they -seemed to dislike very much. - -Soon after our meal was finished the people began to gather in to hear -the gospel. The cabin was more than full, with the same appearance of -the congregation as last described. We supplied all with books and -tracts--in most cases with the first book they ever had. The night was -spent much like the previous one, food and lodging about the same. - -The next morning we rode nine miles to meet another appointment at -eleven o’clock. By the time we reached the place I was so sick that -I had to lie down, while brother C---- preached to the people from -Jeremiah 6:16. At the close we supplied all with little books and -tracts, and received many thanks. The dinner was set under a shed -outside of the house, but the sight of it sent me out to the shade of a -tree so sick that I could not stand on my feet. - -I then told brother C---- that I should be compelled to make my -escape to some place where I could get something to eat and take some -rest; and asked him to take all the books and give them away at each -appointment to the best advantage he could. - -At two o’clock I was on my horse, which, happily for me, had been along -the road before, and was suffering from hunger as much as his rider. In -six hours he was standing at the steps of Mr. S----’s house, two miles -from the town of F----, from which we started three days before. I was -well acquainted with Mr. S---- and his family, having been frequently -there; but fever had dethroned my reason, which did not return till I -was taken in and my head bathed with cold water, and I had drank a cup -of coffee. - -It was three days before I was sufficiently recovered to resume my -work. We had visited twenty-seven families, talked and prayed with them -all, given them books and tracts, and held three meetings. One half of -the people were without any part of a Bible. As for other books they -had none, and not one in ten could read a word. - -I have detailed this one journey of three days not only to show the -condition of this portion of our country, but as little more than a -fair representation of destitute parts of many states in the Union. -If each colporteur of the Tract Society who has visited these dark, -broken, isolated regions of our country for the last eighteen years, -had kept a journal of all the ignorance and wretchedness he met, it -would have been the most interesting missionary journal the world ever -saw. Their reports would differ as widely as the reports of those whom -Joshua sent out to visit the promised land. While some would bring in -the rich clusters of Eshcol, others, with equal truthfulness, could say -that the land was inhabited by giants, whose walls were ignorance and -superstition. - -I was often reminded in my journeys of the early pioneers of our -country who went through the forests, tomahawk in hand, blazing the -trees as a signal of their intended occupancy of the land at some -future time. These visits were the Christian pioneer’s way-marks, not -blazed on the trees with axe or tomahawk, but blazed on the hearts -of men in a state of nature by kind Christian words, and sealed with -earnest prayer; while the books and tracts, including many Bibles and -Testaments, were deeds of trust to those that faithfully used them; -and many by them have secured a title to eternal life. - -The books were like Jacob’s well--the digger was gone--but they have -quenched the thirst of many a weary traveller on life’s journey, and -their smoked pages are still crying, “Ho, every one that thirsteth,” -come and partake of the waters of life “without money and without -price.” A poor woman who had a small tract given her, on her death-bed -had it brought to her, when she kissed it, and said, “This led me to my -dear Saviour.” - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -I visited an old woman, who told me that soon after she was married -some one lent her Doddridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion in the -Soul, and that it was the means of the conversion of herself and her -husband; that he had died happily some years ago, but she had never -been able to get a copy of the book since. I then presented her with -one, and she wept for joy. I asked her if she had a Bible; she said, -“No;” that they had a Bible when her husband died, but some time after -a little school was opened in the neighborhood, and she wanted her four -little boys taught to read, but had no books nor any way to get them, -and she had to cut her Bible into four parts to make each of them a -book, and they soon went to pieces, and she lost her Bible. I then gave -her a Bible, and her joy seemed complete. - -On another occasion I sent a notice that I would be at a little church -in a certain neighborhood to aid them in organizing a Sabbath-school, -and to supply the destitute with books. After exhorting for some time, -and arranging for the Sabbath-school, I distributed all my stock, and -was about to leave. - -A young woman came up to me, having just reached the place, and asked -me for a book. I told her I had given away all that I had brought with -me. She burst into tears, and said, “I left my babe, three weeks old, -in the field where my husband was hoeing corn, and walked five miles -in my bare feet to get a book; and now I am disappointed.” In a few -minutes an old woman who had seen seventy winters came to me with a -crutch under one arm, and a cane in the other hand, and told me she -had come two miles to get books for her sons, who were raising large -families over the mountains, that were as wild as the deers. I returned -soon, and gave the necessary supply. - -One day a man entered my room wearing a hunting-shirt and moccasins, -with a gun in his hand and a long knife hanging to a belt at his side, -and asked me if I was the man that gave books to the poor people in the -mountains. I told him I was engaged in that business. “Well,” said -he, “we live in an out of the way place, where we have neither schools -nor preaching; and we met together last Sunday to see if we could not -raise a Sunday-school, and teach our children to read, but all the -books we could find was one New Testament; and some one said there was -a man in F---- that was giving books to the poor, and so I have come -to see you about it.” I gave him all the light I could as to forming -and conducting a Sunday-school, and added twenty Testaments, with fifty -small volumes of Tract Society books, and some tracts. He soon had them -all in the bosom of his hunting shirt, and I have seldom seen a happier -man. - -The next Sabbath the school was started. In six months a church was -organized, and soon after a little church built, and a man of God was -preaching to them once each month. That bosom full of books was the -means God blessed to this result. - -On another occasion I stopped over night with a good man, who related -to me the following fact. - -“A few years ago a minister came to my house late on Saturday night -on his way to preach at L----, about thirty miles distant. Finding he -could not reach the place in time to meet his appointment, he told me -if I would gather in my neighbors, he would preach for us. There were -but a few families in all this valley, and so far as I knew, he was the -first preacher that ever had been in it, at least he preached the first -sermon. I sent my boys out and gathered in my neighbors. At the close -of his sermon he gave every one a tract. Among the rest he gave one to -a poor widow with a large family, but neither she nor any one of her -children knew a letter. She took it home with her without any knowledge -of its contents. - -“The next morning she returned and requested my wife to read it to -her, which she did. ‘Well,’ said she, ‘it is a nice thing to read; I -do wish I could do it.’ She took the tract home, and returned the next -day to have it read again; and during the reading, the tears ran down -her cheeks. ‘Oh,’ said she to my wife, ‘do you think I could learn to -read?’ ‘Yes,’ she said to her, ‘no doubt you can.’ So my wife got a -New England primer we had, and went over the letters a few times with -her. She took home both the primer and the tract. The next morning she -returned again, and while the tract was reading, her face was lit up -with joy, and peace came into her soul. In a few hours she was able to -repeat the alphabet. ‘And now,’ said she, ‘if you will only learn me -how to put two of them together, and give them a _name_, I can learn -myself.’ This was soon done; and as soon as she went home, she taught -her children all she had learned. In a few months she and her children -could read all that was in the primer. We have now a good church here, -and she and most of her children are members of it. She seldom sees -a tract but with tears of joy she exclaims, ‘If it had not been for -one of these little tracts, I and my children might have remained in -ignorance and sin.’” - -One of the great difficulties I had to encounter was the large number -of families that could not read. These I found every day. When I -would show my books and urge them to buy, the reply was, “_Oh, none -of us can’t read._” I soon saw the necessity of planning some means -to remedy this evil, and began to establish little Sunday-schools in -each neighborhood. I would hunt up the best reader I could find for a -teacher, furnish them with a small library of books, give them the best -direction I could how to conduct it, and set them to work. Although -some of these schools were very superficially conducted, and in many -cases there was nothing done in them but teaching young and old to -read, still they had the effect of rousing the mind to the acquisition -of knowledge, and preparing the way of the Lord. Many of these schools -accomplished great things, and resulted in the establishing of little -churches. Others seemed to fail, except so far as they woke in the -minds of some a thirst for knowledge. - -Some families I could not prevail on to take a book as a gift, for fear -there was some trick about it. Clock pedlars had been through some -portions of the country a while before, sold the cheap clocks at thirty -dollars apiece, and took notes for the pay, which had been collected -in many cases by distress-sales. They would tell me how they had been -treated, and that they were afraid I should send some one for the pay. -I often avoided this objection by lending the book, and writing on it, -“Loaned till I call for it.” - -Another great difficulty we had to encounter with these unlettered -masses was their prejudice against education. Almost every day I had to -meet this objection: “Oh, I don’t want my children learned to read; it -will spoil them. I have got along very well without reading, and so can -they.” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -I had now been about ten months in the colporteur work, and seeing the -great necessity for scores of men to engage in it, I thought I could -raise the salaries, and employ one or two others to carry it on. I -soon raised $150 to pay a man for a year, and Providence directed me -to a good man to do the work. I then succeeded in finding another good -man, and raising his salary; and in one month, by the Divine blessing, -I raised and paid over for the support of colportage $750, and these -efforts were continued till the colporteur work was extended throughout -the more destitute regions in all Western Virginia. - -I had made an arrangement to visit R---- county, some forty miles -distant, and spend a month in colporteur labor. On my way I had to -cross a river by a ferry-boat. Two travellers crossed with me. When -we mounted our horses on the opposite side of the river, one of them -asked me if I was going on a long journey with such a heavy load on my -horse over that mountain country. I told him I had my horse loaded with -religious books, and some Bibles, and that I was engaged in supplying -destitute regions with the word of life, and would soon lighten my load. - -“Why,” said he, “are there any families to be found without the Bible?” -Yes, I told him, there were many in all parts of our country. “Well,” -said he, “I don’t believe there is a family in my county without a -Bible.” Said I, “What part are you from?” “From Green county, Penn.” -“How far,” said I, “from the town of C----?” “Five miles,” said he. - -Four weeks ago, I replied, I was there, and made an address before one -of the Presbyteries of the Cumberland church, in which I spoke of the -destitutions of our country and our mode of supplying them, when the -Rev. Mr. H---- followed me with a speech in which he said “he believed -one third of the families in C----, in which we were then assembled, -were without the Bible.” Another minister present doubted it. I told -them I was there to visit the town, and would begin the next morning. -A good man volunteered to go with me. We spent three days at the -work, and found that out of _one hundred and fifty-seven families, -fifty-four_ had no Bible. - -On my way to R----, late in the evening I began to inquire for some -place where I could spend the night, as the indications seemed to -be that a hard night’s lodging was before me. As I inquired at each -little cabin, they told me that “Parson W----,” a few miles ahead, -kept lodgers. As these mountain miles are slowly measured by a tired -man and horse, I did not reach “Parson W----’s” till near nine o’clock -at night. When I entered his little cabin, he and his wife and -granddaughter were at a supper of corn-bread and buttermilk. I asked -for lodging, which was granted, and was at once invited to supper. As -soon as the parson was done eating, he went and put up my horse. - -On his return, I asked him if he had any pastoral charge. “Yes,” said -he, “I built a church on my own land close by, and preach there every -other Sunday.” We were soon engaged in a religious conversation, and -my views of truth were soon tested. “Well,” said the old parson, “I -thought you was a Methodist preacher, but I find I was mistaken; but -I _guess_ you are a Presbyterian, which is no better.” Finding the old -man belonged to what was called the _Ironsides_, or rigid Antinomians, -I thought it quite useless to talk to him. - -Before I could get rid of him he made me tell my business. “Well,” said -he, “you are going about plundering the country. It was the Bible, -Tract, and Missionary Societies that broke up the country in 1837 and -’38.” - -As I was tired, and proposed to go to bed, “Well,” said he, “there is -a bed in that corner for you.” “As you are a preacher,” said I, “of -course you have family prayer, and I would prefer waiting to join you -in it.” “Ah,” said he, “every one does their own praying here.” “Is it -possible,” said I, “that you are a preacher, and have no family prayer, -when God has said he will pour out his fury on the families that call -not on his name?” “Oh,” said he, “you may pray if you please.” Seeing -an old family Bible on a shelf, I took it down, and read a part of the -seventh of Matthew. I commented on the verse, “Strive to enter in at -the strait gate,” etc. The moment prayer was over, he said, “I don’t -believe a word you said.” I was soon in bed and asleep, being tired. - -When I awoke there was a good fire, and the old man sitting beside it. -I was up in a few minutes. “I am glad you are up,” said he, “as there -is another point I must discuss with you.” In a few minutes I quoted -proofs from the Bible too clear to be resisted; when the old woman, -who was of huge dimensions, sprang out of bed in her night-dress, and -presenting herself before me, said, “Don’t talk to that fellow; he -is a Yankee, and he is setting traps to catch you.” The old man soon -disappeared to attend to his still-house and cattle, and the old woman -and granddaughter occupied the whole front of the fire, making their -toilets; the old lady, in her earnest conversation, frequently using a -long wooden fire-poker in close proximity to my head. - -As the granddaughter was sitting near me, completing her toilet, I -spoke to her about her soul, and offered her the Dairyman’s Daughter. -This roused the old woman again; and the old man, returning about the -same time, forbade her to touch the book. The girl cried bitterly, -and said it was such a pretty book she did want it, and there was not -a book except the old Bible in the house. The girl’s tears prevailed, -provided I would write a receipt in it that it was paid for, which was -done. - -As soon as breakfast was over, and my horse ready, I asked for my bill. -“_One dollar_,” said the old man; “I make it a rule, when any of you -Yankees come this way, to fleece you as well as I can.” This man was -rich; had a great distillery, and I was credibly informed would take -a bottle of whiskey with him to the church, and at the close of his -services tell his people what a fine run of whiskey he had just had, -and to come and taste it. - -About a month after, on my return home, I stopped to stay all night -some few miles from there, when lo, Parson W---- had stopped to stay -too; but as soon as he saw me, he ordered his horse, and left. I had -told about my lodging with him; and as the laws of Virginia at that -time imposed a fine of twenty dollars on any one who had no license -charging for lodging, some one had told the old man that I was going to -bring him before the court. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -About this time an incident of peculiar interest took place. The Rev. -Mr. Q---- had invited me to visit the town of C----, and I had set a -day to be at his house. Late in the evening of the day appointed, I -arrived in the town; and while driving along the street, looking for -his house, I saw him standing on his portico, beckoning me to him. - -As soon as I had alighted from my buggy, he gave me a cordial shake -of the hand, and said, “You have come just in time to see and hear -one of the greatest dignitaries in the state of Virginia.” I observed -that I was perhaps a little different from many others; that I would -not go a square to see a great man, unless he was a _great good man_. -“Well,” said he, “he ought to be a good man; he’s the bishop of the -Roman-catholic church for this state; and as he is the first live -bishop of the _Holy Catholic_ church who has ever been here, he is -attracting a great deal of attention. He preached in the court-house -this morning, and it was crowded; and he is going to preach here for -several days and nights. He has one or two priests with him, and they -have come to plant a church here. Will you go and hear him?” “Yes,” -said I; “if you go, I will go with you.” - -As soon as tea was over, we went to the court-house, and it was -crowded. In a little time the bishop arose, and without any -introductory services, gave out his text: “Thou art Peter, and upon -this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not -prevail against it.” He went on to define “the gates of hell” as the -various Protestant sects, and wound up by trying to prove that Peter -was the first pope, and got the keys, and that the successors of Peter -still held the keys, and no one could enter heaven without going -through the Catholic church. His sermon was delivered with earnestness -and eloquence, and made a deep impression, as very few of all present -were well informed on those matters. - -He made much for his cause out of the denominational strifes with which -that region had been afflicted, and I heard many say “Amen” to some of -his thrusts. He announced that he would preach the next morning from -the text, “Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal -life, and they are they which testify of me.” - -We returned to brother Q----’s, and sat to a late hour consulting what -we had better do. Here was a man of Jesuitical cunning, misrepresenting -Protestantism before a community ill qualified to form correct -opinions. I urged Mr. Q---- to contradict some of his false statements; -and after praying over the matter, we retired. - -The next morning, at the appointed hour, the house was crowded, though -there were not one dozen Roman-catholics in the community. Owing to the -crowd, Mr. Q---- and I got separated. I lost sight of him, and for want -of a seat elsewhere, got up into a window. In a little while the bishop -announced the text, “Search the scriptures,” and also announced that he -would preach at night from the text, “These were more noble than those -in Thessalonica, in that they searched the scriptures daily.” - -The ground taken in this sermon was, that searching the scriptures by -the common people had led to all the religious heresies in the world, -and had raised up more sects than there were chapters in the Bible. -That there was but one true church, and out of all only one could be -right. That Protestants called Luther a great reformer, and he was told -there were no Lutherans in that town; consequently, if Luther was right -they were all wrong; and if they were right, Luther was wrong, and -could not be a great reformer. - -He said the Catholic church could not be wrong; that she was -infallible; she was “the pillar and ground of the truth.” He pictured -the quarrels among Protestants in the most hideous manner, and -described a heaven full of such uncongenial characters, till the -picture was ridiculous; and I saw that many present were delighted with -it. - -At the close of his sermon, or tirade against the Protestant religion, -he sat down. I rose up in the window, much excited, to see if the Rev. -Mr. Q---- would not call him to an account, when I was much gratified -to see the meek and gentle form of Mr. Q---- slowly rising about the -middle of the house. Said he: - -“Bishop, you said in your sermon last night that there were now two -hundred millions of faithful Catholic children in the world, against -which the gates of hell could not prevail. Will you be kind enough to -tell us where they are?” - -The bishop rose with a half-courteous and half-disdainful smile, and -said, “You need not ask me such a question as that; the regions they -occupy are all marked on your own Protestant geographies; your little -boys in the streets can point you to them, where they have been marked -in black lines,” and took his seat. - -“Well,” said Mr. Q----, “I would prefer you would name the countries to -which they belong.” - -He rose again with a most indignant frown. Said he, “I suppose it would -be rather humbling to one who calls himself a preacher to go to the -little boys for information, so I will name some, at least, of the -countries that are Catholic: France, Austria, most of Germany, Hungary, -and Poland; and we shall soon have England, as part of the church there -is only separated from us now by name; and Spain and Mexico are ours -entirely;” and he took his seat again. - -“Well,” said Mr. Q----, “do you think we should gain any thing as a -nation by changing our Protestant religion for that of Mexico and -Spain?” and he took his seat. - -The bishop arose still more indignant in manner, and said, “I really -cannot understand what you mean, sir, unless you refer to your boasted -liberties in this country; but if that is what you mean, sir, I can -tell you I would rather go to heaven from Mexico or Spain, than to hell -from the midst of all your boasted liberties.” - -By this time the audience had become intensely interested. Said I, -“Mr. Bishop, I want to ask you a few questions by way of gaining -information. If I understood you right last night, you said your church -was infallible; that it never had erred, and never could err.” - -He replied very indignantly, “I said, sir, that the Catholic church -never had erred, and never could err.” - -“Well, sir,” said I, “it was once right to put Protestants to death for -their religion, and of course it is still right.” - -He replied, “That is a Protestant falsehood, sir; the church never put -any one to death.” - -Said I, “Sir, I can prove what I say by the faithful records of -history.” - -“Protestant authority--we could not admit such testimony, sir.” - -“Well,” said I, “whether you admit it or not, the blood of martyred -millions is crying for vengeance, and the day of divine recompense will -erelong come.” - -After a number of questions from Mr. Q---- and myself of similar -import, Mr. Q---- said, “The general opinion is that General Washington -and General Jackson died good men and went to heaven. What is your -opinion, bishop?” - -He replied contemptuously, “Why, sir, we don’t pretend to know whether -they are in heaven or not; those are the secret things that belong to -God.” - -“Stop, bishop,” said I, “you said last night that you held the keys -of the kingdom of heaven in your church, and that to you it was -given to open and shut the door; and I now demand of you as one of -these door-keepers, to tell us whether you have let in the immortal -Washington or not.” - -In a few moments the call was coming from every part of the house, -“Tell us whether you have let Washington into heaven or not.” - -The bishop tore his surplice off in a rage, and put out of the house -with one or two priests after him--the crowd following him, and calling -out, “Come back and answer the question about our beloved Washington.” -But he went on, ordered his horse, pronounced a curse on the place, -closed his meetings, and left the town. The excitement of the crowd was -most intense. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -I had now been in my second year of labor for some months, during which -I had made some long journeys, and seen some hard service. - -I made an arrangement with Mr. M----, a very intelligent gentleman whom -I had employed a few months before as a colporteur, to accompany me. -The whole tour required us to travel near four hundred miles. More than -two thirds of the way the country was wild and romantic, the population -sparse and rude. Few thought it safe to go unarmed. - -On the day set I met Mr. M---- at C----, where he resided. To my -surprise he had provided a pistol for each of us. With some persuasion -I took one, but soon got it to the bottom of my saddle-bags. - -The first day we reached W----, where we found a young preacher who -had been waiting there some days for an escort over the same route, -fearing to travel the road alone. We all started in company early the -next morning, with the understanding that we had to reach G----, a -new county-town thirty miles distant, or lodge in the woods. Nothing -special occurred that day, except that an enormous rattlesnake crossed -the road before us and frightened our horses. We called at the door of -all the cabins we saw, and preached Christ to the people, and gave them -books. We reached G---- late in the evening, and found a pious lawyer -who had just moved there, and owned the only Bible in the place. There -were not a dozen families in it. By breakfast-time the next morning we -had supplied him with a neat Sunday-school library, which he used to -great advantage. - -We were told we must ride thirty-five miles the next day, over mountain -paths, to reach a place of lodging--that there was one house at thirty -miles, but by all means to avoid that house. The reasons I cannot give; -nor an account of the dinner we _tried to eat_ that day. - -As the weather was excessively hot, we left G---- by six in the -morning. We soon overtook a young man who was going some miles our -way, and agreed to be our guide as far as we went together. We found -him totally ignorant of sin, or a future state. He did not know whether -he had ever seen a Bible or not. Though he had heard men preach, and -seen them with a book in their hand, he could not tell what book it -was. He told us his father was a county surveyor, and, he thought, a -member of the church. I gave him a Testament and some tracts, which he -looked at with amazement. - -About ten o’clock we came to a number of men at work cutting timber out -of the road, that had been blown down by a storm. On inquiry, we found -eleven families represented, only one of which had a Bible. One or two -others had lost their Bibles by having their cabins burnt. We supplied -all with books, and left one or two reading for all the rest. - -The want of dinner and the excessive heat of the sun brought on me sick -headache, and by four or five o’clock I could scarcely sit on my horse. -I told my companions it would be impossible for me to reach the house -we were directed to, and let the consequence be what it would, I should -be compelled either to lie out, or lodge in the vile den of which we -had been warned. The brethren seemed much alarmed, but said they would -not leave me. Several times I had to alight, to prevent falling from my -horse. Being thus detained, we only reached this dreaded place about -sunset. - -There was a very large grazing farm, and a large double log-cabin about -the centre, with every appearance of plenty. As we drew near the house -we saw quite a number of men at work haying in a large meadow. Every -one seemed to be drunk. Such swearing and hallooing I had never heard. -Our prospects looked gloomy. - -We rode up to the door, and found the landlord under the same influence -as those in the field. When we asked for lodging he seemed glad to have -customers, and soon had our horses cared for. - -In a little time all the drunken rabble on the place were gathered to -the house, but such a set of men I have never seen before or since. -Supper was soon ready, and all invited in. The food was very rough, but -abundant. I was too sick to partake of it. - -After supper I told the landlord that I was very sick, and must go to -bed; but as we were all religious men, and accustomed to pray in our -families night and morning, if he was willing, we would have prayers. -The very announcement produced silence in a moment, as if some strange -thing was about to happen. I requested him to bring all into the house -that would come, and in a few minutes the house was well filled. I -called on one of the brethren to read and pray; and soon after I was in -bed, unconscious of all around me till morning, when I awoke as well as -usual. - -As soon as we were dressed I called on the old man to get our horses. -“Oh no, you must stay for breakfast, and pray again,” said he. “Well,” -said I, “if you will bring all in to prayers now, we will attend to -worship with pleasure.” In a little time the whole household was -present. I read a portion of Scripture, and made the most earnest -exhortation I could possibly do, and prayed. A more solemn audience I -never addressed. - -As soon as breakfast was over, our horses were ready, when I asked the -old man for our bill. “Not one cent, sir,” said he; “you have _prayed -plenty_ to pay for every thing you got. Every time you come this way -stop and get all you want, and pray, and it sha’n’t cost you a cent.” -We supplied all present with a book or tract, and left well pleased on -the whole with our visit. - -During the day we called at all the cabins on our way. At one I found -a man who told me he was seventy years old, had seldom heard a sermon, -but that he had felt much concern about where he would be _in the next -world, if there was one_. He said he never had a Bible, but would like -to get one very much. I gave him a Testament and tracts. He seemed very -thankful, and listened with great attention to all I had time to say. - -At another house the woman told me they had a Bible, and plenty of -religious books. I asked to see what kind of books they were. When she -presented the stock, it consisted of an old copy of the history of -George Washington. She believed it to be a Bible, as no one about the -house knew a letter. - -The same day we met a very aged man riding on a poor little pony, with -a small bag of meal under him. I handed him some tracts, for which he -was very thankful, when the following dialogue occurred. - -“Have you any preaching in this mountain country?” “Sometimes we have.” -“Are you a professor of religion?” “Yes, I have been a member of the -church forty years.” “How are you supplied with religious books?” -“Well, we _haven’t got none_ but two or three spelling-books that I -sent for many years ago to teach my children how to read.” “Have you no -Bible in your house?” “No, I never had one. I have been trying to get a -Testament for some time at the store; but it costs seventy-five cents, -and I am not able to raise the money.” This was the regular price of a -small Testament in that region at that time, and seldom to be got even -at that price. - -Said I, “Is it not hard to live the life of a Christian without the -Bible?” - -“Yes,” said he, “but I can’t help it; for even if I was able to buy -one, it could not be got nearer than C----, which is forty miles -distant. I never expect to be rich enough to buy a whole Bible.” - -My soul was stirred within me, and I drew out my pocket Bible, a fine -copy which I had received as a present, and gave it to him. He looked -for a moment at me with surprise, when the tears gushed from his eyes, -and he exclaimed, “I am now rich and happy.” This man was seventy-five -years old, and trembling on the brink of the grave. This is a true -picture of many cases found by colporteurs. I never felt so well paid -or so happy as when I gave that man my only Bible. - -During this whole tour of five weeks’ travel, many a scene similar to -those described occurred; while, on the other hand, I visited villages -and towns where I found fine churches and able ministers, with highly -cultivated pious congregations. In this tour I raised over $500 in -donations, and employed three excellent colporteurs, one of whom -labored nine years. I met the most cordial coöperation from Christians -and philanthropists everywhere I went. All said, “This is just what we -need in this sparsely populated mountain country.” - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -While on this tour I visited the town of L----, near the centre of -Western Virginia, and made arrangements to remove there in a few weeks. -There are few towns of the size which I have ever visited where I have -met with a more noble people. There was wealth, intelligence, and -the highest degree of refinement. This town became the centre of my -operations for three years. - -The distance we had to go in moving there was about one hundred and -fifty miles, up and down mountains most of the way, with scarce any -thing like a road in many places: a family of five, two of them -children, in a one-horse carriage, with the necessary equipage for such -a journey. - -On the afternoon of the third day we began to ascend the Cheat -mountain, which required nine miles travelling to reach its summit, -and eight miles down the other side to its base, with only one house -all the way, and that on the top of the mountain, called at that time -“the mountain house of entertainment.” It was a large rude log-house, -without comfort. By the time we reached the top of it I found my horse -very much fatigued, and the sun about setting. We concluded we could -not descend the mountain that night with safety, as there was no moon, -and the whole way was through a dense pine forest. - -When we came to this house on the very top of the mountain, we found a -number of covered wagons that belonged to families moving westward, and -a crowd of people of all colors about the house. I asked for lodging. -“Yes,” said the landlord, “lodging plenty!” My family went into the -house, and I went to see my horse taken care of. On my return I found -them without any place to sit down. After looking through the house, -and finding but two or three apartments, and such a crowd of people, I -asked the landlord how he would lodge us all. “Oh,” said he, “you can -lie down a few at a time, and soon as you get asleep I can stand you up -against the wall.” - -Though it was in September, and very warm in the valleys, yet it -was cold on the top of this mountain, and we were all shivering. I -asked the landlord, who by this time was playing the violin for our -entertainment, to make us a little fire. But there was neither wood nor -supper. The females were stowed away in one room for the night, and the -rest lay on the floor or sat by turns till the morning came. - -As we had no toilet to make in the morning, we were on the way down the -mountain at an early hour. The first house we reached was a log-house, -where they kept entertainment. All was neat and clean. We called for -breakfast; and while it was preparing, we had our morning devotions, -which had been noticed by the landlady. When we came to our excellent -breakfast, she asked me to christen her children, of which she had -quite a number. I told her I was not a preacher, and had no authority -to administer ordinances. She insisted most earnestly that I must do -it; that no one had ever prayed there before, and she did not see any -reason why any praying man could not christen children; that they -had been living there for years, and never heard a sermon or seen a -preacher as they knew of; and if I would only do it, they would not -charge me one cent for breakfast. After preaching them the best sermon -I could, and giving a good supply of little books, we went on our way. -In two more days we reached L----, our place of destination, in safety, -and in a few hours had a house rented and were living in it. - -For three years I travelled almost constantly; sometimes in a buggy, -but mostly on horseback, making from six to eight thousand miles each -year, distributing tracts and books in cabins and mansions, collecting -money, and employing men, till I had the cooperation of _over fifty -colporteurs_. The many interesting facts and incidents which occurred -during these years would fill a large volume. A very few of them I -shall attempt to relate. - - * * * * * - -A Mr. W----, whom we had employed for some years, a man of much more -than ordinary piety and qualifications for the work, while visiting in -the mountains, came to a poor cabin occupied by a man, his wife, and an -only son. They were very poor. The father made his living by grubbing, -and took the boy with him to pick the brush, he being at this time -about sixteen years old. They carried home their wages on their backs, -mostly in some kind of food. The mother made what she earned by her -spinning-wheel; and while at that, had taught her son to read the -Testament, though she was not religious. Mr. W----, after talking and -praying with them, gave this boy a copy of Baxter’s Call, which was the -means of his conversion. Before he could join the church, the neighbors -aided in getting him a suit of clothes. - -He immediately set about to improve himself in every possible way. -There was no school near; and if there had been, he had no means to go. -His first efforts in learning to write were, by copying the letters -out of a book with his finger in the snow. He borrowed and read all -the books he could get, and attended a little church where there was -preaching once each month. - -About two years afterwards I received a letter by some private way from -this same boy, D. W. S----. On opening it, I made out its contents with -some difficulty. It was an application to become a colporteur. In the -letter he referred me to the Rev. Mr. R----, who lived in town. I went -to him, showed him the letter, and asked him if he knew the writer. He -laughed: “Yes, very well; I received him into the church. D---- is a -good boy, but he is without education, and knows nothing of the world; -he has never been ten miles from home in his life.” - -I wrote the young man a kind letter, saying I hoped he would make a -colporteur some day, and advised him to go to school a while. - -The next thing I heard from him was a rap at my door. When I opened the -door, an awkward-looking youth near six feet high stood before me, with -the same suit of clothes on him he had got over two years before. The -pants were several inches too short, and the coat-sleeves as deficient; -indeed, the coat was little more than a big patch on his back. Said he, -“I am the _fellow_ that wrote you a letter about wanting to _colport_, -and I have come to see about it.” I invited him into the house. He was -all in a tremor of excitement. When I opened the parlor door he looked -in with amazement, and in walking to a seat avoided stepping on the -white spots in the carpet, which was the first one he ever saw. He was -so embarrassed he could scarcely speak. - -After talking a little while about crops, etc., he became composed. -He then told me his desires to do good, and all about his conversion, -which was entirely satisfactory. As it was late in the evening, I -invited him to stay for the night; and by the time we got his poor -old pony of a horse, not worth five dollars, put away, tea was ready. -When he sat down he looked confused. I had much conversation with him -that evening. At length I invited him up stairs to bed. On the way up -he held by the railing to avoid treading on the narrow carpet in the -centre. - -In the morning he was up whistling psalm tunes bright and early. As -soon as I was dressed I called him and told him I had reflected over -the matter very carefully, and had come to the conclusion that his -want of education and knowledge of the world would not justify me in -employing him. - -I saw his countenance change in a moment and the tears start in his -eyes. “Oh,” said he, “_I do want you to give me work, for I do feel -that all I want to live for is to work for Christ._” - -I cannot describe my feelings as he uttered these words. Here was a -depth of devotion beyond any thing I had met. After some minutes’ -silence I said to him, “There is a region of country on the head-waters -of the Elk river where there never has been any preaching; if you will -go there a month without any commission, I will see you are paid.” - -His countenance was changed in a moment, and lit up with joy. In less -than two hours I had a pair of colporteur’s saddle-bags filled with -books and tracts, and he was on his journey to that destitute region, -some forty miles distant. Soon after, some stock raisers who had been -in that region buying cattle, told me they heard that the Tract Society -had a great man out there; that the people were wonderfully pleased -with him; that he was giving them books, and teaching them to read them. - -At the end of the month he returned, all his stock had passed into the -hands of the people, and he gave me a glowing account of the people’s -wants and his success. He said it would take another month to get over -that region, and he wanted to go back. After aiding him to dispense -with his boy clothes, I started him with another load of books, -cautioning him to avoid showing off his new suit as much as possible. - -Another month’s work was done with great success, when he returned -almost a new boy in his whole appearance. He had gained confidence by -being constantly among people that did not know as much as he did. - -I then had him commissioned for P---- county, a very mountainous -region, and very destitute of the means of moral improvement. In a few -months he had visited every family in the county. In many families the -bare mention of his name will start tears in the eyes of the people, -and the tracts that he distributed have been sewed together and covered -with deerskin as remembrances of the man that left them. - -Often through the day when he would come in sight of a cabin, he would -alight from his horse and kneel in the woods and plead with God for -success in his visit. - -He next visited the counties of M---- and R----, two large counties, -with remarkable success. By this time he became a fine-looking young -man, and by his constant application to reading the books as he rode -along, he had become an intelligent, spiritual Christian. - -We then sent him to the large county of P----, where there was in -portions of it a high degree of intelligence and refinement. - -In a few months he was licensed to preach the gospel. He married a lady -of high moral worth, and settled in the county of H---- over four weak -churches. In two and a half years he received over two hundred persons -into the church on profession of their faith; then took typhoid fever, -with which he soon died in the triumphs of a living faith. - -Since his death I have met with five young men, who are now ministers -of the gospel, who had been led to Christ by his labors, all of whom -speak of him as an extraordinary man in point of piety and usefulness. - -Here was a boy that in all probability would have lived and died in -ignorance and sin if he had not been found by a colporteur. He has -often put his hand on my shoulder, and said with tears in his eyes, -“Brother C----, if it had not been for the Tract Society, I should have -been a poor grubber to-day, on the way to death and ruin.” - -The great secret of his success was his untiring zeal and industry. -He read and studied on his saddle; the shades of the forest were his -closet in the summer, and the cleft of some mountain rock in the -winter. His congregations were mostly ignorant families, and his -rostrum a three-legged stool in the corner. All his talents were put to -use in the Lord’s work, and no doubt he has his reward. Reader, go thou -and do likewise, and receive a like gracious reward. - -On a Saturday evening while on my way to meet a Sabbath appointment, -while descending a mountain, I met a man on his way home from mill, -and offered him some tracts. “Oh,” said he, “they are of no use to me, -for I can’t read, and I have no one about me that can.” I asked him -if he had a family. “Yes, I have a wife and seven children.” “It is a -great sin,” said I, “for you to raise a family in such ignorance.” -“Oh,” said he, “there is so much harm in books, they are better without -them.” I handed him two or three tracts, and told him to get some one -to read them to him. One of them was, Fifty Reasons for Attending -Public Worship. He took them, and when he got home showed them to -his wife. “Oh,” said she, “we will be ruined now. I’ll bet that is a -warrant that Middleton has got the sheriff to serve on you, and we will -lose our land.” They spent a sleepless night, and early next morning -they went to the nearest neighbor and told him they had got into sad -trouble about their land; that Middleton had served a warrant on them, -and here it was. - -The tracts were presented to a man who was a class-leader in the -Methodist church, and was my informer near a year after this -occurrence. He took the first one, “Fifty Reasons for Attending -Public Worship.” “Well,” said he, “this is a warrant, but not sent -by Middleton, but from the court of heaven. God has sent you this, -as you never go to church; and now you see how you have exposed your -ignorance by not being able to read, not knowing the difference between -a sheriff’s writ and a religious tract; and I do hope you will now -attend church, and have your children taught to read.” “Now,” said -my informer, “this man and his wife are both members of the church, -and they are sending their children to school as the result of the -influence of those tracts.” - -On one occasion I left home by a stage-coach before daylight on a long -journey. We stopped after ten miles to take other passengers. As usual, -the way-bill was taken into the stage-office to enter their names. A -man was in the office who had travelled near one hundred miles to see -me at L----. Seeing my name on the way-bill, he asked if that was the -man that was the _tract_ agent. About that time I stepped in to warm -myself and distribute tracts, when some one acquainted with me told him -I was the agent. He then told me how far he had come to see me, and -how near he was to miss me, all the time interlarding his conversation -with oaths, to the great amazement of all present who knew the nature -of my work. When he was through, I told him I would tell him the nature -of the work in a few words: that he must get a good horse and a large -pair of saddle-bags, fill them with books, and ride over these rugged -mountains, and live on hard fare. With an awful oath he said he could -stand all that with any fellow about the diggins. In addition to that, -said I, you must read the Bible, and pray at every house. I never saw -a man so utterly confounded, while those present were convulsed with -laughter. I gave him a few tracts, and talked to him till he wept like -a child. Although I never heard of the man again, I have hope that the -conversation was not in vain. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -About this time I held a Colporteur Convention in C----, in which -a number of colporteurs were present. The meeting was one of deep -interest. Many facts were brought out in relation to the wants of that -region, and the good resulting from the work, that were of the most -cheering character. - -During the three days of our meetings, an old man was present who -was but little known to any that were there. When about to close the -convention, I said that if any one present wished to give us a word of -advice or exhortation we should be glad to hear it, when this old man -rose, trembling with diffidence, and said: - -“As soon as I heard of this meeting I made up my mind to attend it; and -now I want to tell you what this Society has done for me. My name is -C----. Ten years ago I was considered the wickedest man in this county. -I was a profane drunkard. One day while at S----, about four miles -above this place, old Mr. R----, who was always distributing tracts, -handed me one with the word _Eternity_ in large letters at the head of -it. I was the worse for liquor at the time, and on my horse to go home, -which was about fifteen miles distant. On my way I took the tract out -of my hat to read it. My attention got fixed on the word _Eternity_, -and I became alarmed about my state as a sinner. By the time I got home -I was nearly sober. I read and reread the tract till I had it committed -to memory. For near two weeks I had no rest. At last my distress became -so great that I did not want to live. One day I was tempted to go away -to the woods and destroy myself. While there I thought of praying, for -the first time, and fell down on my knees and cried, ‘God be merciful -to me a sinner.’ In a moment I felt relief, and went home with a joyful -heart, and told my family all about the matter. I read the tract to -them, and began to pray with and for them. In six months I had a little -church built on my land, and a missionary there to preach once each -month, and myself, wife, and six of my children and eight servants were -members of it; and here is five dollars, all the money I have in the -world, to aid in giving good books to others.” All present were bathed -in tears at this recital. - -As soon as he was seated, another man arose and said “he supposed -all present had heard of Father B----, who died a few weeks ago, -and many, no doubt, remember when he was a terror in the community. -He had remarkable bodily powers, and could whip any man in all the -country round. When the county of L---- was laid off, there was a -violent contest about where to build the court-house; and the two -parties agreed that B---- and another bully should decide the matter -by a fist-fight, and B---- gained the site where that court-house now -stands. He was often brought up at the court for assault and battery, -and had crippled some men for life. Judge S---- on one occasion, when -passing sentence on him, said, ‘B----, you have become too bad a man to -live, and if ever you come before me again convicted of crime, I will -make you suffer for it most severely. If you would improve the mind God -has given you, you might be a blessing to the world; but now you are -a disgrace. Here is a tract, ‘The Fool’s Pence;’ take and read it, and -may God lead you by it to be a better man.’ That tract was the means of -his conversion, and for the last fifteen years of his life he was one -of the most successful preachers in South-western Virginia.” - -Another fact was brought out at this meeting by the Rev. Mr. W----, -who labored for some time as a colporteur in the county of W----. He -entered a large settlement where there never had been any preaching, -schools, or distribution of books. The Sabbath was the special day for -frolicking and dissipation. In the house where he lodged on Saturday -night, the family were busy preparing to go to a shooting-match the -next morning. All he could say had no effect on them. After praying -God to guide him in his duty, he determined to go with them. When they -came to the place, a large collection of all classes were present, with -a great number of articles to gamble for in different ways. He told -them, as it was the Lord’s day, he would unite with them in prayer -for God’s blessing. He prayed earnestly, and then told them that if -they would give him their attention he would preach to them. They -seemed confounded at this remark, and all remained silent as death. He -announced his text, and preached with unusual liberty. The attention -was solemn, and they looked at one another with amazement. He then -distributed among them his remaining stock of books and tracts, and as -he was very unwell, went home. Soon after the news spread that some -people in that region were concerned about their souls. A preacher -visited them, and soon had a good congregation gathered, and over -twenty converts. Sunday frolicking was abandoned, and many were led to -observe the Lord’s day. - -The same man stated another fact, which occurred in J---- county. -While visiting in one of those sparsely populated regions, he came -to a very large farm. He found the family to consist of the father, -mother, and twelve children, the youngest about eight years old. The -man was wealthy in land and stock, but to his surprise no one knew a -letter in a book. After talking to them about their relations to God -and eternity, he asked the father why he did not have his children -taught to read. The old objection was raised at once, that they learned -enough of _bad_ without books; that he had got along very well without -reading, and so could his children. - -He then began to read to them, showed them the pictures in the Alphabet -of Animals, and read them some account of them. Several of the children -said, “Oh, I wish I could read.” He then gave them one or two books and -some tracts. A few months after he was coming back the same way, and -called to pay another visit. “Well,” said the old man, “you have give -me a _purty lot of trouble by leaving them books here_. I had no peace -till I got a man to come and _larn_ them to read them.” So sure enough -the teacher was there, and now they bought more books freely. - -In travelling through a wild mountain region, where I was a total -stranger, I came to a small village of about a dozen houses, with a -little store and tavern. Before I reached it, I heard men hallooing in -the most boisterous manner. When I drove up weary to the public-house, -I was surrounded with such a set of savage-looking men as I never had -seen before, and all intoxicated. Every man had on a hunting-shirt, -with a belt round him, to which hung a long butcher-knife. I felt -afraid of the men, I must confess, and would have been glad to have -been elsewhere, especially as my buggy and trunk seemed to attract -rather too much attention. - -After I had got food for myself and horse, and laid round some tracts -as quietly as possible, I started, hoping to reach a point near twenty -miles distant that night. Some part of the way I was told the road was -very good, but mostly rough and mountainous. - -As soon as I was out of sight, I drove rapidly, and made the first five -miles in an hour, when I began to breathe easier. - -But all at once I heard the most unearthly yelling behind me that had -ever greeted my ears. My horse was frightened, and tried to run off. In -a few moments I heard the clatter of horses’ feet, and concluded all -was over with me. In a moment I was surrounded with some eight or ten -of the most desperate looking men, and told to stop; that they wanted -to know what I was loaded with. I told them I was loaded with good -religious books, which I was distributing among people that had none. -I was then ordered to give them all up to them, and they would scatter -them on the other side of the mountain, for there were no books over -there. I told them I knew they were too generous to take all that I had. - -I then told them to listen to me, and I would tell them what the books -taught. So I began and preached them the most earnest sermon that I -ever preached. One of them said, “Give me your hand, sir, for I never -had a preacher by the hand in my life.” I held his hand firmly, and -preached on, although the muzzle of his gun was frequently in very -dangerous proximity to my person. - -It was evident they began to feel uneasy under my wayside sermon, and -for fear they would leave me without tracts, I began the distribution, -and gave each one a number of the most suitable I could find. They -invited me to come over the mountains and preach, and I would get -plenty to come and hear me. Some of those tracts were found more than -a year after by one of our colporteurs, carefully preserved and highly -prized. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -Another case that seemed more threatening than the last mentioned, -occurred soon after in the county of G----. I was on my way to meet a -Sabbath appointment. About two o’clock I came to a river which was much -swollen by the late rains. The man who kept the ferry-boat lived on the -opposite side of the river, where some four or five men were pitching -quoits and making a great noise. I called a number of times before they -even condescended to answer me; and when they did answer, it was with -curses, telling me they would come when they were ready. I had then -sixteen miles to go to B----, the place where I expected to lodge. They -kept me waiting two hours before they came with the boat, consequently -it was late when I got over. They were drunk and very profane, charged -me four prices, and cursed me for troubling them. I gave them some -tracts, and the best advice I could. - -Soon after I met two women: one seemed to be about thirty, and the -other sixty years old. I offered them some tracts, which they at first -declined, for fear I might be the sheriff. Neither knew a letter, or -could tell who was the Saviour of sinners. - -Soon after I passed them a terrible rain came on, and the roads were -so deep my horse could scarcely draw my buggy. I saw night would soon -overtake me, and the prospect of lodging looked unfavorable. I stopped -at a cabin by the roadside to inquire the way, and leave some tracts. -A man came out who looked as if he was ready for any crime, and came -right up to my buggy, and began to look in with a scrutinizing eye. He -either could not or would not give me any satisfaction about the road. -After an earnest exhortation about his soul, I gave him Baxter’s Call. -All the conduct of the man was of a very suspicious character. - -It was now late, and raining hard, and in a little time would be very -dark. I drove on as fast as possible, until it began to get quite dark, -when I met a man on the road walking; whether he was a white man or -not, I could not tell. I stopped him to inquire if there was any place -near where I could lodge. He immediately began to examine the inside of -my buggy as fully as the darkness would permit. He told me there was a -man on the other bank of the creek, about half a mile ahead of me, who -kept lodgers, and that it was a good place to stop. I handed him a book -and thanked him, and drove on, he following a short distance, asking me -questions which were not calculated to allay my anxiety. - -I soon reached the creek, which seemed to be very high and rapid, and -it was so dark I could see no object on the other side of it. The road -entered by a narrow ravine, and there was no way to back out. I lifted -my heart to God for protection, and drove in. In a moment the water was -up in my buggy, but thanks to God, I got through safely, and in a few -moments my horse was standing by the door of a miserable cabin. - -I called, and a man came out with a torch of pine-knots in his hand. He -was both dirty and ragged. I asked him where the man lived that kept -lodgers. “Oh,” said he, “I am the man that keeps tavern here.” My -prospects were bad, but I could get no further. I asked him to put up -my tired horse and feed him. He had no stable but a rail-pen, no feed -but some sheaves of green wheat. He took me to another cabin about -fifty yards distant, that was as dark as a dungeon, except so far as -his torch gave us light. Although it was warm, I requested him to make -me a fire, which he did with reluctance. - -After some time I was invited to the first cabin to supper. The man and -his wife and children, as well as the supper, were all dirty in the -extreme. I attempted to eat, but in vain. As soon as the man finished -his meal, we returned to the other cabin, where I conversed with him. -He was a total stranger to the simplest truths of the Bible. - -I asked him if he knew any thing of the celebrated Lucas family of that -county. “Oh yes,” said he, “they live all round here. Did you not meet -a man as you came along to-night about the top of the hill over the -creek?” I said yes. “Well, that was one of them, and I wonder they let -you pass so late in the evening. That one, and the one that lived in -the house you last passed were the two implicated in killing the man -for which one of their uncles was hung at Giles court-house, and if -I had given in my testimony, they would have been hung too; and I am -afraid they will kill me, because I know all about it.” - -By this time I was considerably alarmed. The conclusion I came -to was that they were all linked together, and that I was in the -slaughter-house. - -I then inquired all about old Randal Lucas, who was the father of two -that had been hung, and some others that were in prison, and was the -grandfather of the two he had just been telling me about. He gave me a -full history of the old man, much of which cannot be told. “But,” said -he, “such a man you never saw. He is ninety years old. When he puts on -a suit of clothes, he never takes it off till it is worn out. In the -winter he lies in the ashes, and in the summer he lies down in the mire -like a hog.” This is confirmed in Howe’s History of Virginia, which -relates how he sat under the gallows eating gingerbread while his sons -were hung. I refer the reader to that history for an account of this -wonderful man and his family. - -The manner in which he told the whole story was any thing but pleasant -to me. He began to get sleepy, and told me he would hold the pine-light -while I got into bed up on the _loft_, as he called it. The only way -to get up was by a ladder made of a pole split in two, with rounds put -into it. I climbed up, and he followed me with the torch. As soon as I -got to the bed over the loose boards that covered the floor, and found -an old split-bottom chair, which I expected to use in self-defence -before morning, I told him to withdraw. - -I lay down without undressing, after committing my soul, family, and -all my interests to God, without much hope of seeing the light of -another day. No one occupied the house but myself as a bedroom. I kept -watch till morning, and when any unpleasant sound was heard, I made -noise enough to let any one approaching know that I was awake. - -As soon as it was light I was up to see to my poor horse, which was -standing in mud and water six inches deep, without food. After getting -him some more green wheat in the sheaf, and a little corn bread for -myself, and talking and praying with the family, I left them. I cannot -say whether there was any intention to rob me or take my life. I hope -there was not. - -When I was about two miles on my way, and was rising a mountain where -the road was scarcely six inches wider than my buggy, a man met me, -riding a poor old horse without a saddle, all in rags and dirt, with -nothing on him but remnants of a torn shirt and pants, with a rope tied -round his waist, and a bottle of whiskey in his bosom. Such a looking -piece of humanity I had never seen before. In a moment I concluded -this is certainly old Randal Lucas. I saw he could not pass me on that -narrow road, and I determined to have a full talk with him. When we met -he tried to keep the upper side of the road, and get between my horse -and the steep bank. - -“Good morning, sir,” said I. “Good morning,” said he, in a very -unnatural tone of voice. “Don’t you want some good books to read this -morning?” “No, I don’t want any; I can’t read.” “Do you go to church?” -“No, I don’t care about church.” “Well, sir,” said I, “you are an old -man and must soon go to the other world.” “Yes, I am ninety years old.” -“Is it possible,” said I, “you are so old?” “Yes, I can prove it.” -“You would find but few witnesses to prove that by.” “Well, I can swear -it then.” “Well, sir,” said I, “what do you think will become of you -when you die?” “O well, I _doesn’t_ care any thing about that.” “Can -you tell me who is the Saviour of sinners?” “I don’t know any thing of -_them_ things.” “Well, sir, who made you?” “Why, I suppose it was God -Almighty.” “What is your name, sir?” “Randal Lucas.” “Well,” said I, -“I thought so,” straightening myself with a determined look. “Well, -sir, you say you don’t go to church, and I must tell you in the name of -my Master, that if you don’t repent you will soon be in hell. I have -read and heard of you, sir, for years, and you stand on the brink of -eternal burnings, and your soul stained with every crime that a man -could commit.” He began to look frightened, and tried to pass me; but I -kept my position, and for some minutes laid down the terrors of the law -in the strongest language I could use, and then gave him some little -books and tracts. He trembled like an aspen leaf. - -A few weeks afterwards he took up the idea that he was soon to die, got -a coffin made, tried it to see if it would fit, paid for it, and set it -up in his cabin--sent for a preacher, told him he was going to die and -did not know what would become of him, and asked him to pray for him; -offered him fifty cents, and said, “Pray on till my money is done.” The -money was of course refused. In a few days the poor wretch died as he -had lived, leaving a host of children the descendants of unnatural and -brutal connection. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -Travelling in a mountainous region at nightfall of a tempestuous day, -and having lost my road, I was directed for a lodging to “Squire -D----’s, who keeps the ferry.” After supper, I had a pleasant talk -with the father of Squire D----, on whose head the snows of eighty -winters had fallen, and soon the family were gathered round us, engaged -in delightful converse. I inquired as to the high-handed wickedness -of a neighborhood not far off, where I had heard that meetings were -frequently held in mockery of religious worship: - -“Yes, yes,” said the squire, with just enough of the Welsh accent to -betray his origin, “and our neighborhood here was just as bad ten years -ago; we were all alike: no church, no preacher, no Sunday-school, no -day-school. One evening a minister and a young lady stopped at my house -for the night; I thought them very inquisitive people. They asked if -we had any preaching. ‘No.’ Any schools? ‘No; we have had several -teachers, but no one will stay more than a quarter with us.’ The young -lady said she would come and take a school among us, if we would employ -her. After some further conversation, I told her I would see what could -be done, and write her the result. Next morning they left for the -minister’s home at M----, some fifty miles distant. - -“In a short time I had a school made up and board engaged for the new -teacher, and wrote her to that effect. She came and commenced her -school at the time appointed. But soon there was complaint that the new -teacher _read the Bible and prayed in her school_. And her troubles did -not cease here. The man at whose house she boarded insisted that she -should leave, because she prayed, sung hymns, and would keep talking -about religion all the time. Miss H---- then set out to look up another -home for herself; but she met the same reply from all: ‘We cannot -receive you unless you leave off praying and singing.’ - -“When she applied to me, I objected on the same grounds. Finally, I -told her if she would come on my own terms, I would take her into -my family. She inquired what those terms were. ‘Why,’ said I, ‘you -shall have such a room to yourself; there you are to stay from the -time you return from school until you start to go back, only when you -come to your meals: you must not sing hymns; you may pray as much as -you please, but mind you don’t let us hear you at it; and _remember_, -the first time you infringe this contract, you leave the premises.’ -To all this she agreed, with as much meekness as if my terms had been -reasonable and right. That evening she took up her abode under my roof; -and little did I think what a blessing God was sending me in that -frail, delicate girl. - -“The children all loved the new teacher very much. So one day she told -them to ask their parents’ permission, and if _they_ were agreed, she -would teach them on Sunday too. This proposal pleased us all. If she -taught on Sunday, that was so much clear gain to us. - -“I soon observed that my children took to staying in the teacher’s room -much of their time. At length, one Sunday morning, they came down with -some tracts; I looked over them, and found they were on the subject of -religion. Ah, said I, my lady, I’ve caught you now. I called her down, -told her she had violated her contract, and must be off. The poor girl -began to weep; I felt ashamed. ‘Dear sir,’ said she, ‘will you read -those tracts? If you do, and still continue in your present mind, I -will leave your house immediately.’ - -“Here was a pretty fix; the children were all crying, and begging me -not to send Miss H---- away; and the books, Oh, they could not part -with the books. I was mightily perplexed; at last I gave in. Said I, -‘Miss H----, you may go back to your room; I will consider the matter.’ -I shall never forget the smile that passed over her face as she thanked -me and went back to her room. Thanked me, indeed! Well, I set to work, -read one of the tracts, felt self-condemned; read it again, felt -dreadfully troubled. Then I read them all, and felt that I was a great -sinner. I said nothing more to Miss H---- about leaving my house. Each -day my convictions became deeper. At last, I could bear it no longer. -Thought I, this won’t do; I must talk with Miss H----. So I invited -her to come and sit with us in the family. She cheerfully complied. I -asked her a great many questions about the doctrines of the Bible, not -meaning to let her know any thing about my concern. But all would not -do; my distress continued, or rather my agony, for I thought I was the -greatest sinner on earth. - -“At last, I sent one evening for Miss H---- to come down, and I told -her my troubles; for my proud heart was well-nigh broken. Said I, Miss -H----, I feel so and so ever since I read those tracts of yours; and -I related all that was passing in my mind; and, said I, do you think -there is any mercy or hope for such a poor miserable sinner? The tears -began to run down her cheeks; then she laughed; then she caught me by -both hands, and looking up into my face, she said, ‘Oh, my dear friend, -I am _so_ glad.’ ‘Why,’ said I, ‘are you glad because I am in trouble?’ -‘Oh, my dear sir,’ says she, ‘this is the Spirit of God operating on -your heart.’ All at once a great light seemed to shine into my mind. -All that I had been learning for so many weeks seemed now just as plain -as A B C. Said I, ‘Come, Miss H----, kneel down then and pray for me;’ -and she did pray for me, and I do bless God for his wonderful mercy to -such a poor hardened sinner. I believe that God _did_ change my heart -just while that _very prayer_ was going up. All at once it just came: -I loved my Bible and I loved to pray, and I could not bear the company -that I used to take so much delight in. - -“On the next Sabbath, Miss H---- asked me to go along with her and the -children to the school--which was, and had been a Sunday-school, though -we never suspected it; and here came a trial. If I go, they will say I -am getting religious; if I stay, it will be a sin, for I know I _ought_ -to go; and then it will grieve Miss H----. These last considerations -were the strongest; so I went. The room was crowded with children, all -waiting for their teacher; I thought they all looked happy. After a -little while, Miss H---- took the Bible, and coming to me, she said, -‘Mr. D----, will you read and pray with us this morning?’ I was -startled; my very heart trembled. Said I, ‘Oh no; not now.’ Then she -read a chapter and prayed herself. Oh, how I felt, to think that I was -ashamed to pray before those children! Ah, thought I, this will never -do; I will come here and pray next Sunday. That night I read and prayed -with my family; and the next Sabbath I opened the school with prayer. - -“The news spread soon all through the settlement. D---- has got -religion and is praying in the Sunday-school! strange news this! Very -soon the people began to drop into our Sunday-school. Then Miss H---- -said to me, ‘You had better read us a sermon at the Sunday-school, -after the other exercises are over.’ She selected the sermons, and I -read them. Our meetings grew very solemn. Presently we sent word to a -good man at B---- to send us a minister; he did so. The minister came -and preached for us. The little school-house could not contain one half -of the people who crowded to hear him. We held our meetings in the open -air, under the trees. - -“Ah, that was a wonderful time; the cry of the anxious sinner went up -from every house. The Spirit of God was moving mightily upon the hearts -of the people, and many were born into the kingdom of Christ. All this -brought a great change in our settlement. Instead of the dance, and -the gaming-table, and the foolish song, we had meetings for prayer and -praise; and the tavern and still-house were exchanged for the temple of -God. - -“The Sabbath became a day of holy rest among a people who used to -spend it in revelry or idleness. Houses of worship were built, where -our population flocked every Sabbath to hear the preached word from -the living minister; and in the course of two or three years, hundreds -professed faith in Christ, and joined the church. We have had a -flourishing church here ever since. Ah,” said the good man, in his -peculiarly emphatic way, “see what God hath wrought for us.” - -How often have I reproached myself, when I contrasted the heroic -conduct of this devoted female with my own man-fearing spirit! She has -gone to her reward; her memory will be cherished for a few more years -in the hearts of those to whom her humble efforts were of such immense -value, and then pass away and be forgotten. But her _influence_ will -pass on, an ever-increasing current, down the long tracts of time, and -throughout the endless ages of eternity. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - -The latter part of the year 1848 was spent laboring in South-western -Virginia. I visited several towns as a colporteur, taking with me some -applicant for this service, to give him a favorable introduction to his -labors. - -I reached the beautiful town of A---- late in the evening, an entire -stranger, and stopped at a hotel, wet, cold, and hungry. About the same -time the stage arrived with a number of passengers, and we all asked -for rooms with fire in them. While this was preparing I stepped into -the bar-room, the only place where I could find a fire; but it had been -election day, and such a company of intoxicated men I had never seen -in one room. Several of them were lying on the floor, unable to rise; -and the swearing was awful. I immediately began the distribution of -tracts and little paper-covered books; and among them I laid down a -copy of “Universalism not of God.” As I passed round, laying them down -on chairs and tables, as well as handing them to the men, I observed -a very fine-looking man who had come in the stage, following me, and -looking at them. - -As I laid down “Universalism not of God,” he took it up, and said to -me very abruptly that the book was a libel on the Universalists. “Oh,” -said I, “I understand the cause of your objection to the book. You are -one of those who believe that thieves, murderers, and liars all go to -heaven; that there is no such place as hell.” “Yes,” said he, “I have -too good an opinion of God’s mercy to believe there is any such place -as hell.” When he made that remark, one of the fellows who was lying -drunk on the floor raised his head and said, “You are a liar;” while -another said he “wished that was true, but there was no such good -news.” Said I, “Sir, I will hand you over to these men, and you and -they may settle the controversy.” He immediately disappeared from the -room. - -During my stay of three weeks in this beautiful town, I visited every -family in it, and either sold or gave books. - -One day I stepped into the office of a lawyer, who was one of the -first men in the state in his profession. I offered him a copy of -Nelson on Infidelity. Said he, “I could not take time to read a book -of that size, except on law, for less than five hundred dollars.” I -then offered him Baxter’s Call. Said he, “That is too big a dose for me -too.” I then presented him the tract, “The Great Alternative.” “Well,” -said he, “as you are so anxious for me to read some of your books, I -will read that right off.” He commenced, and I left him. An hour or two -after I was passing his door, and he was sitting in a thoughtful mood. -Said I, “Have you read the tract?” “Yes,” said he, “and if I would read -a few more like it I think I might become a Christian.” Said I, “Too -busy to be saved.” “Yes,” said he, “I fear that is my case; I have not -a moment to spare from my business.” Alas, how many will have to say, I -was too busy to be saved. - -In the same town there was a man who had once been a minister of some -prominence in an evangelical church, but had left it, and embraced -the doctrines of Swedenborg, for which he was very zealous. I did not -wish to encounter him; but as I stepped into a store one night to -scatter tracts, he was present. He immediately made an attack on me, -and said that he could not imagine how any wise man could believe in -the doctrine of the Trinity; that it was so absurd that nothing in -heaven or earth could illustrate it. I saw the eyes of all present were -turned to me, and felt in a tight place. I lifted my heart to God for -help to vindicate his truth. A candle was burning between us. Said I, -pointing to the candle, “Sir, there is a trinity giving us light. There -is tallow, wick, and fire, three in one.” He acknowledged he was beat, -and took his leave, to the amusement of those present, and to my great -satisfaction. - -After two months’ labor in South-western Virginia, I returned to my -home in L----, near two hundred miles distant from A----, and devoted -a month to correspondence and adjusting accounts with over fifty -colporteurs I had now employed. - -Though L---- had been my home for over two years, I had never had -time to visit all the families with our books and tracts. I had often -determined to do it, but other labors had prevented. The number of warm -friends and liberal contributors in and around the town seemed to lay -special claims on me to do the work, and I resolved to spend the months -of January and February laboring in the town and vicinity. - -At this time it was remarked by the ministers and praying people of -God, that they had not felt such a spiritual dearth there for many -years. The ball-room was better attended than the churches, and the -young seemed to be rushing into sin with greediness. My own soul too -was in darkness, and my strength nearly prostrated. My devotions, -public and private, were heartless. I was even tempted to leave my work -and engage in some secular business. - -At last I told a few of the most pious whom I knew about the desire -I had to visit the families, and that the state of my own heart was -such that I was prevented from doing it. They urged me forward, and -promised to pray for me. I set day after day to begin; but when the day -and hour came for me to start, my heart would fail, and Satan seemed -to have some excuse always ready. At last I entered into covenant with -God to begin the next day; but when the morning came my hard, cowardly -heart failed me. I tried to pray again and again. I put it off till -the afternoon, with a hope of getting strength. A carpet-bag had been -standing full of books and tracts for some days waiting, and they -seemed to rebuke my cowardice. - -At last I thought that if Moses had not stepped into the Red sea, the -waters would never have receded. The next morning still found me at -home. As soon as my breakfast was over I took the carpet-bag and books -to a room and earnestly prayed over them, and then started. - -The next neighbor to me was a Mr. H----. His wife and mother-in-law -were devoted Christians, but he was careless about religion, and so was -his brother, a young man that had his home there. I dealt faithfully -with them, and prayed with them. Each of them bought a book, and I -left them in tears. Soon after the young man professed religion, and -the other remained serious as long as I knew him. All my fears were -now gone. A few minutes before I was ashamed to own Christ before -a kitchen-maid; now I could face the world, and the promise was -realized, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” - -I next went to Mr. P----’s and had a long talk with his daughter, a -very intelligent girl of twelve summers. In a short time she professed -religion. - -I next entered the house of Mr. R----. He and his wife were two of the -friends to whom I had told my difficulties, and who had engaged to pray -for me. They had two very interesting daughters that moved in the most -fashionable circles of society. As soon as I entered the house they -knew my errand. I was directed to the parlor, and told by the father, -“I will send the girls in, and wife and I will go into our own room and -pray while you talk.” I felt God was there while I talked and prayed. -One received Pike’s Persuasives to Early Piety, the reading of which -led her to the Saviour soon after; the other got Baxter’s Call, and was -an inquirer during all the time I remained there. - -I cannot find words to express the joy I felt in my own soul at the -close of this day’s work. All nature seemed to rejoice with me, and I -fully realized the promise, “He that watereth shall be watered.” - -The next day I visited eleven families, talked and prayed and sold -and gave books and tracts in every house. In almost every house some -feeling was manifested, and soon after several professed religion. -Among them was a Mrs. M----, who told me it was the Anxious Inquirer -that led her to Christ. I visited half the town in a week, and sold and -gave away many books and tracts. Quite a number of those visited showed -much feeling while I talked with them. - -At this time special religious services were held in one of the -churches that had but little sympathy at that time with the Tract -Society, or any thing else that was not under their own exclusive -control; and I was advised to stop my work till their meeting closed, -for fear they might say I was proselyting. I attended all their -meetings, and prayed and exhorted when called on. Their meetings -continued two weeks, during which time twenty professed religion, most -of whom I had previously visited. - -At the close of these meetings, I told the Rev. Dr. McE---- that now -was the time for him to have meetings in his church. He said he was -not able to do any extra work, and did not know where he could get any -preacher. I proposed to get the Rev. R. N. D----, who was then laboring -as a colporteur of the Tract Society some fifty miles distant, to which -he agreed, and I wrote to Mr. D---- to come on a certain day. During -the intervening time of ten days I visited all the balance of the town -and held prayer-meetings every night. The meetings became more and more -interesting, and religion became the theme of conversation in every -circle. - -When Mr. D---- came public preaching was held every night, and the -word was attended with the power of God. Every morning we had a -prayer-meeting, and through the day visited the inquirers from house -to house, and scattered tracts. By the end of four days thirty-five -were attending the meeting for inquiry, and at the close of the first -week thirty-three had professed hope in Christ, most of them the most -influential people in the town. - -The Rev. Mr. V---- then came and aided another week, at the close of -which forty-two were added to the church. Thus did God carry on his -work with the humble instruments he had chosen. - -One young lady who had been an inquirer for two weeks, told us at last -she did not care about being converted then, and left the meetings. In -three weeks she died. Her last words were, “I could have been saved, -but I rejected God’s Spirit, and now I am lost.” - -Another came sometimes to the inquiry meetings, but owing to the fact -that she was soon to marry an irreligious man, put off her day of -grace. In a few weeks the day of her intended marriage came. She rose -in the morning in usual health to prepare for the ceremony, but before -night her costly bridal dress was her winding-sheet. - -Four miles from town Mr. W----, a colporteur, was at work during the -time of this meeting in the town, and ten were there added to a little -church. - -I have been thus particular in stating the facts in relation to this -work, as it was the starting point of one of the most powerful -revivals that I have ever witnessed. It extended over one hundred miles -square of a sparsely populated country, in which near one thousand -souls were converted to God within about four months. The fidelity and -perseverance in the service of Christ of those thus brought in, is the -best evidence that this was truly the work of God’s Spirit. - -At the close of these cheering labors in L----, I went to the town -of U---- to be with Mr. H---- at a sacramental meeting, and take a -collection for the Tract Society. He is one of God’s ministers that -does his work faithfully. The meeting began on Friday night. Mr. H---- -requested me to occupy the time in giving an account of the great work -at L----, which I did. Although but few were present, and they mostly -pupils in the academy he taught, the bare relation of the facts of the -revival at L---- made a deep impression, and resulted in the conversion -of his son, who is now a minister. - -The next morning at nine, we had a meeting for prayer and exhortation, -at which there was still more interest. At eleven Mr. H---- preached. -At night I conducted the service by exhortation and prayer. The -solemnity was still increased. At each meeting we gave each one present -a suitable tract, with a word of earnest counsel. - -At nine, Sabbath morning, I conducted another prayer-meeting. At -eleven, Mr. H---- preached and administered the communion. God was -truly there in great power. At three we had a meeting for prayer again. -At night the church was full. I based my remarks on the words, “I will -arise and go to my father.” I saw that every heart was moved, and but -few cheeks were dry. At the close of my remarks, I turned to Mr. H----, -and said to him, “If you will ask them, some anxious souls will remain -for instruction and prayer.” The result was, seven inquirers took a -stand on the Lord’s side that night. This seemed to rouse the great -soul of Mr. H---- to an extraordinary pitch of fervor, and led to the -appointment of a meeting the next morning. - -On Monday morning we both exhorted, and the interest was deep. At three -we held an inquiry-meeting, and nine attended. At night I spoke again; -the meeting was deeply interesting. - -Tuesday morning the prayer-meeting was crowded, and in the afternoon -there were seventeen inquirers. We had three services each day, the -one at three only for inquirers; and each day there was an increase of -interest. On Saturday morning Mr. H---- had to go some miles to another -preaching-place, and I was left alone on Saturday and the Sabbath. -Sabbath, at three, there were twenty-seven inquirers, and ten were -indulging a hope in Christ. During the next week forty-two professed -faith in Christ. - -In the whole course of these meetings we kept the very choicest -of our books and tracts in the hands of the people. One observing -Christian said to me, “There has been more reading here on the subject -of religion in the past eighteen days, than there had been in three -years before.” Quite a number of the inquirers told me they were first -awakened by reading a book or tract, and others that they were greatly -aided by them in coming to Christ. Their interest in these publications -was shown by their contributing one hundred dollars on one of the -Sabbaths to aid the tract and colporteur work. - -This town was one of the wickedest in Western Virginia, and had for -years been a centre of infidelity. A worthy farmer who lived near told -me, at the close of our meetings, that for years he had never passed -through that town without hearing oaths and vulgar songs; “but now,” -said he, “that is all stopped, and I hear them singing hymns of praise -to God.” This town will now compare favorably with any other within my -knowledge for piety and sobriety. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - -At the earnest request of Mr. H----, I promised to meet him on the -next Sabbath at one of his country churches, about six miles from -town, in one of the most densely populated and wealthy communities -in all Western Virginia, called Mount P----. It was only fourteen -miles from my home at L----. I reached the church a little before the -hour of service, a stranger to all except a few who had met me at the -meetings in town. The house, although large, was crowded, and I took -a seat in the back part of the house. In a few minutes Mr. H---- came -in and walked up into the pulpit. He looked sick and feeble, and while -glancing his eye over the house, saw me, and beckoned me to him. He was -unable to speak louder than a whisper. - -Said he, “I am attacked with bronchitis and unable to preach, and you -must preach.” This I refused, on the ground that I had no authority. -Said he, “I will give you the authority here, and stand between you -and danger.” He arose, and with great exertion told the people that he -had never had such a desire to preach as he had that day, but the Lord -had shut his mouth, and sent me to do the preaching, for which he was -very thankful. - -I at once opened with singing and prayer, and announced my text, -“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” I felt that the thoughts and -words were not mine, but dictated by the Holy Ghost. I spoke for an -hour. The audience was still as the grave. After an interval of thirty -minutes, as was the custom, we resumed the service. My text in the -afternoon was, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” The -feeling was deep. I asked the anxious to remain for instruction, and -twelve remained. At night I had a meeting at a private house, where -great interest was manifested. - -At the earnest request of many, services similar to those of the -Sabbath were continued on Monday and for several days afterwards. On -Monday morning, when I came to the church, there was a crowd, and -much to my joy and relief, Mr. W----, one of our best colporteurs, -was there. He had labored faithfully over all that ground but a few -weeks before, and knew almost every one in that region. Although very -diffident, he conducted the morning meeting with great acceptance. -I spoke at eleven, and at two; and at the close of the last service -we had eighteen inquirers. God seemed to come down as on the day of -Pentecost. Ten of the number indulged hope, and their countenances were -lit up with joy. - -At night we had a meeting at Mr. D----’s. One half could not get into -the house. He had a son that was desperately wicked, and had done all -in his power to oppose the work of God. During the time of the service -he went out of the house in an agony of conviction for sin. The next -morning, at family prayers, he cried out in the bitterness of his -anguish, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” A sister of his, that had -been a very thoughtless girl, also cried out in great distress. This -seemed instantly to electrify the whole family. The place seemed awful -with the majesty of God. I felt as much of the divine glory as I could -bear. Such a scene I had never witnessed. Soon the whole family were -embraced in each other’s arms, rejoicing in hope of eternal life. We -seemed to be in the inner sanctuary and the most holy place. Although -near fourteen years have since passed, while I describe this scene it -fires my own soul afresh. - -Though it was a hurried season of the year with farmers, work was -suspended, ploughs were stopped, white and black were in the church, or -as near in as they could get, as the church would not hold more than -half that came. - -The Tuesday morning prayer-meeting was one of the best I ever attended. -At eleven the Rev. Mr. H---- returned, and preached one of the best of -sermons. In the afternoon I spoke again. There were thirty-six more -inquirers, and twelve more were indulging hope. - -On Friday night I held a meeting at the house of a Dr. N----, who was a -man of the world. I spoke on the _broad road and wide gate_. The doctor -was awakened that night, and has ever since dated his first impressions -on religious subjects to that time; and two young men, one of them -since educated for the ministry, likewise dated their conversion the -same night. - -At eleven the next morning Rev. Mr. H---- preached, and in the -afternoon Dr. McE----. At the close of this service, sixty-two were -added to the church on profession of their faith. - -When the hour for public worship arrived on Sabbath morning, one half -could not enter the church. It was arranged that I should invite those -who could not get in to assemble out of hearing of the church and -preach to them. I selected the graveyard, where most of the graves had -enclosures of rails around and over them. The circumstance suggested -my text: “Man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, -and where is he?” I felt as I never did before, standing among the dead -and the living, and spoke as I never did before or since. Some of the -wickedest men in all the country were before me. - -One gray-headed sinner seventy years old, who sat on the rails which -were around the graves of his wife and children, shook as if he had the -ague. A year after, he died; and often, when he was on his death-bed, -spoke with deep sorrow of resisting God’s Spirit at that time. At the -close of the services in the church a collection of $120 was taken up -for the Tract Society, which was five times as much as could have been -obtained a week before. Books and tracts were circulated every day in -these meetings, and read with interest. Twenty persons told me that -books or tracts were the means of either awakening them, or directing -them to Christ. In addition to the sixty-two added to the church as -above, twenty-four who obtained a hope at these meetings joined a -church of another denomination a mile distant. - -Only two miles from the above meetings, was the church of a large -congregation of Seceders. Till this time they had not gone to hear any -preacher but their own, nor admitted any other denomination to preach -in their church. But so great was this work that some of their young -people had been drawn away, and gained a hope in Christ, but kept it -secret. Their pastor, Rev. Mr. McG----, came himself on Saturday, and -became deeply moved with what he saw and heard. In the evening Rev. -Mr. H---- told him there were many still anxious about their souls, -and not a few of them were among his own people; “and now,” said he, -“this harvest must be gathered, and if you will go on with a meeting -next week I will close my meetings to-morrow.” This arrangement was -made, and it was agreed that I should go and assist Mr. McG---- on the -afternoon of the next day, after the services in that church should be -closed. - -At four o’clock the Seceder church was crowded, and all the ardor of -feeling seemed to come along with the people. Rev. Mr. McG---- was very -feeble in health, but was a devoted servant of God; and it was arranged -that he was to take a text and speak ten minutes, and I was then to -fill up the hour. After that service we held another in a private house -at night. - -The next morning at nine, we had the house full at the prayer-meeting. -At eleven, Mr. McG---- preached ten minutes, and I followed; and after -the service all were supplied with tracts. During the afternoon service -the presence of God seemed to move every heart. And as I believe that -when God moves on men’s hearts, they ought to move too as the prodigal -did, when I had ceased speaking, and the congregation were singing -the eighty-fourth Psalm, Rouse’s version, I said to Mr. McG---- that -I had no doubt but if an invitation was given some would remain for -instruction. He feared it would not be acceptable to the officers of -the church, all of whom had come from Scotland, and had been accustomed -to hear preaching only from Seceders, and considered _occasional -hearing_ an offence. But he said he would not interfere with what I -thought was duty. - -As soon as the song was sung, I arose and told them that a piece of -old Scotch history had just come into my mind. That over one hundred -years ago, previous to their communion occasions, the minister at the -close of his services for some days would invite all that intended -to commune for the first time to remain for instruction in regard to -their duties; and that for want of that many came to the Lord’s table -who were ignorant of the nature of the ordinance. And as I believed -there were a number who contemplated joining the church and going to -the communion table on the next Sabbath for the first time, I would -ask all such to remain after the congregation was dismissed, to receive -such instruction as should be given. After some agitation all was -quiet, and I told them the first point of inquiry for them was, to know -if they were born again, and spoke some twenty minutes on the nature -and evidences of regeneration. The old elders sobbed aloud; and as soon -as the services were closed, they had me by the hand, and said, “That -is just what our young people need.” The oldest elder, whose daughter -was among the inquirers, came up leaning on his staff, and said, “That -did my soul good.” We had an appointment that night five miles distant, -and this old man went all the way with me on horseback. The house was -crowded. Many were awakened, and among them Mr. B---- the proprietor, -who was a hardened sinner of fifty years. He soon professed his faith -in Christ. - -The next morning this old elder, Mr. M----, said to me, “Oh, Mr. C----, -I slept none last night. I have had a foretaste of heaven, and long to -be there. I have never experienced religious joy till last night; and -now I have one request to make, and deny me not, that is, that you -commune with me next Sabbath.” - -The next day we had similar services, and at the close of the last -service I told them as all the congregation seemed desirous to hear -what was said to those wishing to consider their duty to join the -church, such would come forward while we sung the twenty-third Psalm. -Sixteen thus presented themselves, and Rev. Mr. McG---- spoke to -them with a heavenly unction. The next day there were twenty-eight -inquirers, and the next day thirty-nine, of whom twenty-two appeared -to be indulging a good hope in Christ. All the business of the field -was suspended, and many were saying it was the dawn of the day of glory -to the church. As the time had arrived for me to visit another place -fifty miles distant, to engage in similar labors, the pastor told them -he wanted them to make a thank-offering to the Tract Society, and in a -few minutes $80 was on the table, and a present of $20 to me. On the -Sabbath fifty-six were added to the church, and more than thirty to a -Methodist church near by. - -Fourteen months after, I visited this church again. The presence of -God was still there, and many said they felt as if they were ready to -begin again where they had left off fourteen months before. The strong -prejudices against worshipping with other Christians were among the -things that had been. - -During my brief stay many incidents were related to me. One young man -told me it was “Advice to a Married Couple” that awakened him, as he -was soon to be married. Three of the anxious got relief by reading the -tract “What is it to Believe in Christ?” A man well acquainted in the -community told me thirty family altars were reared on one Sabbath night. - -In one instance two families lived in one house, and both the men -and their wives had joined the church. They felt that they must have -family worship, but neither was willing to pray. One said he could do -the singing, and the other said he would read the Bible. At last they -united in asking a lame negro man that was pious, and he led in prayer. - -There is probably no region of our country, when all the difficulties -are considered, where the Tract Society and colporteurs have done as -much real good as in Western Virginia. Some of the most godly men we -ever employed had visited every house again and again, and most of the -books to be found in the houses were the Society’s publications. In -some of the poorer districts they were even the only school-books. I -have heard of schools in those mountains where one had Bunyan, another -Baxter’s Call, or Saints’ Rest, and so on all through the school. We -can say that in many places the work has made the wilderness and the -solitary place rejoice and blossom as the rose. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - -After one night’s rest at home, I left the next morning for C----, -thirty miles distant, to meet my friend Rev. Mr. D----, who was with -us at the commencement of the meetings at L----, and engage in another -meeting. The Rev. Mr. P----, who was pastor at that place, was likewise -a colporteur of the Tract Society, and had five little churches in -as many different communities in the county. So he left us to hold a -meeting in C----, while he was laboring in other portions of his field. - -I had on several occasions passed through this town, which, in a -religious view, was one of the darkest I have ever visited. I saw -the men, most of them young men, while Mr. P---- was preaching to a -few, mostly women, standing all round the church with their heads in -the windows, talking aloud, and even swearing profanely, till the -preacher’s voice could scarcely be heard. As Mr. D---- was a stranger -there, I informed him that we might expect open opposition. The -meetings were to be conducted in the same way as those to which I have -already alluded. - -After warning the people of the impropriety of such conduct, and -insisting that if they attended the services, they should come into the -church, Mr. D---- preached, and I followed by telling of the Lord’s -work in the places where I had been. A deep solemnity seemed to fall on -every soul, and we felt God was there. All present were well supplied -with tracts. - -The next day our meetings were very solemn, and still more so at night, -when there were five anxiously inquiring for salvation. By the next -night most of the females began to feel very deeply, and some young men -began to interrupt by their talking; but I rebuked them most solemnly, -and we had no more interruptions during that meeting, and I am happy to -say there have been none since in that place. - -This meeting began on Thursday night, and by Monday twenty-two had -professed hope in Christ. Among the number was one man sixty years -old. He had been intemperate forty years. Though he was then so -ignorant that he did not know who was the Saviour of sinners, and did -not know one letter of the alphabet, he still lives a monument of grace. - -One young lady of fortune, who was there at school, and whose anxiety -about her soul bordered on despair, gained a hope on Saturday. On the -next Saturday she joined the church, and then told her companions, -“I will go to the Lord’s table to-morrow; it may be my last Sabbath -on earth.” On Monday morning she came to school apparently in her -usual health, and seemed deeply affected by the opening prayer; but -soon complained of being unwell, went to her boarding-house, and in -forty-eight hours she was numbered with the dead. Grace and glory came -very near together. - -After a few days of rest, at the request of the Rev. Mr. H----, to whom -I have alluded at the town of U----, I met him in an old log-church on -Wolf Creek, one of his preaching-places. I left home in the morning, -rode twenty-four miles, and reached the place at one. Mr. H---- was -preaching to a small congregation, as it was now the beginning of -harvest. After an interval of thirty minutes, I addressed the people. -The next day was Saturday. The house was full; and in the evening we -had five inquirers. Sabbath morning Mr. H---- preached with great -power, and then left for another appointment, with the expectation of -returning on Monday. In the mean time I was to go on with the services. -In the evening I had thirteen inquirers; and among them was Colonel -H----, fifty years old, and Major B----, sixty-eight, two men of the -largest wealth and highest standing in that community, who had been -remarkable instances of grieving the Spirit of God. I related in their -hearing the fact of what an aged man had told me about his grieving -the Spirit. I saw it affected them both very deeply. They told me they -had felt all that that man did whose case I had described, and that -they had now made up their minds to seek Christ. In a few days both -were hoping in Christ; and two years ago they had continued active -Christians. - -Becoming exhausted, almost as if I was at death’s door, I left for -home; but Rev. Mr. H---- continued the meetings. Such was the interest -awakened, that daily labor in the harvest-field was entirely suspended. -Masters and servants were all at the same mercy-seat. God was there; -the world was lost sight of, and eternal things took its place. -Everybody had a tract in hand. You could see them reading on their -way home; some in carriages, some on horseback, and others on foot. -The result was, thirty-six were added to that little church, and many -others to the other churches in that region of country. I soon learned -that one wild, thoughtless young woman was awakened by reading a tract, -and she is now one of the mothers in Israel. - -I had received several letters from the Rev. Mr. C----, an aged man -who had moved to Fayette county, to preach in a very destitute region, -near the celebrated _Hawk’s Nest_, or _Marshall’s Pillar_, a cliff or -precipice of about one thousand feet perpendicular height, hanging over -New River, ten miles from its junction with the Gauley. After a day -of rest, I took the stage, and at the end of fifty miles reached the -place. On Friday morning the meeting began in the woods. No church -was near; but an arbor was made by putting up poles and covering them -with green bushes. When I came it rained, and only about thirty were -present; but God was there with his gracious power. We had a meeting in -the evening at one of the neighboring cabins, and a crowd was collected. - -The next morning we met at the arbor. The day was fair and beautiful, -and the crowd great. The Lord helped me greatly in the service. At the -interval I scattered tracts freely, and set all to reading who could -read. At the close of the afternoon service there were eleven anxious -inquirers. On Sabbath morning we met at nine for prayer. By eleven -o’clock a thousand people had assembled; and after the evening service, -seventeen came out for instruction. On Monday the communion was to be -administered, and seventeen were added to the Lord’s people. The Lord -was there in his mercy. After the afternoon service nineteen more came -out as inquirers, among them men of sixty years and from that down to -boys, most of whom professed religion soon after. A church was soon -after organized, which still lives. The blessed influence spread for -miles around, and all denominations shared in the glorious work. I -shall ever believe the way was prepared by a faithful colporteur, who -had been over the ground a few months before. - -Mr. P----, an elder in a vacant church called Locust Bottom, had -applied to the Rev. Mr. P---- to come and administer the communion in -that church, and to bring me with him. The meeting was to begin on the -Friday before the third Sabbath in August. I left home on Thursday -morning, and reached the place, fifty-four miles distant, at noon the -next day. In the afternoon I addressed the audience by telling them -what the Lord had done in so many other places, and that I felt assured -if they would seek him with their whole hearts he would bless them too. - -The next morning we were assembled at nine for prayer and exhortation. -At eleven Mr. C----, a student of divinity, spoke with much fervor. -After recess I spoke with much liberty, and five came out as inquirers. -We held meetings at night in two places; both well attended, and -several were awakened. The Sabbath morning prayer-meeting was crowded. -The communion was administered by Mr. P----; and after recess I spoke -again, and we had nine inquirers. The next morning we had a crowd, and -there were clear indications of the presence of the Spirit of God. - -Some weeks previous, Mr. W----, a colporteur to whom I have alluded, -had been all through this region, and circulated books. A daughter -of Colonel S----, one of the elders, became awakened by reading one -of them, and her state of mind had aroused some of her friends and -companions, who were among those most deeply concerned; and it was -agreed to hold the evening meeting at the colonel’s, though four miles -distant. - -In addition to the colonel’s large family, a number of others were -present, all seeking peace with God. After tea was over we were all -seated in a large parlor, to the number of at least twenty. As Mr. -C---- expected soon to leave, I asked him to lead us in prayer, and -especially to remember the anxious souls in the room. At the close of -the prayer, one of the colonel’s daughters was sobbing as if she would -break her heart. I sat down beside her, and pointed her to Jesus who -died for sinners. She looked at me a moment, and then sprang into her -mother’s arms, and said, “Oh, mother, I have found Jesus.” But a short -time had elapsed, when a daughter-in-law of Mrs. S---- went to her and -said, “Oh, mother, I have found the Saviour too.” Soon the wife of one -of the elders who was there cried, “Oh, Mrs. S----, the Saviour has -blessed me too. Oh, what a Saviour I have found.” This woman had been -so opposed to religion that her husband could not have family prayers. -All these three had been awakened by reading tracts. During all this -time the old grandmother, ninety years old, and for over seventy years -a follower of Christ, was walking through the house saying, “Oh, Mr. -C----, is not this heaven? my poor soul can bear no more of the divine -glory.” - -In a short time Colonel S----, who had been absent, returned. As soon -as his daughter saw him she was in his arms, saying, “Oh, my dear -father, your prayers are answered; I have found Jesus.” - -By this time the news had spread all over the farm, and more than fifty -blacks of all ages were in and round the house. The old mother of -Col. S---- said to me, “Oh, Mr. C----, won’t you preach to these poor -souls?” “Certainly,” said I; and in a few minutes a large room was -crowded with them. I stood in the door, with the old mother holding me -by the arm, and announced the words, “Behold, I bring you glad tidings -of great joy which shall be to all people.” The negroes soon became -so excited they could hardly contain themselves. Some were on their -knees praying, and others clapping their hands. The old lady undertook -to keep them in order; but her own heart became so deeply impressed, -that her bodily strength sunk under it. The scene was one that neither -tongue nor pen can describe. No doubt some who have never seen or felt -any thing like this, will call it enthusiasm; but if it was, I would -wish to live and die in the midst of such enthusiasm. This was one -of the most intelligent families in that community--all educated and -refined, and strict Presbyterians. I have found but few such families. - -The next morning we all repaired to the church, where I was met by Mr. -W----, the colporteur whom I have mentioned. Before that day’s meeting -closed eight more professed hope. That night I had a meeting at a Mr. -C----’s, who was a professed atheist, but within a few days after, was -numbered among God’s people. - -The next day the house was crowded below with whites, and the gallery -with blacks. The presence of God seemed to be with every soul. -There were in the house two men, brothers, of large wealth and much -intelligence, both unmarried and somewhat dissipated. For two days -they had been deeply concerned, and their pious friends were earnest -in prayer for them. Just as I was closing my last discourse in the -evening, when there was scarce a dry cheek in the house, a negro who -was subject to fits, fell in a fit in the gallery, and made the most -unearthly noise I ever heard. All fled from the house with fright, -thinking the house was falling. These two brothers, when they went out, -said they were glad at what had happened, for if they had remained any -longer they would have been compelled to yield to the Spirit of God. -They both went away, and never returned; and said often afterwards -that they sealed their damnation that day. Each of them died a horrible -death with delirium tremens. - -I exhorted three or four times each day throughout all the week, and -brother W---- scattered books and tracts, and talked and prayed. -Twenty-two were added to that church, and as many more joined other -churches. Before this meeting began, that church was nearly broken up, -and in six months after, the student to whom I have alluded was the -pastor. - -Ten years after, as I was passing through this region in a stage, one -of my travelling companions told me he was one of the converts at a -place where I had labored. We were alone in the stage when we reached -the place of crossing a river near this church. The driver stopped to -water his horses, and I handed tracts to two men that were working at -the edge of the river. They looked at me a moment, and then caught my -hands: “Oh, this is Mr. C----. It was your tracts and labors that God -blessed to save our souls.” The stage-driver dropped his bucket and -rushed to me: “Oh, is it possible I have been hauling Mr. C---- and -did not know it? It was your tracts and labors which you began in the -rain in Fayette county that God blessed to my soul.” Here were four men -who had been led to Christ at different places, and now had met the one -whom they called the instrument of their salvation. To God alone be all -the glory. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - -As, in the providence of God, I have been brought into contact with -thousands of persons who have told me with much candor the history of -their own minds, and conversed freely in reference to the all-important -subject of their salvation, I have thought it to be my duty to -record some of the facts I have met, for the benefit and warning of -others. That there is a point when the Holy Spirit, if wilfully and -perseveringly resisted, ceases to strive with man, no one doubts who -believes in his renewing and sanctifying agency; but too many take it -for granted that this point is not reached till the close of life, and -neglect or resist the strivings of the Spirit till he gives them up -to hardness of heart and blindness of mind, perhaps many years before -their earthly existence has terminated. - -The first case I shall mention is that of a woman about thirty years of -age, with whom I conversed in the presence of her mother. I inquired if -she was a member of any church. She answered, “No.” I asked if she had -not at some time felt concern for her salvation. “Yes,” she said, “I -think but few have been more anxious on the subject than I was once.” -I asked at what period of her life this occurred, when she gave me the -following account of God’s dealings with her. “When I was about fifteen -years old, I felt that I was a great sinner in the sight of God. Often -my distress was so great that I could not sleep; and for three years I -seldom had peace for a week at a time. I knew that the Holy Spirit was -striving with me, and that I ought to yield my heart to his influence; -but I thought it would cut off my pleasures in the midst of youth. I -tried to banish the thoughts of eternity; but they would still return -and interrupt my pleasure. I tried reading novels and romances; they -gave me relief for a while, but my distress returned. At last I went -to the ballroom--and I have never since had such feelings as before.” -“And have you no fears,” said I, “that you have grieved away the Spirit -of God for ever?” “Yes,” she replied, “I have no doubt of that, and -that I shall be lost.” I proceeded to describe the state and misery -of the lost, and appealed to her, by the prayers of her mother and the -tears which were then falling from her sunken eyes, by the danger of an -eternal separation from pious friends, by the glories of heaven and the -agonies of the Son of God, now to make her peace with him and be saved. -“All this,” she calmly replied, “has been tried upon me before. Nothing -that you or any other man can say on that subject, can move me now. My -doom is fixed.” - -Another case was that of Mr. B----, who was over seventy years old, -and living an ungodly life. I approached him with kindness, and at -length he conversed freely. I spoke of the goodness of God to him in -his advanced years, and asked if he hoped he had an interest in Christ. -He replied, “No.” I asked if he received the Bible as the word of God. -He answered, “Yes.” I said, “The Bible teaches that a man must be born -again before he can enter the kingdom of God; do you think you have -experienced that change?” “No,” said he, “I never have.” I saw that -he was intelligent, and inquired if no “still small voice” had ever -whispered to him, “Son, give me thy heart?” “Yes,” said he, “often. I -used to feel, but for many years I have not felt as I did when I was -young. I then had some very serious times.” I asked at what period he -had felt most deeply the importance of religion. He replied, “When I -was seventeen I began to feel deeply at times, and this continued for -two or three years; but I determined to put it off till I should be -settled in life. After I was married, I reflected that the time had -come when I had promised to attend to religion; but I had bought this -farm, and I thought it would not suit me to become religious till it -was paid for, as some time would have to be devoted to attend church, -and also some expense. I then resolved to put it off ten years; but -when the ten years came round, I thought no more about it. I often -try to think, but I cannot keep my mind on the subject one moment.” I -urged him by all the terrors of dying an enemy of God, to set about -the work of repentance. “It is too late,” said he, “I believe my doom -is sealed; and it is just that it should be so, for the Spirit strove -long with me, but I refused.” I then turned to his children, young men -and young women who were around him, and entreated them not to put off -the subject of religion, or grieve the Spirit of God in their youthful -days. The old man added, “Mind _that_. If I had attended to it then, it -would have been well with me to-day; but now it is too late.” - -On conversing with a man in middle life, he informed me that his father -was a devoted Christian, that he was faithfully instructed and his mind -was early impressed with the importance of religion. In his youth, -there was a period of six months in which he was in distress, day and -night; and a voice within seemed to be continually saying, “Forsake -your sins and come unto me, and I will give you peace.” “But,” he -added, “I did not wish to be a Christian then; I thought it would ruin -my pleasures. I visited a part of the country where dancing and balls -were frequent; in a little time my serious thoughts were gone, and I -have never had any since.” I asked if he did not fear that God had -given him up. “Yes,” said he, “I am afraid he has. I go to church and -read the Bible, and try to feel, but I cannot.” I strove to arouse his -fears, but it was in vain. I afterwards learned that he was pursuing -his worldly business on the Sabbath. - -It is not for me to pronounce that God had said of all these persons, -they are “joined to their idols, let them alone;” “woe to them when I -depart from them;” but the state of all such is unspeakably alarming. -If the eye of such a one falls upon these lines--if you have persisted -in saying, “Go thy way for this time; let me alone, that I may have the -pleasures of this life,” and have quenched the Spirit by resorting to -amusements, the novel, the ballroom, or the theatre, God may have given -you what you desired; but what have you now of all these pleasures? -Can you look back upon them with an approving conscience? Will they -bring you consolation in a dying hour? Have you not even now in your -own soul, if you would make the confession, the gnawings of the worm -that never dies, the burning of the fire that is never quenched? If the -Spirit of God is now striving with you, it is the most momentous period -of your existence. It is perhaps the turning-point between heaven and -hell--the songs of angels, or the wailings of the finally lost. Beware -of stifling the Spirit. Multitudes have told me the dreadful tale, -“I went to scenes of amusement, or turned to the exciting romance, -and I have felt no anxiety since.” While the Spirit strives it is the -seed-time of eternal life, the embryo of a happy immortality. Sit not -down to count the loss of sinful pleasures; receive the Saviour into -your heart, and you will have pleasures lasting as eternity--pleasures -that leave no sting behind--pleasures that will sustain the soul when -on your dying pillow, when the last trumpet shall sound, and the -congregated world stand before God. - - * * * * * - -Many facts of a more cheering character might be given. The Rev. N. -C----, who had a pastoral charge in M---- county, said to me, “A -colporteur had left a copy of the Anxious Inquirer in the house of -a wealthy man in M---- county. After some time he became interested -for his salvation. One day while there on a visit I pointed him to a -chapter in this book, and requested him to read it. He read it, and -soon found peace. Like every real Christian, he desired the salvation -of his relations. He sent the book to his brother, a physician, who, -together with a sister, were led to Christ by reading it. The book -is kept in the family as an heir-loom.” On another occasion Rev. Mr. -C---- said he was sent for to go some distance to see a sick woman. -His custom was always to carry with him a few select books to give or -loan. He gave her a copy of the Anxious Inquirer, and requested her -husband to read it to her. Both were irreligious; but by God’s blessing -on reading this book, both were led to the Saviour. A colporteur sold -a copy of the same book to a man who sent it to an absent son. It led -him and two of his companions to Christ. A colporteur gave a copy of -Baxter’s Call to a very wicked family, who never went to church. Within -ten months he found the reading of it had been blessed to three of the -household. A tract put into a wagoner’s feed-trough while driving his -team on the Sabbath, was the means of stopping him from travelling on -the Sabbath, and led him to repentance. He became eminent for his -piety and usefulness in the church. - -A missionary who preached once a month in a wild region, and gave part -of his time to colporteur work, often told me of a family that lived -just beside his little mountain church, but never entered it. When he -began the colporteur work he made them a visit. The man told him he did -not wish him to say any thing to him on the subject of religion; that -if he wanted to hear him, he could go to the church. All the time he -talked and prayed, the man was muttering, and his wife increased the -speed of her wheel to drown his voice. Finding all his efforts to get -their attention in vain, he laid down a copy of Baxter’s Call and a few -tracts, and left them. On his return to fill his next appointment at -the little church, to his surprise this man and his wife were in the -church near the pulpit. During service they were deeply exercised. At -the close he spoke to them about their souls. They told him that after -he left their house they began to think about the way they had treated -him, and had read his little books, and found they were great sinners. -At his next communion they both joined his church, and they were among -the most consistent and useful of its members. - -One morning I took the stage to go to the railroad, some sixteen miles -distant. There were two gentlemen in the stage. Both knew me, but I -did not know them. One was a preacher, with whom I talked all the -way to the dépôt. While waiting for the cars, the other passenger, -a fine-looking young man, said, “I can’t let this opportunity pass -without making myself known to you. Do you remember laying your hand on -the shoulder of a youth in the town of B---- six years ago, and urging -him to seek the favor of God, and handing him a little book?” I said -I had no recollection of it, as I was doing something of that sort -almost every day. “Well,” said he, “that talk and book were the means, -I trust, of my salvation. I have since that time gone through college, -and hope soon to preach the gospel.” He was the son of a poor widow. He -is now an able minister of the New Testament. - -One day while on a journey, I came to a very small cabin on the top of -a high mountain. A poor widow was by the door in very homely apparel. -I asked her if she had a Bible. “No,” said she, “but I have a part of a -Testament, and a number of little tracts.” Seeing a number of clean but -poorly clad children, I began to ask them questions. The answers they -gave would have done credit to most of our Sunday-school children. I -asked her if she had a church or Sunday-school near. “No; there is no -church or Sunday-school anywhere in reach. My children have never been -in either, and I have not been at church for eight years.” “Why,” said -I, “madam, how have you got your children so well instructed?” She ran -into her cabin and brought her whole library, which consisted of a part -of a Testament, and several little books and tracts sewed together, -which I learned had been given her by colporteurs in their visits. -Said she, “I read these to my children every Sunday, and teach them to -read them, till they know all that is in them.” I added to her supply -little books till the countenances of herself and her children were -radiant with joy, and I felt it was truly “more blessed to give than to -receive.” - -A few miles further on I stopped at another cabin. The woman looked at -me a moment. “Oh, I know you. You are the man that preached and gave us -tracts at the church down on the river. I trust I was converted there. -Can’t you give me some tracts to give away? I am living now among very -wicked people.” I gave her a package, and passed on. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - -On the invitation of several leading men, I visited L----, east of the -mountains. The evening I got there the Rev. Mr. N---- called on me to -“hold forth the word of life” for him that night. He stated that there -was some interest in his church, and that he was unable to make any -special effort, on account of his health. Although I had travelled -forty miles that day by stage, in an hour I was addressing the people; -and for eight days meetings were continued by exhorting and scattering -tracts; at the close of which time twenty-two had professed faith in -Christ, some of them among the most influential men in the city. - -On the first Sabbath morning I was there, a lady of earnest piety -prevailed on her husband, who was a Universalist and had been raised -in that faith, and a young German whom he had employed as a clerk, to -accompany her to the church. This German had been a tutor in one of the -colleges in Germany, a man of fine education; but he was connected -with a rebellion against the government, and had to fly in the night, -and made an almost miraculous escape in disguise. He was an infidel. -My subject was, “the worth of the soul;” and God truly gave me what I -said. They both became awakened; and seven years after, Mr. H---- the -husband of the lady joined the church, and is now an elder. He says he -was never without conviction from that Sabbath morning till he yielded -to Christ. - -The German, Mr. S----, became intensely exercised. He attended all the -inquiry meetings, and often called on the pastor, Mr. N----. His agony -of mind bordered on despair. He was told again and again that whenever -he could give up all for Christ he would find peace. After spending a -whole night in prayer, he came to Mr. N---- in the morning, woke him -out of sleep, and said, “Mr. N----, I have nothing on earth I care for -but this box of rings and jewels, which my mother and sisters took from -their ears and fingers the night I fled from Germany; these I have held -as sacred mementos of their love. Take them, sell them, and give to -the poor.” Mr. N---- said, “Mr. S----, you are not far from the kingdom -of God; let us pray.” In a few moments he threw his arms around Mr. -N----’s neck, saying, “Oh, I have found Jesus.” Mr. N---- handed him -back the box, and said, “Mr. S----, the Lord does not need the jewels. -All he required was, that feeling of heart you manifested in giving -them up.” This man is now a missionary in some of the islands of the -sea. His talents are all consecrated to God. - -A young lady, Miss L----, very wealthy and proud, became awakened, and -continued for many days on the verge of despair. She hardly ate or -slept. She even became desperate: said God was not as good as his word; -that she was willing to give up all for Christ, but he would not save -her. We talked and prayed with her several times each day, but all in -vain. At last I said to her, “Miss L----, you say you are willing to -give up all for Christ?” “Yes,” said she, “even life itself.” “Well,” -said I, “in the name of my Master I ask you, out of your large wealth, -to give me a donation for the Tract Society.” She replied sternly, “I -am not going to buy my salvation.” Said I, “The Lord can do without -your money; but I have asked this to show you the deceitfulness of your -own heart. You said a moment ago that you would give even life itself. -Now,” said I, “I shall leave you to reflect.” In a few days she sent -for me to rejoice with her, and the donation was heartily made. - -I then labored for three weeks in other churches in the city, and a -large number professed religion. - -Among other services, I was a week with Rev. Mr. W----, who has been -for some years president of one of our auxiliary tract societies. At -the close of his meeting one day, he said he would tell them what one -tract had done. He gave the tract, “Have you the Wedding Garment?” to a -young lady, with the request that she would go and read it over three -times. She did so, and the next day she came to him as an inquirer. He -then gave it to her sister, making the same request, and the next day -she was an inquirer. He then gave it to a young man, and he has been -led to Christ by it. “And here before you,” said he, “are all three of -them now rejoicing in hope.” - -The last month of the year 1850, I was invited by the Rev. Mr. C---- -to visit M---- county, and spend a week with him at each of his -charges, as he had two. The distance was ninety miles; the roads almost -impassable. I shrunk from the journey; but a voice seemed to say, -“You must go.” When I reached the town they were holding a temperance -convention, which I addressed on two occasions. - -On Sunday morning I spoke first on the tract cause, and raised a -collection of $150. The night service was well attended. We continued -meeting twice each day, and visited families and distributed books and -tracts all the rest of the time till Wednesday, but with no very marked -results. - -Notice had been given that meetings would begin at B----, Mr. C----’s -other charge, nine miles distant, on Thursday morning at eleven. We -reached there at the hour, and had only eleven hearers. At the close -of the service we were invited to a Mr. B----’s to dine. He was a -backslider, rich and eccentric. We had determined to visit families, -talk, pray, and circulate tracts, till the time for the night service. - -When we came to Mr. B----’s, the old man invited us into the parlor, -and in a few minutes one of his daughters came in, a very beautiful -girl, and highly educated. After a little time I introduced the subject -of religion to her kindly and politely. She gave me one of the most -scornful looks I ever got, and rose to leave me. I was holding in my -hand the tract “_Don’t be Offended_;” and just as she was passing me I -presented it before her. I saw the father was offended too. Rev. Mr. -C---- and I both felt unhappy; but in a few minutes we were called to -dinner, and Mr. C---- introduced me to two other daughters, which made -all the family. - -When we were nearly through dinner, the offended one came to the -table. Her eyes indicated that she had been weeping, but nothing was -said. After dinner we went to another house, and met a young lady who -was teacher in the female academy and also in a dancing-school. She -made very light of religion, and said she preferred the ballroom to -the church. I spoke to her the truth very plainly, and gave her a -tract on dancing; and she turned away offended, and said she had no -respect for such Puritanical religion. At night we had a tolerably -good congregation, and the Lord was there indeed. Such was the state -of things, that we invited all that were concerned about their souls -to remain; and to our utter astonishment, the two offended ones were -among them, weeping bitterly. The exhibition they had made of their -wickedness had so overwhelmed them that they could scarcely wait till -night to confess their sins. - -The next morning we resumed our visits. The first visit was to Mr. -T----’s, an elder in the church. In conversation with a daughter of -his she manifested much feeling. I gave a tract to one of his sons, -who, after reading it, came to his mother, and said, “Oh, mother, if -I was to die as I am, my soul would be lost.” That day and night the -congregation was large. By this time the pious people in the church had -awoke, and all were at work with books and tracts. Business was almost -suspended in the village, and religion was the only theme. Almost all -were inquiring the way to Zion, with the exception of half a dozen -men, who threw every obstacle they could in the way. One of the worst -of them went away to get out of the influence of the meetings, and was -dead in three days. Another left his business and went to the country -to avoid the presence of God, and has since died without hope. - -The interest had become intense. On the way home from church three -young ladies obtained hope almost simultaneously, and were all embraced -in each other’s arms. A short time after, a number of the anxious were -assembled at Mr. T----’s, where I was stopping. All were pleading for -mercy, but soon they began to sing praises to God. They were heard by -people around, and in a short time many assembled. The new-born souls -were rushing into the arms of each other, and of their fathers and -mothers, and thanking them for their prayers. This joy was no doubt -much like that of the day of Pentecost. One hundred and twenty-five -professed their faith in Christ, and were soon after added to the -churches; and so far as I have been able to learn, there was no -case of backsliding. Where God does the work, the work is well done; -but where it is done by mere human machinery, the results are very -unsatisfactory. The town was revolutionized by this outpouring of the -Spirit. The ballroom gave way to the prayer-meeting, and the drunkard’s -songs to those of Zion. - -I gave Baxter’s Call to a youth during this meeting, who told me, eight -years afterwards when I met him a preacher, that that book was the -means of his salvation, and had it not been for it, he never should -have entered the ministry. - -At another meeting some months afterwards in C----, there was a -powerful work of grace, in every respect like those to which I have -alluded. One old man professed faith in Christ, who was the third -unbeliever in the family who had been led to Christ by the same copy of -James’ Anxious Inquirer. - -I visited J. C. C----, a highly distinguished civilian of threescore -years and ten, who had filled many important stations in life, and who -now felt that his days were nearly ended. He took me by the hand very -kindly, his countenance expressive of deep emotion, and said, “I am an -inquirer on the subject of religion; _I have attended to every thing -but my soul_.” I directed him very briefly to the Saviour, and at the -close told him I would send him a little book in the morning, that -would direct him more fully. He thanked me kindly for the interest I -felt in him, and urged me to call again. The next morning I sent him -James’ Anxious Inquirer. - -In four days after I called again. His health had improved. He rose to -his feet, his countenance bespoke peace within, and giving me a cordial -shake by the hand, he said, “I have read that little book through -twice; the great question is answered. I think I understand what is -meant by faith in Jesus Christ.” I then explained to him as fully as I -could the nature of the _new birth_--the evidences by which we might -decide for ourselves the reality of the change. His very appearance -was entirely changed--the deep anxiety that sat on his countenance had -passed away, and happiness was expressed in every feature. - -In a few days he was able to walk, and called to see me. He said he -had read the book through again; that it was “_a great book_; but -the writer had omitted one important point--he did not inform the -reader how long the work of sanctification must be continued after -a man was justified; that justification was an act _instantaneous_, -but sanctification was a work.” I replied, “Our Saviour said to the -thief on the cross, ‘This day thou shalt be with me in paradise;’ here -sanctification was completed in a few hours.” “I thank you, sir, that -is enough: here is a check for $30, for the Tract Society; it is doing -a great work.” - -For six years he remained steadfast in the great doctrines of -salvation by faith in Christ, and in a blameless Christian life, -though ever distrustful of himself. Soon after his death in February, -1856, at the age of seventy-seven, the Rev. Mr. M---- justly said -of him, “Well-deserved tributes have been paid by the governor of -the commonwealth, and by the legislature and other public bodies to -the distinguished public worth and private virtues of this eminent -citizen. His views of salvation by faith in the crucified Redeemer -were clear and scriptural, and showed that the powers of a vigorous and -highly cultivated mind had been brought to bear upon the all-important -subject. He often expressed surprise that any one could read the holy -Scriptures in the proper spirit, and not be convinced of the reality -of religion, the divinity of the Saviour, and the atoning efficacy of -his precious blood. His faith was simple and childlike. No dependence -whatever was placed in his own merits or righteousness. The atonement -of the Son of God was ‘the anchor of his soul,’ the basis of his hopes -of heaven.” - - - - -CONCLUSION. - - -Most of the facts and incidents in these sketches were committed to -writing about the time of their occurrence, and may be relied on as -simple verities. Much of deep inherent interest, which met my eye, or -fell upon my ear, might have been added, but for its inappropriateness -to the character of this work, or unduly swelling the narrative. - -Those enjoying the calm refinements of social life in our favored -cities and villages, who have never entered the abodes of ignorance and -poverty in the moral wastes of the land, may be unwilling to credit -even the facts related; but in a matter of such infinite importance -as the enlightenment and salvation of perishing souls, could the real -facts have been consistently withheld? - -In the providence of God I was sent out as a watchman, not upon the -walls of Zion, but _outside of those walls_; and ought I to conceal -the facts, and report, “All’s well,” when hundreds of thousands are -dying in sin and ignorance of the great salvation? Would not such -unfaithfulness be criminal in the sight of God? - -And when the Holy Spirit was poured out in marvellous effusions, almost -as in the day of Pentecost, should not the facts be recorded to the -praise of divine grace in Jesus Christ? - -Reared as I was from infancy under religious privileges, I had no -idea that any part of our land was in the sad moral condition which I -found actually to exist; or that the distribution of printed truth and -personal labors “publicly and from house to house,” were ever so richly -blessed. And such erroneous and defective impressions as to the wants -of our fellow-men, and the encouragements to labor for their good, I -believe are very prevalent. - -I remember the day when I was confident that all around me were well -supplied with the Bible, but on examination I found eight families, -and among them my next door neighbor, who had no Bible; and a pastor -who regarded Bible efforts in his congregation as quite unnecessary, -on investigation received from family after family the report, “No -Bible,” the family of his own sexton being among the number. An -excellent young man, now a missionary in a distant land, on faithfully -exploring a wealthy county, stated what he had seen to Mr. W----, -a distinguished Christian citizen. “I have heard of you,” said the -gentleman. “I don’t believe the statements you are making about the -moral destitutions of this county. I have made up my mind to go with -you and see for myself.” The young man welcomed his company. In the -first dwelling they entered the family had no books, not even a Bible. -Said Mr. W----, “Give them $2 50 worth, and I will pay for them.” In -the next they entered, and in the third, they found equal destitution; -and in each case Mr. W---- said, “Give them $2 50 worth, and I will -foot the bill.” They went further, but soon Mr. W---- said, “My young -friend, the half is not told; take this $20 and go on with this -heaven-directed work.” - -As to the rich blessing that has attended the reading of books and -tracts, it is well for those reared in the midst of church privileges -and good libraries to consider how different the influence of a good -book may be on such as have few books, or none at all. Take, if you -please, a prosperous family in the interior of the country, far from -any book-store, who may have an old family Bible, a few school-books, -or perhaps some other old books moral and religious. A colporteur -enters with his saddle-bags of beautiful books. The children are almost -frantic with joy. Each member of the family gets a book. It is devoured -with greediness--not by a gospel-hardened sinner, but by one who has -few or no gospel privileges. - -Is it strange that such a one, on reading the Pilgrim’s Progress, the -Anxious Inquirer, or Come to Jesus, is immediately awakened to seek for -pardon and salvation? Is it not rather _more strange_, that every one -who attentively and solemnly reads such a book is not led to Christ? - -And when we come down to those who are wholly destitute of books, who -rarely hear a sermon, and yet are able to read, the effect is often -still more powerful for good. - -Notwithstanding all that has been done, I believe _one half_ of all the -families in our land now belong to one of these two classes. - -Hence the necessity of this system of evangelization. We fear the time -is far distant when our country will be so well supplied with churches -and pastors as to reach the surging masses of all languages that -are crowding our vast territories, seeking homes for themselves and -families. - -Let each one ask himself, in view of the final account he must give -to God, “What can I do for these perishing thousands?” Here a way is -pointed out by which every one can do something, either by _laboring_, -_praying_, or _giving_. An old lady unable to move about, with an -income of $600 per annum, gave $150 each year as the salary of a -colporteur, and she had a few other ladies to meet her once each week -to pray for God’s blessing on his labors. Few men in latter days have -done as much good as this colporteur, Mr. C----r. She thus labored by -proxy. The man is still living who at first paid $150 for my support, -and was thus instrumental in whatever good I have done. Hundreds would -be ready to go and work in this department of Christian effort if means -were provided. - -This system of labor developes the dormant power of the church. -Hundreds whose influence for good was never felt outside of their own -family circle, have become successful laborers in this heaven-born -work. Many of them are now able ministers of the New Testament, who -would have remained “hewers of wood and drawers of water” had it not -been for this system of doing good. I call to mind the names of a score -of men who have been brought into the work of the ministry either -directly or indirectly by this system of colportage. - -Shall a work of so much power for good, and so much needed, be -unsupported? The price of one ocean steamer would support it -efficiently over the whole land for one year. - -The issuing of this history is what the writer never intended to -do, or allow others to do while he lived. He has prepared it, if he -knows his own heart, purely with the hope it may do good. He trusts -it may suggest to some whose supreme desire is to honor Christ in -the salvation of men, a way by which they may gain the blessing of -those who “turn many to righteousness,” and who shall shine, above -the brightness of the firmament, “as the stars for ever and ever.” -That this may be the gracious reward of him who writes, and of all who -read this book, is the fervent prayer of THE PIONEER COLPORTEUR IN THE -ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS. - - NOTE.--The labors of this single-hearted, devoted, and - fearless servant of Christ were at first secured for one year - to explore some of these wild mountain gorges. Having been - continued five years as above, they were extended southward in - the Alleghany range, and at length over the whole states of - Virginia and North Carolina, till he had had the coöperation - of three hundred colporteurs, and their visits had reached - five hundred thousand families, over forty thousand of whom - attended no place of evangelical worship. Usually they read - the Scriptures, conversed, and prayed in each family; and they - gathered into Sabbath-schools seventy thousand children, many - of whom received their first book and learned their first - lesson through this agency. Such wonderful effusions of the - Holy Spirit as in some instances above recorded, were rarely - witnessed, but these continued labors were evidently owned in - the conversion of multitudes of souls. As the writer of the - above sketches, now a commissioned minister of Christ, has - well said, “It must have been the work of God, who causes weak - things to confound the mighty. It was God who led the way, and - raised up men and means, and guided his servants, and blessed - them with his presence; and to him be all the glory.” - - W. A. H. SEC’Y. - - NEW YORK, December, 1863. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber’s note: - -Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE YEARS IN THE ALLEGHANIES*** - - -******* This file should be named 52697-0.txt or 52697-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/2/6/9/52697 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: Five Years in the Alleghanies</p> -<p>Author: Jonathan Cross</p> -<p>Release Date: August 2, 2016 [eBook #52697]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE YEARS IN THE ALLEGHANIES***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4>E-text prepared by Heiko Evermann, Wayne Hammond,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - <a href="https://archive.org/details/fiveyearsinalleg01cros"> - https://archive.org/details/fiveyearsinalleg01cros</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div id="coverpage"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_001.jpg" alt="" /> -<h3>THE HAWK’S NEST, OR MARSHALL’S PILLAR.</h3> - -<p class="caption">FAYETTE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. <a href="#Page_167">PAGE 167</a>. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span></p> -</div> - -<h1> -FIVE YEARS<br /> - -<span class="small">IN</span><br /> - -THE ALLEGHANIES.<br /> - -<img src="images/i_002.jpg" alt="" /><br /> - -<span class="medium">PUBLISHED BY THE</span><br /> - -<span class="large">AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,</span><br /> - -<span class="medium">150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK.</span><br /> -</h1> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">2</span></p> - -<p>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by the -<span class="smcap">American Tract Society</span>, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court -of the Southern District of the State of New York. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">3</span></p> - -<h2 id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>.</th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The Preparation</td> - <td class="tdr">5</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The milestone—The elegant young man—The collier—The rich lady</td> - <td class="tdr">15</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The grog-shop—The rolling mills—The Universalist</td> - <td class="tdr">27</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The new “relagin”—The hard father and his little daughter—The deserted homes—The stolen books</td> - <td class="tdr">37</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Book preachers installed—“Caught with guile”—The clenched fist—Review</td> - <td class="tdr">49</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Governor of West Virginia—Surprising desolations—The lodging—The dinner—“Blazing the trees”</td> - <td class="tdr">57</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The hunter seeking books for a Sunday-school—The first sermon—Clock pedlars</td> - <td class="tdr">68</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The “Ironside” preacher and distiller—Wife and granddaughter</td> - <td class="tdr">75</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>A church dignitary—“Have you let Washington into heaven?”</td> - <td class="tdr">81</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The pistol—The surveyor’s son—A public-house—“You have prayed plenty”—The pocket-Bible</td> - <td class="tdr">89<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The summit of Cheat mountain—The “fellow that wanted to colport”—The sheriffs warrant—Wishing to be a <i>tract</i> agent</td> - <td class="tdr">97</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The wickedest man in the county—The bully—The shooting match—A gang of desperadoes</td> - <td class="tdr">111</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>A night on guard—Old Randal Lucas</td> - <td class="tdr">119</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“No church, no preacher, no Sunday-school, no day-school”—A young lady’s success</td> - <td class="tdr">128</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>“No such place as hell”—The busy lawyer—A Trinity—The great work in L——, and in U——</td> - <td class="tdr">137</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>A Pentecostal season—Service in a graveyard—A Seceder church</td> - <td class="tdr">151</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The Spirit’s blessing at C——, and near Marshall’s Pillar, and at L—— B—— —Col. S——‘s household</td> - <td class="tdr">163</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Grieving the Spirit—Striking effects of the Anxious Inquirer</td> - <td class="tdr">176</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Work of grace at L—— —The German professor—The wealthy young lady—“Don’t be offended”—A distinguished civilian</td> - <td class="tdr">188</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><a href="#CONCLUSION"><span class="smcap">The Conclusion</span></a></td> - <td class="tdr">201</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span></p> - -<p class="ph1">FIVE YEARS<br /> - -<span class="small">IN</span><br /> - -THE ALLEGHANIES.</p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</h2> - -<p>“It is not in man that walketh to direct his -steps.” In all my connection with the scenes -here truthfully described, as in the training -and discipline of earlier years through which -I was brought into them, I have been <i>led in a -way that I knew not</i>.</p> - -<p>I was born on the border of Western Pennsylvania -and Virginia, within the wilds of the -vast range of the Alleghanies, where the howl -of the wolf, the scream of the panther, and -the Indian’s tomahawk were my dread. In -infancy my father died, and a few years later -my pious mother. But God raised up a foster-mother, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span> -and in her family an intelligent -Scotch female teacher, who made me her -special charge during my first year at school. -Here, in connection with faithful preaching -from a tent in the woods on the Sabbath, and -instruction in the log-cabin day-schools, I received -those rudiments of education, and was -indoctrinated in that sound system of faith -and morals from which “old Scotia’s grandeur -springs.”</p> - -<p>Conscious of my ruin by sin and need of -the “new birth,” as set forth in old standard -works of Flavel and Boston which I read, for -three years from ten to thirteen, I was often -deeply impressed as to the state of my soul. -I attended constantly on preaching and the -monthly examinations, committed to memory -catechisms and scriptures, and wrestled -with God in prayer that I might be truly converted -and become a minister of the gospel; -and sometimes I indulged a trembling hope -in Christ.</p> - -<p>But among the snares and flatteries of ungodly -companions, my alarm and faint hopes -of salvation gradually subsided. I was at -length led to show my <i>manhood</i> by tobacco-chewing, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span> -card-playing, and even profanity. -Next I was enticed to read works on Universalism, -and for four years sought to stifle conscience -by arguments to prove that all will be -saved. Yet a still small voice was whispering, -“The soul that sinneth it shall die;” and -though jovial in company, when alone hell -would seem to flash up before me in all its -horrors. Two great powers were striving in -my heart: one to lead me into deeper sin; -the other crying, “Turn ye, turn ye; for why -will ye die?” At seventeen I went with an -ungodly young man into the then wilderness -of Central Ohio, where for half a year I heard -no sermon, hunted on the Sabbath, threw off -restraints, and as it were dared the vengeance -of God. Oh how astonishing the mercy -of God, to continue to strive with such a -rebel!</p> - -<p>When I arrived at eighteen, I spent two or -three nights in a week at the card-table, to -“kill time” and drown the whispers of the -Spirit. I thought of enlisting in the army, and -then resolved to go to sea: but in the providence -of God, a young woman just then engaged -my affections; thoughts of the army -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span> -and the sea were dislodged, and in a few -months we were married, depending on our -personal exertions for the means of support.</p> - -<p>We rented a piece of land, and entered upon -the scenes and responsibilities of real life. -After six months, I was seized with acute inflammatory -rheumatism, and the verdict of -the physician was, that the disease was incurable, -and I must die. Every feature was distorted -with agony; and yet the agony of soul -at the thought of being dragged into the presence -of God with all my sins unpardoned was -unspeakably more terrible. I saw that I had -shut my heart against the calls of God’s word -and Spirit a thousand times, and that I deserved -the deepest hell. I tried to pray, but -there seemed to be no God to hear, no Saviour -to intercede, no Spirit to comfort my lost -and wretched soul.</p> - -<p>As I was recovering, “The Afflicted Man’s -Companion,” received from a friend, was -greatly blessed to me, and I resolved by -God’s help to live the life and die the death -of the righteous. The struggle now began in -earnest. Such was my agony of soul, that I -often went to the woods and rolled on the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span> -ground for hours. Most of those around me, -for miles in every direction, were living in neglect -of God; intemperance fearfully prevailed; -there was not one religious friend to whom I -could reveal the feelings of my heart. I tried -to surrender myself to Christ, but in vain. A -voice seemed to follow me continually, “He -that is ashamed of me and of my words, of him -will I be ashamed before my Father and his -holy angels.” I felt that a public acknowledgment -of Christ and his cause was the only -way of relief; but I shrunk from the duty, -wishing to be a secret Christian, and go to -the Saviour, like Nicodemus, by night. This -distress continued for some months.</p> - -<p>At length I was enabled to ask a blessing -at my table, which seemed a hard task before -my then irreligious wife; and after this it was -a struggle of six months before I could summon -courage to commence family prayer, -even on a Sabbath evening. This duty was -then performed, and peace of mind followed. -After a few months I made known the state -of my mind to the officers of a church some -miles distant, and was admitted, though with -many sore misgivings and fears that I had -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span> -no right to the Lord’s supper, and was self-deceived.</p> - -<p>God graciously removed these doubts, and -I felt the claims of Christ to do something -for others. I first engaged in loaning such -good books as I could get, especially The Afflicted -Man’s Companion, Doddridge’s Rise -and Progress, and Pike’s Persuasives to Early -Piety; feeling assured that no one could -prayerfully read either of these books without -being converted.</p> - -<p>When I was in my twenty-third year, a -devoted Christian settled in a very wicked -community about five miles from me, where -he started a Sabbath-school. I went to see -it, and was greatly pleased with it. At the -close, I was introduced to Mr. P——; and to -his influence, under God, more than to that -of any other individual, is to be traced all I -have been enabled to do for the salvation of -souls. He told me all about the management -of a Sabbath-school, and how to get books -from the American Sunday-school Union, -which had just begun its heaven-born work -in our country. I immediately set to work, -raised five dollars, procured ten dollars’ worth -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span> -of books, and opened a Sabbath-school in -my own house. The room soon became too -small; but God put it into the heart of an irreligious -neighbor to offer a larger room, where -the school was continued for a year, and -where I also held a weekly meeting, usually -reading one of Burder’s Village Sermons. -More room soon became necessary, and a -large school-house was built; and there, for -twelve long years, the Sabbath-school and -religious meetings were kept up, until nearly -all the youth and most of the adult population -in the neighborhood were brought into -the church.</p> - -<p>This Sabbath-school and that of Mr. P—— -were the means God used to build up a good -congregation in one of the most wicked and -hopeless communities.</p> - -<p>With these results before me, as soon as I -heard of Colportage my heart beat with joy -at the thought that the poor would soon have -the gospel preached to them, and that thousands -of children, untaught at home, would -be reached by soul-saving truth adapted to -their opening minds.</p> - -<p>But the question came into my mind at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span> -once, “Who will go into these ignorant communities, -and deny themselves the comforts -of home, to do this work?” little thinking that -God, by fifteen years training, had selected -me for that very work in the Alleghanies.</p> - -<p>An incident that occurred some years previous -made a deep impression on my mind. -The ecclesiastical body with which I was connected -had requested the officers of vacant -churches to visit all the families in those -churches, and talk and pray with them. I -shrunk from the task; but encouraged by -Mr. P——, I entered on it with fear and -trembling. By the time the first visit was -paid I felt as if I should like to spend my -days in such a work. Late in the evening of -my first day I stopped at a house where the -man and his wife were members of our church. -A young man was present who was to be married -in a few days. I had some acquaintance -with him, and asked him if he had ever felt -any concern about his soul. He said, “A -little sometimes, but not much.” I urged -him to seek first the kingdom of God: and his -righteousness, and said to him, “For aught -you know, before another morning you may -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span> -be dead, or on a sick-bed from which you -may never rise.” At midnight that night he -woke up sick. In a day or two I was sent for. -He told me the moment he woke sick he -thought of what I said, and felt that he should -never get well. He lingered three months; -but more than a month before he died he -professed his faith in Christ. From that time -till he died, he daily urged his ungodly, intemperate -parents to repent and meet him in -heaven. The father soon became much distressed -about his soul; and a year after, he -died a most triumphant death, committing -his children to my care for religious instruction. -Within a few years the mother and -most of the children were united with God’s -people. All attributed their salvation to the -exhortations of that son and those of us who -attended him and his father. This encouraged -me to try to do more.</p> - -<p>On the morning of October 20, 1844, I -rose in peace, with my happy little family -around me; but a holy Providence ordered -that in twelve hours my dear wife was to be -in the cold embrace of death, and that her -death was to be the first of a chain of providences -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span> -to lead me “out into the highways and -hedges.”</p> - -<p>The next Sabbath morning our pulpit was -occupied by Rev. Mr. W——, who presented -the moral and religious wants of our country, -and tenderly appealed for laborers. At the -close of the service I was introduced to him, -and he accompanied me to the new-made -grave of my beloved companion. The band -that had bound me to my home was loosed. -On Monday morning the preacher called on -me again; preliminaries were arranged; and -I was commissioned as colporteur for Western -Virginia, consenting first to labor a short -time among the colliers in Western Pennsylvania. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> - -<p>I left home for the field of labor assigned -me on the first day of November, 1844.</p> - -<p>On my way on horseback I came alongside -of a young gentleman of very fine appearance. -We immediately entered into conversation -about the beautiful farms and fine improvements -we passed.</p> - -<p>When we had rode some distance, I observed -<i>a mile-stone</i>, which reminded me of a -promise made some years before, that I would -never travel a mile or spend an hour alone -with any person without talking on the subject -of religion. I immediately set about to -find something to make an introduction out -of. The first thing that caught my eye was -a very tall hickory pole, raised by one of the -political parties of the time, and said I feared -the political excitement was very seriously -affecting the interests of the church.</p> - -<p>The evasive reply of the elegant young man -led me to suppose he was a gay, thoughtless -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span> -young lawyer or physician, as I had discovered -that he was an educated man.</p> - -<p>I then observed to him that as we were -providentially thrown together, and I had -made a promise not to travel a mile or spend -an hour with any one without speaking on -the subject of religion, I hoped he had no -objections to such conversation.</p> - -<p>He said, “It is no doubt an important subject,” -but said it in such a way that I still -thought he was an irreligious man.</p> - -<p>I then observed that I felt a deep interest -in young men, especially as the destinies of -the church and nation would soon be in their -hands. That the only safeguard of either -was real piety. I then repeated the text, -“Except a man be born again he cannot see -the kingdom of God.” And after preaching -him a sermon from it near a mile long, he -observed,</p> - -<p>“Well, sir, that is very good theology.”</p> - -<p>The manner in which it was said led me -to reply, “Perhaps I have run against a -preacher.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” said he, “I am a new beginner -at it, and you have given me one of the best -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span> -lessons that I have ever learned. I thank -you for it; it needs no apology, and I hope -God will give me grace always to do likewise.”</p> - -<p>Our journey as we continued it to Pittsburg -was pleasant and profitable.</p> - -<p>In the evening I reached the hospitable -home of the Rev. Mr. J—— in the village of -T——, near to the city. It had been arranged -for his house to be my headquarters, -and I shall never forget the nights I spent -with him and his devoted companion. I -thought him as nigh Christian perfection as -man is ever raised in this world. Had it not -been for their wise Christian counsel and earnest -prayers, my faith and courage would have -yielded when I came to look on my field of labor. -My new work, to which everybody was a -stranger, and to be done among strangers in -the bustle of business and worldly excitements, -seemed to be too formidable an undertaking. -All nations seemed to be represented; -scores intoxicated, and blaspheming -God’s holy name. And what added to the -difficulty was, that my books did not come -to hand for three days, leaving me that time -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span> -to magnify molehills into mountains of difficulty.</p> - -<p>But this delay was the most important part -of my training. Those were days of most -earnest searchings of heart, while such passages -of Scripture as, “He that is ashamed of -me and my words, of him will I be ashamed -before my Father and his holy angels,” were -constantly ringing in my ears.</p> - -<p>On the evening of the third day the box of -books came. I had engaged a class-leader in -the Methodist church to go with me the first -day; but the sight of the box made me tremble, -and so great was the dread of beginning -the work that evening, that I resolved that if -God did not give me strength by the next -morning, I would start home and give it up. -The night was spent without sleep. I can -truly say I was in an agony till four o’clock -in the morning. Then in a moment of time -all my fears were gone, and I longed for the -morning to come that I might begin my work.</p> - -<p>By eight o’clock in the morning I called on -Mr. S—— who was to accompany me, with -my basket filled with good books and tracts.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes we entered the first house. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span> -They were Germans; very irreligious. We -talked and prayed with them, and sold some -books. They seemed pleased with the visit, -and thanked us for it.</p> - -<p>The next house we entered bore the brand -of intemperance. The husband was sitting -by the fire with a sore hand and red eyes. -We preached to him “righteousness, temperance, -and a judgment to come,” till he trembled -and wept like a child. He promised to -drink no more, joined a temperance society -that night, became a church-going man, provided -for his family, and as far as I know -has turned out well.</p> - -<p>During that day we visited twenty-seven -families, talked and prayed with all of them, -and distributed near twenty dollars’ worth of -books. Many shed tears while we talked -with them of Christ and salvation, and promised -to attend to the “one thing needful.”</p> - -<p>Mr. S——, my fellow-laborer, was so stirred -in soul with the day’s work, that he said he -must let his business stand and go the next -day.</p> - -<p>The next morning we started, full of zeal -and hope. We met with many of the most -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span> -wicked and degraded people that I had ever -seen. Some listened to us with attention, -while others treated us with contempt. Late -in the evening, while we were visiting a row -of board shanties, occupied by coal diggers, -I was told not to venture into one of the shanties; -that the man was almost a giant in size -and strength, and a very dangerous man; that -he was a terror to the neighborhood, and had -beaten his wife very badly the day before. I -replied there was the more need to see him, -and I would go in. My friend would not -even come to the door of the shanty, for fear -of him.</p> - -<p>The shanty was sixteen feet square, no -floor but the earth; neither chair, table, nor -bed except a bundle of straw in one corner. -He was seated on a large block of coal at one -side of the fire, and his wife on another block -at the other side, while the children were -lying on the ground playing between them. -The woman’s face bore testimony of the beating -she had gotten the day before.</p> - -<p>He was one of the most fiendish-looking -men I ever saw. He was of enormous size, was -clothed with rags, and did not appear as if he -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span> -had been washed for months. He was as -black as coal-dust could make him. I must -confess it required all the courage I could -summon to speak to him.</p> - -<p>I approached him, and extended my hand, -and said to him, “I have come to supply you -with some good books to comfort you and -point you to heaven. Have you a Bible?” -“No,” said he. “Can you read?” “Yes, a -little.” “Do you love Jesus Christ?” “I -fear not, sir.” I then urged him by every -thing sacred to attend to his soul’s salvation -without delay; that death, judgment, and -eternity were hastening on, and pictured to -him as well as I could the awful consequences -of dying in his sins. The tears ran down his -blackened cheeks till the coal-dust was washed -away below his eyes. I gave him a book, -and prayed with him. He begged me to call -again, and said, “You are the first man that -ever spoke to me about my soul.”</p> - -<p>During this day we visited twenty-two families, -and had religious conversation and prayer -with each of them. Mr. S—— had become -so deeply interested, that he said he must go -another day. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span></p> - -<p>The next day we concluded to visit a coal -digger’s boarding-house, said to be the wickedest -den that was to be found in the whole -district. I will not attempt to describe its -character. We entered late in the evening, -as this was the only time we could find the -men in. The house was kept by an old -woman and her sons, who worked in the -mines and were notorious for their daring -profanity.</p> - -<p>When we entered the house several men -were playing cards, others were lying on -benches about the room in various stages of -intoxication. My colaborer was a small, timid -man, and seemed somewhat alarmed.</p> - -<p>I introduced our errand by proposing to -sell them some good books, which they declined -even to look at. I then commenced a -general exhortation, which had no effect more -than pouring water on a rock. I then called -on my friend to pray, as it was his turn, and -we had agreed to lead in turns. This he did -with great fervor, and was responded to by -the men with vulgar songs, and such other -behavior as I have never seen before or -since. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span></p> - -<p>At the close of his prayer I turned to the -old woman and told her I was astonished at -the mercy of God that permitted such a family -to live, and portrayed the awful consequences -of her meeting her household in hell. -I drew every alarming picture I could summon -from the Bible or the resources of my -own mind. After some time the old woman -began to weep, and she promised to attend -the mission chapel the next Sabbath. After -supplying them with a copy of Baxter’s Call, -and a number of suitable tracts, we left them.</p> - -<p>The next Sabbath the old woman was at -the chapel. A series of religious meetings -began that day, and before its close, as my -friend informed me, who was a worshipper -there, the old woman and one of her sons -professed religion.</p> - -<p>One day we entered a room where a man -was lying sick. We introduced the subject -of religion to him. He ground his teeth with -rage, and swore he did not want to hear any -thing on that subject. I then began to inquire -about his complaints, and to prescribe -some simple remedies, and he soon became -calm. After some time I remarked that afflictions -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span> -did not come by chance, neither did -trouble spring out of the ground, but they -were all sent of God for some wise purpose. -“Do you think so?” said he. “Yes,” said I, -“and for our good.” He then listened attentively, -and soon shed tears. Though he was -very poor, he bought some books. I prayed -with him, and left him, but not without many -thanks and entreaties to come and see him -as often as I could.</p> - -<p>This closed the work of three days, in -which time we had visited eighty-five families.</p> - -<p>These three days were the most interesting -days that I had ever spent. By the next -morning I found my voice almost gone, and -all my limbs trembling. The excitement of -the work and intensity of feeling had prostrated -me before I was aware of it.</p> - -<p>After a day or two of rest I resumed my -labors for three weeks, when I went home a -few days.</p> - -<p>I then returned to the same place, and -spent a month in visiting new families and -revisiting old ones; and I shall never forget -the cordial shake of the hand that I got almost -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span> -every day, when I would meet some one -in the house or on the street whom I had -before conversed with and supplied with a -book or tract. Special services had been -held in several churches, and quite a number -had professed religion. One minister told me -he had taken into his church forty, many of -whom dated their first religious impressions -to reading the books and tracts I had sold or -given them, others referred to the visits as -the means of their awakening.</p> - -<p>There was one thing in the work which -struck me with great force—the effect on -Christian people. I tried as far as possible -to get some good man to go with me in my -visits. It was a great help to me and added -to my success, and at the same time it stirred -up many to work for Christ that had never -done any thing before.</p> - -<p>One instance I will name of a Miss L——, -though she had been a worker. She was a -lady of large wealth, and had a number of -poor tenants living on her property. She -heard of my work, and came to see me. At -her request I went to visit her “parish,” as -she called it. I went at the set time, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span> -she was ready to go with me, basket in hand. -During the day we visited thirty families, and -talked and prayed in every house. When my -strength failed she took it up, and such entreaties -to sinners I have seldom heard, and -such prayers are seldom offered. During -that day I found eleven persons that attributed -their conversion to her efforts with books -and tracts. She said she was a colporteur -before, but did not know it till that day. -Reader, go and do likewise. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> - -<p>I now add a number of facts and incidents -that occurred during these two months of -labor.</p> - -<p>There was a Mr. G——, a coal-digger, of -desperate character, that I had been warned -not to visit. I was told that he was such an -abandoned character that he was hopeless; -that he spent the most of every night in a -miserable doggery, drinking and fighting. I -had passed his house every day for some -time, but did not feel satisfied with myself -for neglecting it.</p> - -<p>At last I felt constrained to call one evening; -but he had not returned from his work. -I had a long, earnest talk with his wife, who -seemed very careless and wicked. All I could -say made no impression on her. I gave her -a copy of Baxter’s Call, with the earnest request -that she and her husband would read -it. What followed I will relate as near as I -can in his own words in a prayer-meeting in -his own house about two weeks after. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span></p> - -<p>“While eating my supper, my wife told me -some man had been here and left a book, -which he was very desirous she and I should -read. I got the book to look at it, and read -a few pages without much interest; but as I -was very tired, I concluded not to go to the -grog-shop that night. In the morning, which -was Sunday morning, I felt inclined to go and -get my bitters; but seeing the book, I concluded -to read till breakfast, and then go. By the -time breakfast was ready I felt pretty serious, -and asked my wife if she would not like to go to -church—a place we had not been in for eight -years. She said she had no objections. I -read till it was time to go, and began to feel -somewhat anxious about my soul. I listened -to the preaching with intense interest. I read -the book nearly through that evening, went -back to the church that night, and when those -who desired to have an interest in Christ were -called for, I came forward. A week after, I -found peace.”</p> - -<p>He then added, “If it had not been for -that book, I think myself and wife would -have been in hell to-night. That gun was -loaded,” pointing to an old gun in the corner, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span> -“with a view of killing myself and wife near a -month ago, and if God had not saved me, it -would likely have been done before this time. -I was a miserable man; life was a burden; -but now I am happy.”</p> - -<p>This narrative brought tears to all our eyes, -and joy to our hearts.</p> - -<p>I visited some of the grog-shops around -the village every day to supply their customers -with temperance tracts. In the village -proper, no liquor could be sold, as in all the -deeds for lots there was a temperance clause -that forfeited the property if liquor was sold; -but all round the village the grog was abundant, -and customers plenty.</p> - -<p>Passing one of these drinking places one -day I saw several customers in, and entered -the bar-room with my tracts. The liquor-sellers -had got to know me, and often looked -daggers at me. A good-looking man, well -dressed, and about half drunk, was approaching -the counter to get a six-cent drink. Said -I, “My friend, I can give you something -for six cents that will do you much more -good, and no harm.” He asked me what it -was, when I presented to him Baxter’s Call. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span> -I told him the liquor might kill him, and if -he would read that book with prayerful attention, -it might save his soul. He said he -would buy the book if he had the money, but -that he had only six cents to pay for that -glass of liquor, which by this time was standing -on the counter.</p> - -<p>We both came up to the counter, when I -laid the book beside the glass, saying, “Here -is life or death for six cents.” The grog-seller -said I had no business to come there annoying -his customers, and injuring his business. -I urged the man at the risk of losing -his soul to buy and read the book. The -struggle seemed to be between life and death. -At last he handed me the money, took the -book, and went out of the room. I then -handed the landlord a book worth more than -the whiskey, and told him to read it, and then -sell it to make up the loss. This is only a -sample of every day occurrences in village and -city colportage. Eternity only will reveal the -results.</p> - -<p>At the request of the proprietors of a large -rolling-mill, I visited those in their employ.</p> - -<p>Among them was a man that professed to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span> -be a kind of Universalist preacher. He was -a boss over a number of hands, and I was -told was shrewd and fond of argument, and -was doing much injury in propagating his -opinions. Late one evening I called at his -rooms. There was no one in but his wife. I -conversed with her some time, and found her -a pious Christian woman. I asked her about -her husband. She burst into tears, and said -he was a kind husband, but a wicked man; -that he preached sometimes, and was a Universalist.</p> - -<p>While I was urging her to labor and pray -for his salvation, a fine-looking man, of a -haughty mien and deportment, came in.</p> - -<p>I arose and introduced myself, and asked -if he was Mr. V——, the gentleman of the -house. He replied that he was. I then told -him I was a colporteur visiting from house to -house, selling and giving books, and talking -and praying with the people.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I have heard of you about here for -two or three days. I am a Universalist, sir; -I don’t believe there is any such place as -hell.” I replied that it would be well for -many of us if that doctrine was true, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">32</span> -asked him how long he had been a Universalist. -He said about eight years; that his -mother had belonged to the orthodox, and -taught him in his early years about a terrible -place called hell, and that he knew no better -till about eight years ago. That for three or -four years after he heard the true doctrine of -the salvation of all men, he was troubled -with those foolish prejudices; but for the -last four years he had never had a solitary -<i>pang</i> on that subject.</p> - -<p>I replied that it was often hard to get rid -of a mother’s instructions and prayers; that -it had taken the devil four years to silence -his conscience, and get them put to sleep.</p> - -<p>“Do you feel confident,” I said, “that you -are this moment prepared to enter heaven if -you were to die?” “Yes,” said he, “as certain -as I am that the sun rises and sets.” -“Well,” said I, “is not this rather a toilsome -world to live in?” “Yes,” said he, “it is, -and I have a full share of it.” “Then,” said -I, “why not cut your throat, and go right to -heaven this evening?” “Oh,” said he, “I -have my wife to provide for.” “Oh,” said I, -“cut her throat, and take her along.” “Oh,” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">33</span> -said he, “that would be wrong.” “No,” said -I, “if your creed is right, it cannot be wrong; -and even if it should, you would be done with -all the consequences of the wrong as soon as -you were dead.” He hung his head, and -made no further reply. I told him I hoped -that he had seen the fallacy of his belief, and -would at once abandon such soul-destroying -opinions. I sold him several books, and left -him.</p> - -<p>As the men worked by turns all night in -the rolling-mills, and it was difficult to gain -access to them, one of the proprietors proposed -that he would join me to visit them all -the next Sabbath, when they often gathered -in groups to play cards and drink. Accordingly -the next Sabbath morning we were -joined by a theological student, and commenced -going round the houses and rooms, -near one hundred in number.</p> - -<p>Late in the evening we entered the apartments -of Mr. V—— and his wife. They were -sitting reading new books, which I think were -those I had sold them. I said, “Good evening, -Mr. V——. I have come to talk with you -again, and I am glad to see you reading those -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">34</span> -books. I hope you have changed your mind -on religious subjects.” “No,” said he, “I -am more convinced than ever that I am -right.” “Well,” said I, “I want to ask you -a few questions by the way of information, -as you profess to have a near cut to heaven.” -Said he, “I am not going to answer any more -of your questions. I don’t like to be criticized.” -I told him I would only ask him -easy questions; that I wanted to know what -that scripture meant which speaks of a class -of men who “shall not be forgiven, neither -in this world, nor in the world to come.” -Said he, “I am not going to answer any -more questions.”</p> - -<p>Mr. R—— said he would like to ask him -one question. “There were two thieves crucified -with Christ. He said to the one, ‘This -day shalt thou be with me in paradise;’ where -did the other go?” He made no answer.</p> - -<p>We all three united in urging him to repent -and believe in Christ, but he made no answer. -At last I said, “Brethren, unless God will -hear and answer prayer in this man’s behalf, -he is a lost man.” His wife was weeping as if -her heart would break. We knelt in prayer, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">35</span> -and I think there were four earnest hearts -lifted up to God. He sat still some minutes, -but at last he knelt. When we rose from -our knees the tears were running down his -cheeks. I said, “Do you feel no ‘pangs’ -now?” With a sob that seemed to come -from his heart, he said, “I don’t know what -has come over me.” We then pointed him to -the Saviour, and told him we believed his -feelings were produced by the Spirit of God. -Of all the penitents that I have ever seen, I -hardly remember one who seemed so deeply -moved as this man. During the time he remained -in that place he seemed to be an entirely -changed man.</p> - -<p>One day, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. -J——, we called at the office of a very fine-looking -gentleman, and introduced the subject -of religion to him. He was rather surly -and sceptical. I proposed to sell him a book, -but he declined, saying that he seldom read -such books. At last I proposed to give him -a copy of Nelson on Infidelity, and went on -to say that it equalled any romance in interest. -At last he said, “I have money plenty -to buy books, and as you are so urgent about -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">36</span> -it, I will buy it, and read it; and if it is not -as good as you say it is, I will give you a -thrashing the first time I catch you.” I told -him I would run the risk of that if he would -read the book carefully.</p> - -<p>About ten days after we were passing -again, and called on him. He met us in the -most cordial manner. I told him I had called -to see whether he would thrash me or not for -the book I had sold him. “Oh,” said he, “it is -the best book I ever read. I would not take -five dollars for it, if I could not get another like -it.” We found him deeply anxious about his -soul. After a long talk with him, I told him -I was about to close my labors there, and -never expected to meet him again in this -world, and urged him to meet me in heaven. -With tears running down his cheeks, he said -to Mr. J——, “Will <i>you</i> not come and see -me again?” Mr. J—— said with tears that -he would, and he no doubt did very frequently. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">37</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> - -<p>Calling one day at a fine country-house in -Western Pennsylvania, I found a prosperous -Irish family of more than ordinary intelligence. -I inquired if they wanted some good -religious books. The father replied, “What -kind of <i>relagin</i> do you teach?” I replied, -“The holy catholic religion.” “Ah, it’s not -the Roman-catholic relagin. What objection -have you to the Roman-catholic relagin?” -I replied that all that I desired was, -to teach the people to repent and believe in -the Lord Jesus Christ and to lead holy lives, -and that I was not going about to argue with -people about their churches. Still he insisted -on my telling him what objections I had -to the Roman-catholic church.</p> - -<p>At last I told him they violated the second -commandment by the use of images in the -worship of God. But this he denied. I asked -him to get his Bible and compare it with mine. -He brought out the Douay Catechism to prove -he was right, and told me that was his Bible. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">38</span> -I got mine; but he forbade my reading it, as -it was a heretic’s Bible. I insisted on having -Bible authority for the use of images in God’s -worship. As the old man seemed to be at a -loss to defend his position, one of his daughters, -a beautiful girl, presented herself before -me, and said, “I can give you Bible plenty -for the use of images, and the good resulting -from the use of them. What was it that Moses -put up on the pole for the Israelites to -look at when the fiery serpents bit them?” -I explained to her that the brazen serpent -was set up, not to be worshipped, but simply -looked at as a type of Christ, to whom dying -sinners may look and live. But all my efforts -were in vain. As I left them, she was still -asking me to repent, and come over to the -true Roman-catholic church as the only place -of safety.</p> - -<p>A few days after, the Rev. Mr. J—— requested -me to visit the town of S——, where -he occasionally preached, and had made an -appointment for me to address the people at -night, preparatory to visiting all the families. -He gave me a letter of introduction to one of -his members, who lived a mile from the village, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">39</span> -and who he expected would go with me. -I came to his house near dark, almost frozen. -He received me very coldly, and neither offered -me food or company. I inquired the -way to town, and soon left.</p> - -<p>The night was dark, the snow deep, the -cold intense, and I was an entire stranger in -the place. As I rode along the street, every -door and window was shut, till I came to a -store. I tied my horse and stepped in, and -found a large, fine-looking man sitting by the -stove alone. By asking a few questions, I -learned it was Mr. S——, the proprietor of -the town. I told him I was glad to make his -acquaintance. That I had come there at the -request of the Rev. Mr. J——, to hold a meeting -that night, and to spend a few days visiting -his people and supplying them with good -religious books, and I would be glad to have -his counsel and advice as to the best way to -do it.</p> - -<p>Said he, “It depends very much, sir, on the -kind of religious books you want to circulate -here. I suppose you have the Confession of -Faith of the Presbyterian church among them, -and I can prove that it is full of falsehoods; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">40</span> -and more than that, I want you to know, sir, -that I have made a promise to kick out of my -house every man that comes in it that has -graduated at Jefferson College, and studied -theology at the Western Seminary.” As he -closed the sentence, he stood up before me, as -if he was going to make good his promise. I -requested him to wait till I should explain my -object. I told him I had no Confessions -of Faith, nor any denominational books; that -they were all the books of the American Tract -Society, and approved by nearly all evangelical -Christians, and consequently not sectarian. -And as to the other objection, I had -never graduated either at Jefferson College -or the Western Theological Seminary, consequently -he was barking up the wrong tree. -“Why,” said he, “are you not a Presbyterian -preacher?” “No, sir,” said I, “I -have not the honor to be a preacher.” He -turned instantly and walked out, leaving me -alone.</p> - -<p>I stepped to the door, and asked a little boy -who was passing if there was a Mr. G—— -living in the town. “Yes,” said he, “he lives -in the adjoining house.” I stepped to the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">41</span> -door, and was cordially greeted by an old -acquaintance. In a few minutes I was seated -at a sumptuously supplied table, which I very -much needed; and an hour after was in a -school-house, holding forth to the people, -with my belligerent friend for one of my hearers. -I visited all the town; but Mr. S—— -carefully avoided meeting me, always turning -away to shun me; but I supplied his family -with a good stock of books.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At the close of my labors in that town, I -entered a very hilly region of country, and -stopped over night with a Mr. W——, an -aged, infirm man, who sent his son with me -the next day to hunt up the cabins of the -poor. The son had spent some years in a -roving life, and seemed totally indifferent -about religion.</p> - -<p>In the first cabin we called at, we found a -young woman in the last stages of a decline. -I have seldom seen any soul so full of joy and -peace. She talked more like an inhabitant -of heaven than of earth. While we spoke of -Christ’s love, and what he had done for her, -I saw the tears course down my companion’s -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">42</span> -cheeks. When we left her he said, “Religion -is a reality.”</p> - -<p>After visiting a few more families, we came -in sight of a beautiful farm, which lay in a -valley. Mr. W—— said to me, “I will not -go with you to that man’s house. He is an -unbeliever, and a shrewd fellow, and if you -talk to him on religion as you have done to -others, he will get mad, and insult you. His -wife is pious; but I have heard him say that -when the preacher came to visit his family he -kept out of the way, because he did not wish -to insult him; and he will certainly insult -you, if you speak to him on that subject.” -Said I, “He has the more need to be visited. -Such persons are the very ones I am sent to -hunt up; but as he may take offence at you -for leading me to his house, you may fall behind, -and come up after me,” which he concluded -to do.</p> - -<p>As I approached the house, I got off my -horse, and took my big saddle-bags, filled -with books, on my arm, and stepped into the -house. In a few minutes all the children were -in. They were fine, intelligent children; and -to my surprise, I recognized their mother as a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">43</span> -once dashing young lady I had known well -fifteen years before; but she had entirely forgotten -me.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes in came my travelling -companion and Mr. C—— with him; Mr. -C——’s face indicating great determination -and firmness. I immediately began to hunt for -a text to begin with, and chose a little girl of -three or four years old, whom I called to my -side. I began to tell her about Jesus, and -what he did to save sinners, and how deeply -praying fathers and mothers felt for their -dear children, whom they would soon meet -at the bar of God. I asked her if father and -mother did not pray for her. By this time -the mother and the oldest daughter were -weeping freely. I asked the mother if she -would not rather see her children converted -to God than any thing else. “Oh, yes,” she -exclaimed, “it burdens my heart.” I cast -my eye round towards Mr. C—— and Mr. -W——, and both were weeping.</p> - -<p>“Mr. C——,” said I, “don’t you feel concerned -about the souls of this interesting -group of children which God has given you -to train up for Him?” “Not as much as I -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">44</span> -ought to do.” His heart was so full he could -scarcely utter one word. Said I, “Are you -not a professor of religion?” “No, I am not. -I have been a very careless man on that subject. -When I was a young man I was very -much concerned for a while, but I fell in with -wicked young men, and read bad books, and -I have entirely neglected religion ever since. -But I don’t know what has come over me -now.”</p> - -<p>“I trust,” said I, “it is the Spirit of God -that has touched your heart, and I beseech -you now to yield to his divine solicitations; -not to delay for one moment. If you resist -the Holy Ghost now, he may leave you for -ever, and then your doom will be sealed; but -if you now give up all for Christ, you will find -peace, and there may be joy in heaven among -the angels this moment.” He cried out in -the agony of his soul, “What shall I do to be -saved?” I urged him to enter that night on -all the duties that God had enjoined on him; -to read his Bible, and pray for himself and -family. He pledged his word to me to do it. -He kept that pledge. I prayed with him, sold -him eighteen volumes of good books, and left -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">45</span> -the whole family in tears. He soon after -joined the church; and Mr. W——, I was -told, professed religion soon after, and attributed -his conversion to a day’s travel with a -colporteur.</p> - -<p>I held a prayer-meeting that night at the -house of Mr. H——, a man of remarkable -piety and benevolence. He told me of an -incident that marked his whole life, and made -him what he was. Said he, “I served my -time with a hard master to learn the wagon-making -business. I had engaged to go, the -day I was free, some forty miles to work as a -journeyman. The evening before I was to -start, a good man gave me his advice, and at -the close asked me if I had money to pay my -way. I told him I had no money, but could -get there, as I was going to walk. He handed -me fifty cents, all he had, as a present. -While on my way I met a poor miserable -man begging. He told me he was starving. -I gave him the fifty cents, as I had no way -to divide it. Before I had gone many rods I -found a silver dollar lying on the road, over -which he had stepped. I said to myself, -‘<i>God sent this</i>,’ and I determined to serve him -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">46</span> -all the days of my life; and he has blessed -me ever since.”</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In a few days I commenced labor along the -line between Western Pennsylvania and Western -Virginia. The Rev. Mr. R—— took a -deep interest in my work, and travelled more -than a week with me. Our work made quite -a stir among the people. The news spread -that we were entering every house, talking -and praying.</p> - -<p>We set a day to visit a neighborhood that -was noted for its wickedness. There were -several families owning fine farms who never -entered a church. On the day set, we took -an early start. As we approached the first -house, we saw all the inmates running to the -barn. We knocked at the door, but no answer. -We went to the barn; but before we -reached it they were running across the adjoining -field. We understood the cause, and -came back to the house, and put in at the -window Baxter’s Call and a few suitable -tracts, with the earnest prayer for God’s blessing -to attend the reading of them.</p> - -<p>We went on to the next house, but it was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">47</span> -closed, and no one to be found. We here -also installed Baxter and several other preachers -through the window; and so on till we -had visited six families. At every one of -these houses the people either fled or concealed -themselves at our approach. Mr. R—— -pleasantly observed, as we were poor men, -he thought the best thing we could do for our -worldly interests would be to take possession -of the property, for he supposed they would -never come to dispossess us. Great fear fell -upon sinners at our approach.</p> - -<p>A few miles distant I held a prayer-meeting -one night, and had a large crowd. At -the close, I laid my books on the table, and -told them that I would sell to any that wanted -to buy. In a little time the man of the house -told me that a man had <i>stolen</i> his pocket full; -that he was a very bad man, and we should -have a fight if we attempted to take them -from him. Among them was a fine pocket -Bible. So I concluded to let them go, and -pray that God would overrule his wickedness -for good.</p> - -<p>Some weeks after, while visiting along the -Ohio river hills among the wood-choppers -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">48</span> -near the same place, I called at a cabin, and -found a woman in deep distress about her -soul. She told me she had got a book that -was the cause. That a man had sold it to a -neighbor. They were the fourth family that -had read it, and all were concerned about -their souls. I found all the families she -named, and the book thus blessed was a copy -of Baxter’s Call which that man stole from -me and sold to one of these families. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">49</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</h2> - -<p>During my labors in this region I was frequently -requested to visit G——, a town that -had been laid out about the close of the Revolutionary -war, and is noticed in the history -of the Indian wars as being near the scene -of some bloody struggles. It contained over -three hundred inhabitants, but never had a -church in it. A good man built one near -by.</p> - -<p>The Rev. Mr. R—— sent a notice that he -and I would be there on a certain evening to -hold a meeting. A few came. He preached, -and I made a statement about my work, and -told them I was going to visit the town to -talk and pray with each family, and supply -them with religious books. I had engaged a -class-leader in the Methodist church, who -lived a few miles distant, to go with me.</p> - -<p>We entered the village the next morning -soon after breakfast. The first four or five -houses we stopped at we could find no one at -home, and we soon found they were hiding -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">50</span> -from us. We could see heads out at the doors -and windows as we approached the house; -but when we would knock there was no answer. -As soon as we understood the matter, -I told my colaborer they should not foil us -in this way; that I would install preachers in -every house before I left the place. I immediately -commenced pushing in the old hats -that were stuck in the broken windows, and -threw into the houses a Baxter’s Call, Alleine’s -Alarm, or a Sabbath Manual, and some -of the most awakening tracts.</p> - -<p>We spent two days in this work. With all -the skill we could use, we did not get into -one third of the houses; but we put good -books into every one.</p> - -<p>Some few months after, a minister who was -preaching near by found many interested -about their souls. He held daily meetings -for some time, and more than fifty professed -faith in Christ; many dating their first religious -impressions to the silent preachers -thrown into their houses at the time of our -visit. In 1861, on the railroad, I passed in -sight of this town lying across the Ohio river, -and instead of the old dilapidated village it -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</span> -was seventeen years before, it looked to be -new and flourishing.</p> - -<p>At the close of my labors in that community -I went to B—— county, Va., at the request -of Rev. Mr. W——, who had a large country -charge and was laid up by bad health. He -requested me, in addition to visiting all the -families, to hold prayer-meetings among his -people every night. This I did for one month, -and God’s Spirit seemed to be present at -every meeting. Every one I talked with -seemed to be moved by the Spirit. I sold -more than $200 worth of books; and a few -months after, more than one hundred persons -were added to the churches. Mr. W—— afterwards -stated that a large portion of them -had been led to consideration by reading the -books we scattered among them.</p> - -<p>He often gave me directions where to go, -and what kind of people I should find them -to be. On one occasion he directed me to a -neighborhood where he had four or five families -living some miles from the church. The -parents all professors, with large irreligious -families, and no family altars.</p> - -<p>The first family of them I called on, I soon -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</span> -found to be but little interested about religion. -I spoke with the father as if he were a -devout praying man; but told him I had no -doubt there were some prayerless families in -that neighborhood; and that God had declared -that he would “pour out his fury on -the families that call not on his name.” I -spoke of the sad effect of such ungodly living -on children, and urged him to try and talk -with all his neighbors about it, and to go with -me a day or two till we should try to wake up -such professors of religion. His family were -present. I saw his very soul was pierced.</p> - -<p>I visited all the families the same way. -God’s Spirit seemed to stir every soul. In a -few months after, the pastor was able to visit -them, and found that each had established -the family altar. Each one resolved that he -would begin to pray in his own family, and -then he could go and urge others to do the -same. Neither of them supposed that I suspected -them of living without prayer till they -began to compare notes; and then they found -I had talked to all the same way. They sent -me their thanks by their pastor for “catching -them with guile.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</span></p> - -<p>In another neighborhood, I was urged by -a very good man to visit his brother-in-law, -who he told me was a wicked man, and raising -a large family like heathen. He told me -that he was a gentleman in his behavior to -strangers, and would treat me kindly; but to -secure for me a kind reception, he sent with -me a young man who was a nephew both of -himself and of the gentleman. The day was -extremely cold, and the distance some four or -five miles. We visited several cabins along -the river hills, and expected to reach his house -about noon, and remain there till the next -day.</p> - -<p>About one o’clock we came to the place. -It seemed to be the abode of plenty. We -tied our horses, and entered a large front room. -Mr. C——, the head of the family, was in it -alone, shelling corn on a machine, keeping up -a hot fire by burning the cobs. His nephew -introduced me to him, but he scarce looked at -me, spoke very little, and went on with his -work, without asking me even to sit down. -We both sat some time without a word being -spoken, when the young man passed through -into another room, where the family were talking. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</span> -As soon as I got warm, I concluded to -try and do my work and leave the house, as -every thing looked rather gloomy.</p> - -<p>He was a big, fierce-looking man. His countenance -indicated that he was a very wicked -man, which proved to be the fact. I sometimes -thought it would be best to leave him -without saying any thing, but my conscience -would not let me do that. At last I said, “Mr. -C——, I am engaged in distributing good -religious books, published by the American -Tract Society, and I have called to supply -you and your family with them.” I had scarcely -got the words spoken, when he sprang right -before me, with his fist clinched, and called -me a horse-thief and robber, and every vile -name that a vile tongue could use, interspersed -with the most awful oaths I ever -heard. He rubbed his fist under my nose, -and swore he would smash my face into a -jelly. I sat still for some time without speaking, -in the hope that he would stop, that I -might reason with him; but it was in vain.</p> - -<p>At last I thought, if I am the cause of this -man’s sinning so much, I will leave him. I rose -to my feet and said, “Mr. C——, if you will -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">55</span> -stop a moment till I speak, I will leave your -house. I came here at the special request of -Mr. E——, your brother-in-law, to try to do -good to you and your family. And now, sir, -I warn you, that if you do not repent you will -perish. I leave a message from God to you -on this table,” placing there Baxter’s Call and -a number of tracts; “and if you reject them, -they will meet you as witnesses on the judgment-day.” -The wicked man quailed, and -tried to make apologies for his abuse of me; -but I told him to ask God for pardon, and not -me, for I was not in the least injured. I never -saw the place or the man afterwards; but I -heard he soon went to ruin. None of the family -showed their faces during the interview.</p> - -<p>Eighteen years have now passed since these -labors were performed, and sufficient time has -elapsed for all the dust and excitement to pass -away; and on a calm review of that period of -my life and labors, I look on it as the most -important of any through which I ever passed: -not in actual results, but in the development -of a great system of evangelization, which has -carried salvation to thousands who had never -been reached by saving truth. A few had previously -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">56</span> -entered this field of Christian effort -for the destitute, and done much, north and -west; but this was the beginning of the work -in the middle and southern states, which has -reached millions of all classes and conditions, -both bond and free. As to myself, I found it -the best school I ever entered for spiritual -and intellectual improvement, and if I have -since been the instrument of any good to my -fellow-men, the labors of the little time referred -to prepared me for it.</p> - -<p>At the close of this month’s work, two gentlemen -called on me one evening, and requested -me to take a walk in the village of -P——. I was soon led into a tailor’s shop, -and had my measure taken; and then from -one store to another, till a fine new suit, from -head to foot, was selected, costing near fifty -dollars. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">57</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> - -<p>April 1, 1845, I commenced my labors in -the town of F——, in Western Virginia. As -soon as the object of my visit to that region -was known, I received a cordial welcome from -a large majority of the people, who did all -they could to aid me in my work. Mr. P——, -a young lawyer at that time, and since governor -of Western Virginia, volunteered to go -with me to every house in the town. His -high position and universal popularity made -the work pleasant and successful. In three -days my buggy load of books were circulated -in the village.</p> - -<p>I immediately replenished my stock, and -commenced my work in the country among -the mountains. It was like a translation from -sunlight into darkness—from a high civilization -into one of ignorance and superstition, -with here and there a family of wealth and -refinement.</p> - -<p>The very broken, rugged state of the country, -with a sparse population, rendered it -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">58</span> -impossible for the people to support either -schools or churches. Consequently in many -isolated communities whole families grew up -without any one knowing the alphabet, and -very few places had preaching more than -once in a month, and that on a week-day in -some log cabin to a few women. I have visited -as many as ten families in succession, in -one case fourteen, without finding a Bible. -It will hardly be thought strange that youth -of both sexes were often found who could -not tell who is the Saviour of sinners, and -that when they were told of Christ dying -for sinners, they would look incredulous and -say, we live so much out of the way that we -never hear any news. They often lived in -small cabins, without any furniture but such -as they made with an axe and an auger. All -they raised to eat was corn and potatoes, with -a few hogs; most of their meat being that of -the various wild animals which abounded in -the mountains. They were mostly kind and -hospitable, and seemed to be sorry that they -could not accommodate me better. I shall -endeavor faithfully to describe one journey, -which will represent many more. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">59</span></p> - -<p>About the time I went into that region, a -new missionary circuit had been laid out by -the Methodist Protestant church through a -broken mountain country, where the gospel -had never been preached; and the Rev. Mr. -C—— was appointed to go round it once in -each month, which required a ride of more -than one hundred miles, most of the way by -mere bridle paths.</p> - -<p>He had been once or twice round the circuit -before I became acquainted with him. -As soon as he learned my business he invited -me to go with him. He told me the people -were without books of any kind, that very -few could read, and that many of them were -not half civilized; that at one house, where -he spent the night, they cut off the skirts of -his saddle to sole their moccasins, and at another -the woman cut off the tail of his overcoat -to make a pair of pants for a little boy. -I agreed to go, and at the set time we filled -each of our saddle-bags with little books and -tracts, and our pockets with lunch.</p> - -<p>The first appointment was some twenty -miles distant, and we had to start the evening -before. We stopped over night with a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">60</span> -wealthy Christian family, and fared sumptuously.</p> - -<p>The next day we rode twelve miles to -the place where he was to preach. They -had a church built of round logs. It had no -floor but the ground, and was neither chinked -nor daubed, consequently it was only used in -warm weather. The house was full at the -appointed hour. More than half of the congregation -were barefooted, and but few had -on them more than two garments. Most of -the men came in with their guns in their -hands, and a good supply of small game they -had killed by the way. The guns were all -set up in the corner of the church, and the -game laid beside them.</p> - -<p>At the request of Mr. C—— I conducted -the service. The constant responses and -loud amens indicated the deep interest they -seemed to feel. At the close of the service -I requested them to keep their seats, and told -them I would go round and give each a tract -or little book. More than half the families -represented were destitute of the Bible. The -tracts and books were received with very great -joy, though few could read a word in them. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">61</span></p> - -<p>At the close we had to ride some miles to -a stopping place for the night. We found -the cabin small and destitute of any seats except -stools. The beds were poles put through -the corners, covered with the skins of deers -and bears. Many of the spaces between the -logs were wide enough for the dogs and cats -to pass out and in at pleasure. The food was -bread made of corn ground in a hand mill, -or pounded in a hominy block. The meat -was coon or opossum, and the coffee made -of chestnuts. The night was spent in self-defence -against unseen foes, and in dread of -snakes. After partaking of a breakfast similar -to the dinner and supper just described, -and praying with the family, we left them.</p> - -<p>Our appointment for that day was about -twelve miles distant, with a constant succession -of mountains to cross. We stopped at -all the cabins by the way, which were about -like that just referred to, with one exception; -and as the house and family were different -from any that I have ever seen, I shall try to -describe them.</p> - -<p>The cabin was about eighteen feet square; -had been the birthplace of a large family; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">62</span> -had neither floor—except the earth—upper -story, chimney, chair, table, or bed, except a -pile of straw in one corner, and an old spinning -wheel and loom. The family we saw -consisted of the father, mother, and five -daughters, no one of which, we supposed, -would weigh less than one hundred and fifty -pounds. Each of the females had on a single -garment made of coarse linen, held on by -a drawing-string round the neck, all fleshy -and hearty, while we could not see any thing -for them to live upon.</p> - -<p>No one of them knew a letter in the alphabet, -or who was the Saviour of sinners. They -were children of nature isolated from the -world, equally ignorant of both its vices and -its virtues. We spent more than an hour -trying to teach them the alphabet of Christianity, -and then commended them to God. -They seemed amazed at what we said; God -only knows the results.</p> - -<p>We reached the place where our evening -meeting was to be held after one o’clock, exhausted -with hunger and heat. The cabin -was but little better than the one just described; -it contained some kind of table and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">63</span> -a few stools, but had neither door nor floor, -and cattle and hogs ran into it to avoid the -flies when they chose.</p> - -<p>Mr. C——, whose patience was nearly exhausted, -told the woman that we were almost -starved, and to hurry and get us something -to eat, and to make it as <i>clean</i> and as good as -she could. The children were sent to borrow -tools; a fire was soon blazing under an arbor -made of bushes near the house; a pail -of meal set beside it, waiting for the <i>skillet</i> -to heat, out of which the hens helped themselves -every time she turned her back to -them. The children soon returned with a -little coffee-pot minus the handle, and with a -knife and a fork one prong lacking.</p> - -<p>We were soon invited in to our dinner from -under the shade of a tree where we had observed -the whole process. The table was a -block of wood, with four legs to hold it up, -and a stool at each side for us to sit on. -Some pet pigs were under it waiting for the -crumbs: they tramped on our toes, which led -us to kick them; but our kind hostess soon -made the children catch them and confine -them behind my back in a big gumm, a tub -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">64</span> -sawn off a hollow log, which treatment, from -their noise, they seemed to dislike very much.</p> - -<p>Soon after our meal was finished the people -began to gather in to hear the gospel. -The cabin was more than full, with the same -appearance of the congregation as last described. -We supplied all with books and -tracts—in most cases with the first book they -ever had. The night was spent much like -the previous one, food and lodging about the -same.</p> - -<p>The next morning we rode nine miles to -meet another appointment at eleven o’clock. -By the time we reached the place I was so -sick that I had to lie down, while brother -C—— preached to the people from Jeremiah -6:16. At the close we supplied all with little -books and tracts, and received many -thanks. The dinner was set under a shed -outside of the house, but the sight of it sent -me out to the shade of a tree so sick that I -could not stand on my feet.</p> - -<p>I then told brother C—— that I should be -compelled to make my escape to some place -where I could get something to eat and take -some rest; and asked him to take all the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">65</span> -books and give them away at each appointment -to the best advantage he could.</p> - -<p>At two o’clock I was on my horse, which, -happily for me, had been along the road before, -and was suffering from hunger as much -as his rider. In six hours he was standing -at the steps of Mr. S——’s house, two miles -from the town of F——, from which we started -three days before. I was well acquainted -with Mr. S—— and his family, having been -frequently there; but fever had dethroned -my reason, which did not return till I was -taken in and my head bathed with cold water, -and I had drank a cup of coffee.</p> - -<p>It was three days before I was sufficiently -recovered to resume my work. We had visited -twenty-seven families, talked and prayed -with them all, given them books and tracts, -and held three meetings. One half of the -people were without any part of a Bible. As -for other books they had none, and not one -in ten could read a word.</p> - -<p>I have detailed this one journey of three -days not only to show the condition of this -portion of our country, but as little more than -a fair representation of destitute parts of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">66</span> -many states in the Union. If each colporteur -of the Tract Society who has visited -these dark, broken, isolated regions of our -country for the last eighteen years, had kept a -journal of all the ignorance and wretchedness -he met, it would have been the most interesting -missionary journal the world ever saw. Their -reports would differ as widely as the reports -of those whom Joshua sent out to visit the -promised land. While some would bring in -the rich clusters of Eshcol, others, with equal -truthfulness, could say that the land was inhabited -by giants, whose walls were ignorance -and superstition.</p> - -<p>I was often reminded in my journeys of the -early pioneers of our country who went -through the forests, tomahawk in hand, blazing -the trees as a signal of their intended -occupancy of the land at some future time. -These visits were the Christian pioneer’s -way-marks, not blazed on the trees with axe -or tomahawk, but blazed on the hearts of -men in a state of nature by kind Christian -words, and sealed with earnest prayer; while -the books and tracts, including many Bibles -and Testaments, were deeds of trust to those -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">67</span> -that faithfully used them; and many by them -have secured a title to eternal life.</p> - -<p>The books were like Jacob’s well—the digger -was gone—but they have quenched the -thirst of many a weary traveller on life’s journey, -and their smoked pages are still crying, -“Ho, every one that thirsteth,” come and -partake of the waters of life “without money -and without price.” A poor woman who -had a small tract given her, on her death-bed -had it brought to her, when she kissed -it, and said, “This led me to my dear Saviour.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">68</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</h2> - -<p>I visited an old woman, who told me that -soon after she was married some one lent her -Doddridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion -in the Soul, and that it was the means of the -conversion of herself and her husband; that -he had died happily some years ago, but she -had never been able to get a copy of the book -since. I then presented her with one, and -she wept for joy. I asked her if she had a -Bible; she said, “No;” that they had a Bible -when her husband died, but some time after -a little school was opened in the neighborhood, -and she wanted her four little boys -taught to read, but had no books nor any -way to get them, and she had to cut her Bible -into four parts to make each of them a book, -and they soon went to pieces, and she lost -her Bible. I then gave her a Bible, and her -joy seemed complete.</p> - -<p>On another occasion I sent a notice that I -would be at a little church in a certain neighborhood -to aid them in organizing a Sabbath-school, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">69</span> -and to supply the destitute with books. -After exhorting for some time, and arranging -for the Sabbath-school, I distributed all my -stock, and was about to leave.</p> - -<p>A young woman came up to me, having -just reached the place, and asked me for a -book. I told her I had given away all that -I had brought with me. She burst into tears, -and said, “I left my babe, three weeks old, -in the field where my husband was hoeing -corn, and walked five miles in my bare feet to -get a book; and now I am disappointed.” In -a few minutes an old woman who had seen -seventy winters came to me with a crutch -under one arm, and a cane in the other hand, -and told me she had come two miles to get -books for her sons, who were raising large -families over the mountains, that were as wild -as the deers. I returned soon, and gave the -necessary supply.</p> - -<p>One day a man entered my room wearing -a hunting-shirt and moccasins, with a gun in -his hand and a long knife hanging to a belt -at his side, and asked me if I was the man -that gave books to the poor people in the -mountains. I told him I was engaged in that -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">70</span> -business. “Well,” said he, “we live in an -out of the way place, where we have neither -schools nor preaching; and we met together -last Sunday to see if we could not raise a -Sunday-school, and teach our children to -read, but all the books we could find was one -New Testament; and some one said there -was a man in F—— that was giving books to -the poor, and so I have come to see you about -it.” I gave him all the light I could as to -forming and conducting a Sunday-school, and -added twenty Testaments, with fifty small -volumes of Tract Society books, and some -tracts. He soon had them all in the bosom -of his hunting shirt, and I have seldom seen -a happier man.</p> - -<p>The next Sabbath the school was started. -In six months a church was organized, and -soon after a little church built, and a man of -God was preaching to them once each month. -That bosom full of books was the means God -blessed to this result.</p> - -<p>On another occasion I stopped over night -with a good man, who related to me the following -fact.</p> - -<p>“A few years ago a minister came to my -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">71</span> -house late on Saturday night on his way to -preach at L——, about thirty miles distant. -Finding he could not reach the place in time -to meet his appointment, he told me if I -would gather in my neighbors, he would -preach for us. There were but a few families -in all this valley, and so far as I knew, he was -the first preacher that ever had been in it, at -least he preached the first sermon. I sent -my boys out and gathered in my neighbors. -At the close of his sermon he gave every one -a tract. Among the rest he gave one to a -poor widow with a large family, but neither -she nor any one of her children knew a letter. -She took it home with her without any knowledge -of its contents.</p> - -<p>“The next morning she returned and requested -my wife to read it to her, which she -did. ‘Well,’ said she, ‘it is a nice thing to -read; I do wish I could do it.’ She took the -tract home, and returned the next day to -have it read again; and during the reading, -the tears ran down her cheeks. ‘Oh,’ said -she to my wife, ‘do you think I could learn -to read?’ ‘Yes,’ she said to her, ‘no doubt -you can.’ So my wife got a New England -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">72</span> -primer we had, and went over the letters a -few times with her. She took home both the -primer and the tract. The next morning she -returned again, and while the tract was reading, -her face was lit up with joy, and peace -came into her soul. In a few hours she was -able to repeat the alphabet. ‘And now,’ said -she, ‘if you will only learn me how to put two -of them together, and give them a <i>name</i>, I -can learn myself.’ This was soon done; and -as soon as she went home, she taught her -children all she had learned. In a few months -she and her children could read all that was -in the primer. We have now a good church -here, and she and most of her children are -members of it. She seldom sees a tract but -with tears of joy she exclaims, ‘If it had not -been for one of these little tracts, I and my -children might have remained in ignorance -and sin.’”</p> - -<p>One of the great difficulties I had to encounter -was the large number of families that -could not read. These I found every day. -When I would show my books and urge them -to buy, the reply was, “<i>Oh, none of us can’t -read.</i>” I soon saw the necessity of planning -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">73</span> -some means to remedy this evil, and began -to establish little Sunday-schools in each -neighborhood. I would hunt up the best -reader I could find for a teacher, furnish -them with a small library of books, give them -the best direction I could how to conduct it, -and set them to work. Although some of -these schools were very superficially conducted, -and in many cases there was nothing done -in them but teaching young and old to read, -still they had the effect of rousing the mind -to the acquisition of knowledge, and preparing -the way of the Lord. Many of these -schools accomplished great things, and resulted -in the establishing of little churches. -Others seemed to fail, except so far as they -woke in the minds of some a thirst for knowledge.</p> - -<p>Some families I could not prevail on to -take a book as a gift, for fear there was some -trick about it. Clock pedlars had been -through some portions of the country a while -before, sold the cheap clocks at thirty dollars -apiece, and took notes for the pay, which -had been collected in many cases by distress-sales. -They would tell me how they -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</span> -had been treated, and that they were afraid -I should send some one for the pay. I often -avoided this objection by lending the book, -and writing on it, “Loaned till I call for it.”</p> - -<p>Another great difficulty we had to encounter -with these unlettered masses was their -prejudice against education. Almost every -day I had to meet this objection: “Oh, I don’t -want my children learned to read; it will -spoil them. I have got along very well without -reading, and so can they.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> - -<p>I had now been about ten months in the -colporteur work, and seeing the great necessity -for scores of men to engage in it, I -thought I could raise the salaries, and employ -one or two others to carry it on. I soon -raised $150 to pay a man for a year, and -Providence directed me to a good man to -do the work. I then succeeded in finding -another good man, and raising his salary; -and in one month, by the Divine blessing, I -raised and paid over for the support of colportage -$750, and these efforts were continued -till the colporteur work was extended throughout -the more destitute regions in all Western -Virginia.</p> - -<p>I had made an arrangement to visit R—— -county, some forty miles distant, and spend a -month in colporteur labor. On my way I -had to cross a river by a ferry-boat. Two -travellers crossed with me. When we mounted -our horses on the opposite side of the -river, one of them asked me if I was going on -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</span> -a long journey with such a heavy load on my -horse over that mountain country. I told -him I had my horse loaded with religious -books, and some Bibles, and that I was engaged -in supplying destitute regions with the -word of life, and would soon lighten my load.</p> - -<p>“Why,” said he, “are there any families -to be found without the Bible?” Yes, I told -him, there were many in all parts of our country. -“Well,” said he, “I don’t believe there is -a family in my county without a Bible.” Said -I, “What part are you from?” “From Green -county, Penn.” “How far,” said I, “from -the town of C——?” “Five miles,” said he.</p> - -<p>Four weeks ago, I replied, I was there, -and made an address before one of the Presbyteries -of the Cumberland church, in which -I spoke of the destitutions of our country and -our mode of supplying them, when the Rev. -Mr. H—— followed me with a speech in which -he said “he believed one third of the families -in C——, in which we were then assembled, -were without the Bible.” Another minister -present doubted it. I told them I was there -to visit the town, and would begin the next -morning. A good man volunteered to go -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">77</span> -with me. We spent three days at the work, -and found that out of <i>one hundred and fifty-seven -families, fifty-four</i> had no Bible.</p> - -<p>On my way to R——, late in the evening -I began to inquire for some place where I -could spend the night, as the indications -seemed to be that a hard night’s lodging -was before me. As I inquired at each little -cabin, they told me that “Parson W——,” -a few miles ahead, kept lodgers. As these -mountain miles are slowly measured by a -tired man and horse, I did not reach “Parson -W——’s” till near nine o’clock at night. -When I entered his little cabin, he and his -wife and granddaughter were at a supper of -corn-bread and buttermilk. I asked for lodging, -which was granted, and was at once invited -to supper. As soon as the parson was -done eating, he went and put up my horse.</p> - -<p>On his return, I asked him if he had any -pastoral charge. “Yes,” said he, “I built a -church on my own land close by, and preach -there every other Sunday.” We were soon -engaged in a religious conversation, and my -views of truth were soon tested. “Well,” -said the old parson, “I thought you was a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">78</span> -Methodist preacher, but I find I was mistaken; -but I <i>guess</i> you are a Presbyterian, which -is no better.” Finding the old man belonged -to what was called the <i>Ironsides</i>, or rigid -Antinomians, I thought it quite useless to -talk to him.</p> - -<p>Before I could get rid of him he made me -tell my business. “Well,” said he, “you are -going about plundering the country. It was -the Bible, Tract, and Missionary Societies -that broke up the country in 1837 and ’38.”</p> - -<p>As I was tired, and proposed to go to bed, -“Well,” said he, “there is a bed in that corner -for you.” “As you are a preacher,” said -I, “of course you have family prayer, and I -would prefer waiting to join you in it.” “Ah,” -said he, “every one does their own praying -here.” “Is it possible,” said I, “that you are -a preacher, and have no family prayer, when -God has said he will pour out his fury on the -families that call not on his name?” “Oh,” -said he, “you may pray if you please.” Seeing -an old family Bible on a shelf, I took it -down, and read a part of the seventh of Matthew. -I commented on the verse, “Strive to -enter in at the strait gate,” etc. The moment -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</span> -prayer was over, he said, “I don’t believe a -word you said.” I was soon in bed and -asleep, being tired.</p> - -<p>When I awoke there was a good fire, and -the old man sitting beside it. I was up in a -few minutes. “I am glad you are up,” said -he, “as there is another point I must discuss -with you.” In a few minutes I quoted proofs -from the Bible too clear to be resisted; when -the old woman, who was of huge dimensions, -sprang out of bed in her night-dress, and presenting -herself before me, said, “Don’t talk -to that fellow; he is a Yankee, and he is setting -traps to catch you.” The old man soon -disappeared to attend to his still-house and -cattle, and the old woman and granddaughter -occupied the whole front of the fire, making -their toilets; the old lady, in her earnest conversation, -frequently using a long wooden fire-poker -in close proximity to my head.</p> - -<p>As the granddaughter was sitting near me, -completing her toilet, I spoke to her about -her soul, and offered her the Dairyman’s -Daughter. This roused the old woman again; -and the old man, returning about the same -time, forbade her to touch the book. The -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">80</span> -girl cried bitterly, and said it was such a -pretty book she did want it, and there was -not a book except the old Bible in the house. -The girl’s tears prevailed, provided I would -write a receipt in it that it was paid for, which -was done.</p> - -<p>As soon as breakfast was over, and my -horse ready, I asked for my bill. “<i>One dollar</i>,” -said the old man; “I make it a rule, -when any of you Yankees come this way, to -fleece you as well as I can.” This man was -rich; had a great distillery, and I was credibly -informed would take a bottle of whiskey -with him to the church, and at the close of his -services tell his people what a fine run of whiskey -he had just had, and to come and taste it.</p> - -<p>About a month after, on my return home, -I stopped to stay all night some few miles -from there, when lo, Parson W—— had stopped -to stay too; but as soon as he saw me, he -ordered his horse, and left. I had told about -my lodging with him; and as the laws of Virginia -at that time imposed a fine of twenty dollars -on any one who had no license charging -for lodging, some one had told the old man -that I was going to bring him before the court. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">81</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<p>About this time an incident of peculiar interest -took place. The Rev. Mr. Q—— had -invited me to visit the town of C——, and I -had set a day to be at his house. Late in the -evening of the day appointed, I arrived in the -town; and while driving along the street, -looking for his house, I saw him standing on -his portico, beckoning me to him.</p> - -<p>As soon as I had alighted from my buggy, -he gave me a cordial shake of the hand, and -said, “You have come just in time to see and -hear one of the greatest dignitaries in the -state of Virginia.” I observed that I was -perhaps a little different from many others; -that I would not go a square to see a great -man, unless he was a <i>great good man</i>. “Well,” -said he, “he ought to be a good man; he’s -the bishop of the Roman-catholic church for -this state; and as he is the first live bishop -of the <i>Holy Catholic</i> church who has ever been -here, he is attracting a great deal of attention. -He preached in the court-house this morning, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">82</span> -and it was crowded; and he is going to preach -here for several days and nights. He has one -or two priests with him, and they have come -to plant a church here. Will you go and hear -him?” “Yes,” said I; “if you go, I will go -with you.”</p> - -<p>As soon as tea was over, we went to the -court-house, and it was crowded. In a little -time the bishop arose, and without any introductory -services, gave out his text: “Thou -art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my -church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail -against it.” He went on to define “the gates -of hell” as the various Protestant sects, and -wound up by trying to prove that Peter was -the first pope, and got the keys, and that the -successors of Peter still held the keys, and no -one could enter heaven without going through -the Catholic church. His sermon was delivered -with earnestness and eloquence, and -made a deep impression, as very few of all -present were well informed on those matters.</p> - -<p>He made much for his cause out of the denominational -strifes with which that region -had been afflicted, and I heard many say -“Amen” to some of his thrusts. He announced -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">83</span> -that he would preach the next morning -from the text, “Search the scriptures, for -in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they -are they which testify of me.”</p> - -<p>We returned to brother Q——’s, and sat to -a late hour consulting what we had better do. -Here was a man of Jesuitical cunning, misrepresenting -Protestantism before a community -ill qualified to form correct opinions. I -urged Mr. Q—— to contradict some of his -false statements; and after praying over the -matter, we retired.</p> - -<p>The next morning, at the appointed hour, -the house was crowded, though there were -not one dozen Roman-catholics in the community. -Owing to the crowd, Mr. Q—— and -I got separated. I lost sight of him, and for -want of a seat elsewhere, got up into a window. -In a little while the bishop announced -the text, “Search the scriptures,” and also -announced that he would preach at night from -the text, “These were more noble than those -in Thessalonica, in that they searched the -scriptures daily.”</p> - -<p>The ground taken in this sermon was, that -searching the scriptures by the common people -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">84</span> -had led to all the religious heresies in the -world, and had raised up more sects than -there were chapters in the Bible. That there -was but one true church, and out of all only -one could be right. That Protestants called -Luther a great reformer, and he was told -there were no Lutherans in that town; consequently, -if Luther was right they were all -wrong; and if they were right, Luther was -wrong, and could not be a great reformer.</p> - -<p>He said the Catholic church could not be -wrong; that she was infallible; she was “the -pillar and ground of the truth.” He pictured -the quarrels among Protestants in the most -hideous manner, and described a heaven full -of such uncongenial characters, till the picture -was ridiculous; and I saw that many -present were delighted with it.</p> - -<p>At the close of his sermon, or tirade against -the Protestant religion, he sat down. I rose -up in the window, much excited, to see if the -Rev. Mr. Q—— would not call him to an account, -when I was much gratified to see the -meek and gentle form of Mr. Q—— slowly -rising about the middle of the house. Said -he: -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">85</span></p> - -<p>“Bishop, you said in your sermon last -night that there were now two hundred millions -of faithful Catholic children in the world, -against which the gates of hell could not prevail. -Will you be kind enough to tell us -where they are?”</p> - -<p>The bishop rose with a half-courteous and -half-disdainful smile, and said, “You need -not ask me such a question as that; the regions -they occupy are all marked on your -own Protestant geographies; your little boys -in the streets can point you to them, where -they have been marked in black lines,” and -took his seat.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Mr. Q——, “I would prefer -you would name the countries to which they -belong.”</p> - -<p>He rose again with a most indignant frown. -Said he, “I suppose it would be rather humbling -to one who calls himself a preacher to -go to the little boys for information, so I will -name some, at least, of the countries that are -Catholic: France, Austria, most of Germany, -Hungary, and Poland; and we shall soon have -England, as part of the church there is only -separated from us now by name; and Spain -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">86</span> -and Mexico are ours entirely;” and he took -his seat again.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Mr. Q——, “do you think we -should gain any thing as a nation by changing -our Protestant religion for that of Mexico -and Spain?” and he took his seat.</p> - -<p>The bishop arose still more indignant in -manner, and said, “I really cannot understand -what you mean, sir, unless you refer to -your boasted liberties in this country; but if -that is what you mean, sir, I can tell you I -would rather go to heaven from Mexico or -Spain, than to hell from the midst of all your -boasted liberties.”</p> - -<p>By this time the audience had become intensely -interested. Said I, “Mr. Bishop, I want -to ask you a few questions by way of gaining -information. If I understood you right last -night, you said your church was infallible; -that it never had erred, and never could err.”</p> - -<p>He replied very indignantly, “I said, sir, -that the Catholic church never had erred, -and never could err.”</p> - -<p>“Well, sir,” said I, “it was once right to -put Protestants to death for their religion, -and of course it is still right.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">87</span></p> - -<p>He replied, “That is a Protestant falsehood, -sir; the church never put any one to -death.”</p> - -<p>Said I, “Sir, I can prove what I say by -the faithful records of history.”</p> - -<p>“Protestant authority—we could not admit -such testimony, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said I, “whether you admit it or -not, the blood of martyred millions is crying -for vengeance, and the day of divine recompense -will erelong come.”</p> - -<p>After a number of questions from Mr. -Q—— and myself of similar import, Mr. -Q—— said, “The general opinion is that -General Washington and General Jackson -died good men and went to heaven. What -is your opinion, bishop?”</p> - -<p>He replied contemptuously, “Why, sir, we -don’t pretend to know whether they are in -heaven or not; those are the secret things -that belong to God.”</p> - -<p>“Stop, bishop,” said I, “you said last -night that you held the keys of the kingdom -of heaven in your church, and that to you it -was given to open and shut the door; and I -now demand of you as one of these door-keepers, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">88</span> -to tell us whether you have let in -the immortal Washington or not.”</p> - -<p>In a few moments the call was coming from -every part of the house, “Tell us whether you -have let Washington into heaven or not.”</p> - -<p>The bishop tore his surplice off in a rage, -and put out of the house with one or two -priests after him—the crowd following him, -and calling out, “Come back and answer the -question about our beloved Washington.” -But he went on, ordered his horse, pronounced -a curse on the place, closed his -meetings, and left the town. The excitement -of the crowd was most intense. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">89</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<p>I had now been in my second year of labor -for some months, during which I had -made some long journeys, and seen some -hard service.</p> - -<p>I made an arrangement with Mr. M——, a -very intelligent gentleman whom I had employed -a few months before as a colporteur, -to accompany me. The whole tour required -us to travel near four hundred miles. More -than two thirds of the way the country was -wild and romantic, the population sparse and -rude. Few thought it safe to go unarmed.</p> - -<p>On the day set I met Mr. M—— at C——, -where he resided. To my surprise he had -provided a pistol for each of us. With some -persuasion I took one, but soon got it to the -bottom of my saddle-bags.</p> - -<p>The first day we reached W——, where we -found a young preacher who had been waiting -there some days for an escort over the -same route, fearing to travel the road alone. -We all started in company early the next -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">90</span> -morning, with the understanding that we had -to reach G——, a new county-town thirty -miles distant, or lodge in the woods. Nothing -special occurred that day, except that an -enormous rattlesnake crossed the road before -us and frightened our horses. We called -at the door of all the cabins we saw, and -preached Christ to the people, and gave them -books. We reached G—— late in the evening, -and found a pious lawyer who had just -moved there, and owned the only Bible in -the place. There were not a dozen families -in it. By breakfast-time the next morning -we had supplied him with a neat Sunday-school -library, which he used to great advantage.</p> - -<p>We were told we must ride thirty-five miles -the next day, over mountain paths, to reach -a place of lodging—that there was one house -at thirty miles, but by all means to avoid -that house. The reasons I cannot give; nor -an account of the dinner we <i>tried to eat</i> that -day.</p> - -<p>As the weather was excessively hot, we left -G—— by six in the morning. We soon overtook -a young man who was going some miles -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">91</span> -our way, and agreed to be our guide as far -as we went together. We found him totally -ignorant of sin, or a future state. He did -not know whether he had ever seen a Bible -or not. Though he had heard men preach, -and seen them with a book in their hand, he -could not tell what book it was. He told us -his father was a county surveyor, and, he -thought, a member of the church. I gave -him a Testament and some tracts, which he -looked at with amazement.</p> - -<p>About ten o’clock we came to a number of -men at work cutting timber out of the road, -that had been blown down by a storm. On -inquiry, we found eleven families represented, -only one of which had a Bible. One or two -others had lost their Bibles by having their -cabins burnt. We supplied all with books, -and left one or two reading for all the rest.</p> - -<p>The want of dinner and the excessive heat -of the sun brought on me sick headache, -and by four or five o’clock I could scarcely -sit on my horse. I told my companions it -would be impossible for me to reach the -house we were directed to, and let the consequence -be what it would, I should be compelled -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">92</span> -either to lie out, or lodge in the vile -den of which we had been warned. The -brethren seemed much alarmed, but said -they would not leave me. Several times I -had to alight, to prevent falling from my -horse. Being thus detained, we only reached -this dreaded place about sunset.</p> - -<p>There was a very large grazing farm, and -a large double log-cabin about the centre, -with every appearance of plenty. As we drew -near the house we saw quite a number of men -at work haying in a large meadow. Every -one seemed to be drunk. Such swearing and -hallooing I had never heard. Our prospects -looked gloomy.</p> - -<p>We rode up to the door, and found the -landlord under the same influence as those -in the field. When we asked for lodging he -seemed glad to have customers, and soon -had our horses cared for.</p> - -<p>In a little time all the drunken rabble on -the place were gathered to the house, but -such a set of men I have never seen before -or since. Supper was soon ready, and all -invited in. The food was very rough, but -abundant. I was too sick to partake of it. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">93</span></p> - -<p>After supper I told the landlord that I was -very sick, and must go to bed; but as we -were all religious men, and accustomed to -pray in our families night and morning, if he -was willing, we would have prayers. The -very announcement produced silence in a -moment, as if some strange thing was about -to happen. I requested him to bring all into -the house that would come, and in a few minutes -the house was well filled. I called on -one of the brethren to read and pray; and -soon after I was in bed, unconscious of all -around me till morning, when I awoke as well -as usual.</p> - -<p>As soon as we were dressed I called on the -old man to get our horses. “Oh no, you -must stay for breakfast, and pray again,” -said he. “Well,” said I, “if you will bring -all in to prayers now, we will attend to worship -with pleasure.” In a little time the whole -household was present. I read a portion of -Scripture, and made the most earnest exhortation -I could possibly do, and prayed. A -more solemn audience I never addressed.</p> - -<p>As soon as breakfast was over, our horses -were ready, when I asked the old man for -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">94</span> -our bill. “Not one cent, sir,” said he; “you -have <i>prayed plenty</i> to pay for every thing you -got. Every time you come this way stop and -get all you want, and pray, and it sha’n’t cost -you a cent.” We supplied all present with a -book or tract, and left well pleased on the -whole with our visit.</p> - -<p>During the day we called at all the cabins -on our way. At one I found a man who told -me he was seventy years old, had seldom -heard a sermon, but that he had felt much -concern about where he would be <i>in the next -world, if there was one</i>. He said he never -had a Bible, but would like to get one very -much. I gave him a Testament and tracts. -He seemed very thankful, and listened with -great attention to all I had time to say.</p> - -<p>At another house the woman told me they -had a Bible, and plenty of religious books. -I asked to see what kind of books they were. -When she presented the stock, it consisted of -an old copy of the history of George Washington. -She believed it to be a Bible, as no -one about the house knew a letter.</p> - -<p>The same day we met a very aged man -riding on a poor little pony, with a small -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">95</span> -bag of meal under him. I handed him some -tracts, for which he was very thankful, when -the following dialogue occurred.</p> - -<p>“Have you any preaching in this mountain -country?” “Sometimes we have.” “Are -you a professor of religion?” “Yes, I have -been a member of the church forty years.” -“How are you supplied with religious books?” -“Well, we <i>haven’t got none</i> but two or three -spelling-books that I sent for many years ago -to teach my children how to read.” “Have -you no Bible in your house?” “No, I never -had one. I have been trying to get a Testament -for some time at the store; but it costs -seventy-five cents, and I am not able to raise -the money.” This was the regular price of a -small Testament in that region at that time, -and seldom to be got even at that price.</p> - -<p>Said I, “Is it not hard to live the life of a -Christian without the Bible?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said he, “but I can’t help it; for -even if I was able to buy one, it could not be -got nearer than C——, which is forty miles -distant. I never expect to be rich enough to -buy a whole Bible.”</p> - -<p>My soul was stirred within me, and I drew -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">96</span> -out my pocket Bible, a fine copy which I had -received as a present, and gave it to him. -He looked for a moment at me with surprise, -when the tears gushed from his eyes, -and he exclaimed, “I am now rich and happy.” -This man was seventy-five years old, -and trembling on the brink of the grave. -This is a true picture of many cases found -by colporteurs. I never felt so well paid or -so happy as when I gave that man my only -Bible.</p> - -<p>During this whole tour of five weeks’ travel, -many a scene similar to those described occurred; -while, on the other hand, I visited -villages and towns where I found fine -churches and able ministers, with highly cultivated -pious congregations. In this tour I -raised over $500 in donations, and employed -three excellent colporteurs, one of whom labored -nine years. I met the most cordial -coöperation from Christians and philanthropists -everywhere I went. All said, “This is -just what we need in this sparsely populated -mountain country.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">97</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</h2> - -<p>While on this tour I visited the town of -L——, near the centre of Western Virginia, -and made arrangements to remove there in a -few weeks. There are few towns of the size -which I have ever visited where I have met -with a more noble people. There was wealth, -intelligence, and the highest degree of refinement. -This town became the centre of my -operations for three years.</p> - -<p>The distance we had to go in moving there -was about one hundred and fifty miles, up -and down mountains most of the way, with -scarce any thing like a road in many places: -a family of five, two of them children, in a -one-horse carriage, with the necessary equipage -for such a journey.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of the third day we began -to ascend the Cheat mountain, which required -nine miles travelling to reach its summit, and -eight miles down the other side to its base, -with only one house all the way, and that on -the top of the mountain, called at that time -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">98</span> -“the mountain house of entertainment.” It -was a large rude log-house, without comfort. -By the time we reached the top of it I found -my horse very much fatigued, and the sun -about setting. We concluded we could not descend -the mountain that night with safety, as -there was no moon, and the whole way was -through a dense pine forest.</p> - -<p>When we came to this house on the very -top of the mountain, we found a number of -covered wagons that belonged to families -moving westward, and a crowd of people -of all colors about the house. I asked for -lodging. “Yes,” said the landlord, “lodging -plenty!” My family went into the house, -and I went to see my horse taken care of. -On my return I found them without any place -to sit down. After looking through the house, -and finding but two or three apartments, and -such a crowd of people, I asked the landlord -how he would lodge us all. “Oh,” said he, -“you can lie down a few at a time, and soon -as you get asleep I can stand you up against -the wall.”</p> - -<p>Though it was in September, and very -warm in the valleys, yet it was cold on the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">99</span> -top of this mountain, and we were all shivering. -I asked the landlord, who by this time -was playing the violin for our entertainment, -to make us a little fire. But there was neither -wood nor supper. The females were -stowed away in one room for the night, and -the rest lay on the floor or sat by turns till -the morning came.</p> - -<p>As we had no toilet to make in the morning, -we were on the way down the mountain -at an early hour. The first house we reached -was a log-house, where they kept entertainment. -All was neat and clean. We called -for breakfast; and while it was preparing, we -had our morning devotions, which had been -noticed by the landlady. When we came to -our excellent breakfast, she asked me to christen -her children, of which she had quite a -number. I told her I was not a preacher, -and had no authority to administer ordinances. -She insisted most earnestly that I -must do it; that no one had ever prayed there -before, and she did not see any reason why -any praying man could not christen children; -that they had been living there for years, and -never heard a sermon or seen a preacher as -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">100</span> -they knew of; and if I would only do it, they -would not charge me one cent for breakfast. -After preaching them the best sermon I could, -and giving a good supply of little books, we -went on our way. In two more days we -reached L——, our place of destination, in -safety, and in a few hours had a house rented -and were living in it.</p> - -<p>For three years I travelled almost constantly; -sometimes in a buggy, but mostly -on horseback, making from six to eight thousand -miles each year, distributing tracts and -books in cabins and mansions, collecting -money, and employing men, till I had the cooperation -of <i>over fifty colporteurs</i>. The many -interesting facts and incidents which occurred -during these years would fill a large volume. -A very few of them I shall attempt to relate.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A Mr. W——, whom we had employed for -some years, a man of much more than ordinary -piety and qualifications for the work, -while visiting in the mountains, came to a -poor cabin occupied by a man, his wife, and -an only son. They were very poor. The -father made his living by grubbing, and took -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">101</span> -the boy with him to pick the brush, he being -at this time about sixteen years old. They -carried home their wages on their backs, -mostly in some kind of food. The mother -made what she earned by her spinning-wheel; -and while at that, had taught her -son to read the Testament, though she was -not religious. Mr. W——, after talking and -praying with them, gave this boy a copy of -Baxter’s Call, which was the means of his -conversion. Before he could join the church, -the neighbors aided in getting him a suit of -clothes.</p> - -<p>He immediately set about to improve himself -in every possible way. There was no -school near; and if there had been, he had -no means to go. His first efforts in learning -to write were, by copying the letters out of a -book with his finger in the snow. He borrowed -and read all the books he could get, -and attended a little church where there was -preaching once each month.</p> - -<p>About two years afterwards I received a -letter by some private way from this same -boy, D. W. S——. On opening it, I made -out its contents with some difficulty. It was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">102</span> -an application to become a colporteur. In -the letter he referred me to the Rev. Mr. -R——, who lived in town. I went to him, -showed him the letter, and asked him if he -knew the writer. He laughed: “Yes, very -well; I received him into the church. D—— -is a good boy, but he is without education, -and knows nothing of the world; he has never -been ten miles from home in his life.”</p> - -<p>I wrote the young man a kind letter, saying -I hoped he would make a colporteur some -day, and advised him to go to school a while.</p> - -<p>The next thing I heard from him was a rap -at my door. When I opened the door, an -awkward-looking youth near six feet high -stood before me, with the same suit of clothes -on him he had got over two years before. -The pants were several inches too short, and -the coat-sleeves as deficient; indeed, the coat -was little more than a big patch on his back. -Said he, “I am the <i>fellow</i> that wrote you a -letter about wanting to <i>colport</i>, and I have -come to see about it.” I invited him into the -house. He was all in a tremor of excitement. -When I opened the parlor door he looked in -with amazement, and in walking to a seat -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">103</span> -avoided stepping on the white spots in the -carpet, which was the first one he ever saw. -He was so embarrassed he could scarcely -speak.</p> - -<p>After talking a little while about crops, etc., -he became composed. He then told me his -desires to do good, and all about his conversion, -which was entirely satisfactory. As it -was late in the evening, I invited him to stay -for the night; and by the time we got his -poor old pony of a horse, not worth five dollars, -put away, tea was ready. When he sat -down he looked confused. I had much conversation -with him that evening. At length -I invited him up stairs to bed. On the way -up he held by the railing to avoid treading -on the narrow carpet in the centre.</p> - -<p>In the morning he was up whistling psalm -tunes bright and early. As soon as I was -dressed I called him and told him I had reflected -over the matter very carefully, and -had come to the conclusion that his want of -education and knowledge of the world would -not justify me in employing him.</p> - -<p>I saw his countenance change in a moment -and the tears start in his eyes. “Oh,” said -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">104</span> -he, “<i>I do want you to give me work, for I -do feel that all I want to live for is to work for -Christ.</i>”</p> - -<p>I cannot describe my feelings as he uttered -these words. Here was a depth of devotion -beyond any thing I had met. After some -minutes’ silence I said to him, “There is a -region of country on the head-waters of the -Elk river where there never has been any -preaching; if you will go there a month without -any commission, I will see you are paid.”</p> - -<p>His countenance was changed in a moment, -and lit up with joy. In less than two hours -I had a pair of colporteur’s saddle-bags filled -with books and tracts, and he was on his -journey to that destitute region, some forty -miles distant. Soon after, some stock raisers -who had been in that region buying cattle, -told me they heard that the Tract Society -had a great man out there; that the people -were wonderfully pleased with him; that he -was giving them books, and teaching them to -read them.</p> - -<p>At the end of the month he returned, all -his stock had passed into the hands of the -people, and he gave me a glowing account of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">105</span> -the people’s wants and his success. He said -it would take another month to get over that -region, and he wanted to go back. After -aiding him to dispense with his boy clothes, I -started him with another load of books, cautioning -him to avoid showing off his new suit -as much as possible.</p> - -<p>Another month’s work was done with great -success, when he returned almost a new boy -in his whole appearance. He had gained -confidence by being constantly among people -that did not know as much as he did.</p> - -<p>I then had him commissioned for P—— -county, a very mountainous region, and very -destitute of the means of moral improvement. -In a few months he had visited every family -in the county. In many families the bare -mention of his name will start tears in the -eyes of the people, and the tracts that he distributed -have been sewed together and covered -with deerskin as remembrances of the -man that left them.</p> - -<p>Often through the day when he would -come in sight of a cabin, he would alight -from his horse and kneel in the woods and -plead with God for success in his visit. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">106</span></p> - -<p>He next visited the counties of M—— and -R——, two large counties, with remarkable -success. By this time he became a fine-looking -young man, and by his constant application -to reading the books as he rode along, -he had become an intelligent, spiritual Christian.</p> - -<p>We then sent him to the large county of -P——, where there was in portions of it a -high degree of intelligence and refinement.</p> - -<p>In a few months he was licensed to preach -the gospel. He married a lady of high moral -worth, and settled in the county of H—— -over four weak churches. In two and a half -years he received over two hundred persons -into the church on profession of their faith; -then took typhoid fever, with which he soon -died in the triumphs of a living faith.</p> - -<p>Since his death I have met with five young -men, who are now ministers of the gospel, -who had been led to Christ by his labors, all -of whom speak of him as an extraordinary -man in point of piety and usefulness.</p> - -<p>Here was a boy that in all probability -would have lived and died in ignorance and -sin if he had not been found by a colporteur. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">107</span> -He has often put his hand on my shoulder, -and said with tears in his eyes, “Brother -C——, if it had not been for the Tract Society, -I should have been a poor grubber to-day, on -the way to death and ruin.”</p> - -<p>The great secret of his success was his untiring -zeal and industry. He read and studied -on his saddle; the shades of the forest -were his closet in the summer, and the cleft -of some mountain rock in the winter. His -congregations were mostly ignorant families, -and his rostrum a three-legged stool in the -corner. All his talents were put to use in -the Lord’s work, and no doubt he has his -reward. Reader, go thou and do likewise, -and receive a like gracious reward.</p> - -<p>On a Saturday evening while on my way -to meet a Sabbath appointment, while descending -a mountain, I met a man on his -way home from mill, and offered him some -tracts. “Oh,” said he, “they are of no use -to me, for I can’t read, and I have no one -about me that can.” I asked him if he had -a family. “Yes, I have a wife and seven -children.” “It is a great sin,” said I, “for -you to raise a family in such ignorance.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">108</span> -“Oh,” said he, “there is so much harm in -books, they are better without them.” I -handed him two or three tracts, and told him -to get some one to read them to him. One of -them was, Fifty Reasons for Attending Public -Worship. He took them, and when he got -home showed them to his wife. “Oh,” said -she, “we will be ruined now. I’ll bet that is -a warrant that Middleton has got the sheriff -to serve on you, and we will lose our land.” -They spent a sleepless night, and early next -morning they went to the nearest neighbor -and told him they had got into sad trouble -about their land; that Middleton had served -a warrant on them, and here it was.</p> - -<p>The tracts were presented to a man who -was a class-leader in the Methodist church, -and was my informer near a year after this -occurrence. He took the first one, “Fifty -Reasons for Attending Public Worship.” -“Well,” said he, “this is a warrant, but not -sent by Middleton, but from the court of heaven. -God has sent you this, as you never go -to church; and now you see how you have -exposed your ignorance by not being able to -read, not knowing the difference between a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">109</span> -sheriff’s writ and a religious tract; and I do -hope you will now attend church, and have -your children taught to read.” “Now,” said -my informer, “this man and his wife are both -members of the church, and they are sending -their children to school as the result of the -influence of those tracts.”</p> - -<p>On one occasion I left home by a stage-coach -before daylight on a long journey. -We stopped after ten miles to take other -passengers. As usual, the way-bill was taken -into the stage-office to enter their names. A -man was in the office who had travelled near -one hundred miles to see me at L——. Seeing -my name on the way-bill, he asked if that -was the man that was the <i>tract</i> agent. About -that time I stepped in to warm myself and -distribute tracts, when some one acquainted -with me told him I was the agent. He then -told me how far he had come to see me, and -how near he was to miss me, all the time interlarding -his conversation with oaths, to the -great amazement of all present who knew the -nature of my work. When he was through, -I told him I would tell him the nature of the -work in a few words: that he must get a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">110</span> -good horse and a large pair of saddle-bags, -fill them with books, and ride over these rugged -mountains, and live on hard fare. With -an awful oath he said he could stand all that -with any fellow about the diggins. In addition -to that, said I, you must read the -Bible, and pray at every house. I never -saw a man so utterly confounded, while those -present were convulsed with laughter. I -gave him a few tracts, and talked to him -till he wept like a child. Although I never -heard of the man again, I have hope that the -conversation was not in vain. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">111</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<p>About this time I held a Colporteur Convention -in C——, in which a number of colporteurs -were present. The meeting was one -of deep interest. Many facts were brought -out in relation to the wants of that region, -and the good resulting from the work, that -were of the most cheering character.</p> - -<p>During the three days of our meetings, an -old man was present who was but little known -to any that were there. When about to close -the convention, I said that if any one present -wished to give us a word of advice or exhortation -we should be glad to hear it, when -this old man rose, trembling with diffidence, -and said:</p> - -<p>“As soon as I heard of this meeting I made -up my mind to attend it; and now I want to -tell you what this Society has done for me. -My name is C——. Ten years ago I was -considered the wickedest man in this county. -I was a profane drunkard. One day while at -S——, about four miles above this place, old -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">112</span> -Mr. R——, who was always distributing -tracts, handed me one with the word <i>Eternity</i> -in large letters at the head of it. I was the -worse for liquor at the time, and on my horse -to go home, which was about fifteen miles -distant. On my way I took the tract out of -my hat to read it. My attention got fixed -on the word <i>Eternity</i>, and I became alarmed -about my state as a sinner. By the time I -got home I was nearly sober. I read and -reread the tract till I had it committed to -memory. For near two weeks I had no rest. -At last my distress became so great that I -did not want to live. One day I was tempted -to go away to the woods and destroy myself. -While there I thought of praying, for the -first time, and fell down on my knees and -cried, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ In -a moment I felt relief, and went home with -a joyful heart, and told my family all about -the matter. I read the tract to them, and -began to pray with and for them. In six -months I had a little church built on my land, -and a missionary there to preach once each -month, and myself, wife, and six of my children -and eight servants were members of it; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">113</span> -and here is five dollars, all the money I have -in the world, to aid in giving good books to -others.” All present were bathed in tears at -this recital.</p> - -<p>As soon as he was seated, another man -arose and said “he supposed all present had -heard of Father B——, who died a few weeks -ago, and many, no doubt, remember when he -was a terror in the community. He had remarkable -bodily powers, and could whip any -man in all the country round. When the -county of L—— was laid off, there was a violent -contest about where to build the court-house; -and the two parties agreed that B—— -and another bully should decide the matter -by a fist-fight, and B—— gained the site -where that court-house now stands. He was -often brought up at the court for assault and -battery, and had crippled some men for life. -Judge S—— on one occasion, when passing -sentence on him, said, ‘B——, you have become -too bad a man to live, and if ever you -come before me again convicted of crime, I -will make you suffer for it most severely. If -you would improve the mind God has given -you, you might be a blessing to the world; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">114</span> -but now you are a disgrace. Here is a tract, -‘The Fool’s Pence;’ take and read it, and -may God lead you by it to be a better man.’ -That tract was the means of his conversion, -and for the last fifteen years of his life he -was one of the most successful preachers in -South-western Virginia.”</p> - -<p>Another fact was brought out at this meeting -by the Rev. Mr. W——, who labored for -some time as a colporteur in the county of -W——. He entered a large settlement where -there never had been any preaching, schools, -or distribution of books. The Sabbath was -the special day for frolicking and dissipation. -In the house where he lodged on Saturday -night, the family were busy preparing to go -to a shooting-match the next morning. All -he could say had no effect on them. After -praying God to guide him in his duty, he -determined to go with them. When they -came to the place, a large collection of all -classes were present, with a great number of -articles to gamble for in different ways. He -told them, as it was the Lord’s day, he would -unite with them in prayer for God’s blessing. -He prayed earnestly, and then told them that -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">115</span> -if they would give him their attention he -would preach to them. They seemed confounded -at this remark, and all remained -silent as death. He announced his text, and -preached with unusual liberty. The attention -was solemn, and they looked at one another -with amazement. He then distributed -among them his remaining stock of books -and tracts, and as he was very unwell, went -home. Soon after the news spread that some -people in that region were concerned about -their souls. A preacher visited them, and -soon had a good congregation gathered, and -over twenty converts. Sunday frolicking was -abandoned, and many were led to observe -the Lord’s day.</p> - -<p>The same man stated another fact, which -occurred in J—— county. While visiting in -one of those sparsely populated regions, he -came to a very large farm. He found the -family to consist of the father, mother, and -twelve children, the youngest about eight -years old. The man was wealthy in land -and stock, but to his surprise no one knew a -letter in a book. After talking to them about -their relations to God and eternity, he asked -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">116</span> -the father why he did not have his children -taught to read. The old objection was raised -at once, that they learned enough of <i>bad</i> without -books; that he had got along very well -without reading, and so could his children.</p> - -<p>He then began to read to them, showed -them the pictures in the Alphabet of Animals, -and read them some account of them. Several -of the children said, “Oh, I wish I could -read.” He then gave them one or two books -and some tracts. A few months after he was -coming back the same way, and called to pay -another visit. “Well,” said the old man, “you -have give me a <i>purty lot of trouble by leaving -them books here</i>. I had no peace till I got a -man to come and <i>larn</i> them to read them.” -So sure enough the teacher was there, and -now they bought more books freely.</p> - -<p>In travelling through a wild mountain region, -where I was a total stranger, I came to -a small village of about a dozen houses, with -a little store and tavern. Before I reached -it, I heard men hallooing in the most boisterous -manner. When I drove up weary to the -public-house, I was surrounded with such a -set of savage-looking men as I never had -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">117</span> -seen before, and all intoxicated. Every man -had on a hunting-shirt, with a belt round him, -to which hung a long butcher-knife. I felt -afraid of the men, I must confess, and would -have been glad to have been elsewhere, especially -as my buggy and trunk seemed to attract -rather too much attention.</p> - -<p>After I had got food for myself and horse, -and laid round some tracts as quietly as possible, -I started, hoping to reach a point near -twenty miles distant that night. Some part -of the way I was told the road was very -good, but mostly rough and mountainous.</p> - -<p>As soon as I was out of sight, I drove rapidly, -and made the first five miles in an hour, -when I began to breathe easier.</p> - -<p>But all at once I heard the most unearthly -yelling behind me that had ever greeted my -ears. My horse was frightened, and tried to -run off. In a few moments I heard the clatter -of horses’ feet, and concluded all was over -with me. In a moment I was surrounded -with some eight or ten of the most desperate -looking men, and told to stop; that they -wanted to know what I was loaded with. I -told them I was loaded with good religious -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">118</span> -books, which I was distributing among people -that had none. I was then ordered to -give them all up to them, and they would -scatter them on the other side of the mountain, -for there were no books over there. I -told them I knew they were too generous to -take all that I had.</p> - -<p>I then told them to listen to me, and I -would tell them what the books taught. So -I began and preached them the most earnest -sermon that I ever preached. One of them -said, “Give me your hand, sir, for I never -had a preacher by the hand in my life.” I -held his hand firmly, and preached on, although -the muzzle of his gun was frequently -in very dangerous proximity to my person.</p> - -<p>It was evident they began to feel uneasy -under my wayside sermon, and for fear they -would leave me without tracts, I began the -distribution, and gave each one a number of -the most suitable I could find. They invited -me to come over the mountains and preach, -and I would get plenty to come and hear me. -Some of those tracts were found more than a -year after by one of our colporteurs, carefully -preserved and highly prized. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">119</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</h2> - -<p>Another case that seemed more threatening -than the last mentioned, occurred soon -after in the county of G——. I was on my -way to meet a Sabbath appointment. About -two o’clock I came to a river which was -much swollen by the late rains. The man -who kept the ferry-boat lived on the opposite -side of the river, where some four or five men -were pitching quoits and making a great -noise. I called a number of times before -they even condescended to answer me; and -when they did answer, it was with curses, -telling me they would come when they were -ready. I had then sixteen miles to go to -B——, the place where I expected to lodge. -They kept me waiting two hours before they -came with the boat, consequently it was late -when I got over. They were drunk and very -profane, charged me four prices, and cursed -me for troubling them. I gave them some -tracts, and the best advice I could.</p> - -<p>Soon after I met two women: one seemed -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">120</span> -to be about thirty, and the other sixty years -old. I offered them some tracts, which they -at first declined, for fear I might be the sheriff. -Neither knew a letter, or could tell who -was the Saviour of sinners.</p> - -<p>Soon after I passed them a terrible rain -came on, and the roads were so deep my -horse could scarcely draw my buggy. I saw -night would soon overtake me, and the prospect -of lodging looked unfavorable. I stopped -at a cabin by the roadside to inquire the -way, and leave some tracts. A man came out -who looked as if he was ready for any crime, -and came right up to my buggy, and began -to look in with a scrutinizing eye. He either -could not or would not give me any satisfaction -about the road. After an earnest exhortation -about his soul, I gave him Baxter’s -Call. All the conduct of the man was of a -very suspicious character.</p> - -<p>It was now late, and raining hard, and in a -little time would be very dark. I drove on -as fast as possible, until it began to get quite -dark, when I met a man on the road walking; -whether he was a white man or not, I could -not tell. I stopped him to inquire if there -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">121</span> -was any place near where I could lodge. He -immediately began to examine the inside of -my buggy as fully as the darkness would permit. -He told me there was a man on the -other bank of the creek, about half a mile -ahead of me, who kept lodgers, and that it -was a good place to stop. I handed him -a book and thanked him, and drove on, he -following a short distance, asking me questions -which were not calculated to allay my -anxiety.</p> - -<p>I soon reached the creek, which seemed to -be very high and rapid, and it was so dark I -could see no object on the other side of it. -The road entered by a narrow ravine, and -there was no way to back out. I lifted my -heart to God for protection, and drove in. -In a moment the water was up in my buggy, -but thanks to God, I got through safely, and -in a few moments my horse was standing by -the door of a miserable cabin.</p> - -<p>I called, and a man came out with a torch -of pine-knots in his hand. He was both dirty -and ragged. I asked him where the man -lived that kept lodgers. “Oh,” said he, “I -am the man that keeps tavern here.” My -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">122</span> -prospects were bad, but I could get no further. -I asked him to put up my tired horse -and feed him. He had no stable but a rail-pen, -no feed but some sheaves of green -wheat. He took me to another cabin about -fifty yards distant, that was as dark as a dungeon, -except so far as his torch gave us light. -Although it was warm, I requested him to -make me a fire, which he did with reluctance.</p> - -<p>After some time I was invited to the first -cabin to supper. The man and his wife and -children, as well as the supper, were all dirty -in the extreme. I attempted to eat, but in -vain. As soon as the man finished his meal, -we returned to the other cabin, where I conversed -with him. He was a total stranger to -the simplest truths of the Bible.</p> - -<p>I asked him if he knew any thing of the -celebrated Lucas family of that county. “Oh -yes,” said he, “they live all round here. Did -you not meet a man as you came along to-night -about the top of the hill over the creek?” -I said yes. “Well, that was one of them, and -I wonder they let you pass so late in the -evening. That one, and the one that lived in -the house you last passed were the two implicated -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">123</span> -in killing the man for which one of their -uncles was hung at Giles court-house, and if -I had given in my testimony, they would -have been hung too; and I am afraid they -will kill me, because I know all about it.”</p> - -<p>By this time I was considerably alarmed. -The conclusion I came to was that they were -all linked together, and that I was in the -slaughter-house.</p> - -<p>I then inquired all about old Randal Lucas, -who was the father of two that had been -hung, and some others that were in prison, -and was the grandfather of the two he had -just been telling me about. He gave me a -full history of the old man, much of which -cannot be told. “But,” said he, “such a man -you never saw. He is ninety years old. When -he puts on a suit of clothes, he never takes it -off till it is worn out. In the winter he lies -in the ashes, and in the summer he lies down -in the mire like a hog.” This is confirmed -in Howe’s History of Virginia, which relates -how he sat under the gallows eating gingerbread -while his sons were hung. I refer the -reader to that history for an account of this -wonderful man and his family. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">124</span></p> - -<p>The manner in which he told the whole -story was any thing but pleasant to me. He -began to get sleepy, and told me he would -hold the pine-light while I got into bed up on -the <i>loft</i>, as he called it. The only way to get -up was by a ladder made of a pole split -in two, with rounds put into it. I climbed -up, and he followed me with the torch. As -soon as I got to the bed over the loose boards -that covered the floor, and found an old split-bottom -chair, which I expected to use in self-defence -before morning, I told him to withdraw.</p> - -<p>I lay down without undressing, after committing -my soul, family, and all my interests -to God, without much hope of seeing the -light of another day. No one occupied the -house but myself as a bedroom. I kept -watch till morning, and when any unpleasant -sound was heard, I made noise enough to let -any one approaching know that I was awake.</p> - -<p>As soon as it was light I was up to see to -my poor horse, which was standing in mud -and water six inches deep, without food. -After getting him some more green wheat in -the sheaf, and a little corn bread for myself, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">125</span> -and talking and praying with the family, I -left them. I cannot say whether there was -any intention to rob me or take my life. I -hope there was not.</p> - -<p>When I was about two miles on my way, -and was rising a mountain where the road -was scarcely six inches wider than my buggy, -a man met me, riding a poor old horse without -a saddle, all in rags and dirt, with nothing -on him but remnants of a torn shirt and -pants, with a rope tied round his waist, and -a bottle of whiskey in his bosom. Such a -looking piece of humanity I had never seen -before. In a moment I concluded this is -certainly old Randal Lucas. I saw he could -not pass me on that narrow road, and I determined -to have a full talk with him. When -we met he tried to keep the upper side of the -road, and get between my horse and the steep -bank.</p> - -<p>“Good morning, sir,” said I. “Good morning,” -said he, in a very unnatural tone of -voice. “Don’t you want some good books -to read this morning?” “No, I don’t want -any; I can’t read.” “Do you go to church?” -“No, I don’t care about church.” “Well, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">126</span> -sir,” said I, “you are an old man and must -soon go to the other world.” “Yes, I am -ninety years old.” “Is it possible,” said I, -“you are so old?” “Yes, I can prove it.” -“You would find but few witnesses to prove -that by.” “Well, I can swear it then.” -“Well, sir,” said I, “what do you think will -become of you when you die?” “O well, I -<i>doesn’t</i> care any thing about that.” “Can -you tell me who is the Saviour of sinners?” -“I don’t know any thing of <i>them</i> things.” -“Well, sir, who made you?” “Why, I suppose -it was God Almighty.” “What is your -name, sir?” “Randal Lucas.” “Well,” said -I, “I thought so,” straightening myself with -a determined look. “Well, sir, you say you -don’t go to church, and I must tell you in -the name of my Master, that if you don’t repent -you will soon be in hell. I have read -and heard of you, sir, for years, and you -stand on the brink of eternal burnings, and -your soul stained with every crime that a -man could commit.” He began to look frightened, -and tried to pass me; but I kept my -position, and for some minutes laid down the -terrors of the law in the strongest language -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">127</span> -I could use, and then gave him some little -books and tracts. He trembled like an aspen -leaf.</p> - -<p>A few weeks afterwards he took up the -idea that he was soon to die, got a coffin -made, tried it to see if it would fit, paid for -it, and set it up in his cabin—sent for a -preacher, told him he was going to die and -did not know what would become of him, -and asked him to pray for him; offered him -fifty cents, and said, “Pray on till my money -is done.” The money was of course refused. -In a few days the poor wretch died as he -had lived, leaving a host of children the descendants -of unnatural and brutal connection. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">128</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> - -<p>Travelling in a mountainous region at -nightfall of a tempestuous day, and having -lost my road, I was directed for a lodging -to “Squire D——’s, who keeps the ferry.” -After supper, I had a pleasant talk with the -father of Squire D——, on whose head the -snows of eighty winters had fallen, and soon -the family were gathered round us, engaged -in delightful converse. I inquired as to the -high-handed wickedness of a neighborhood -not far off, where I had heard that meetings -were frequently held in mockery of religious -worship:</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes,” said the squire, with just -enough of the Welsh accent to betray his -origin, “and our neighborhood here was just -as bad ten years ago; we were all alike: no -church, no preacher, no Sunday-school, no -day-school. One evening a minister and a -young lady stopped at my house for the -night; I thought them very inquisitive people. -They asked if we had any preaching. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">129</span> -‘No.’ Any schools? ‘No; we have had several -teachers, but no one will stay more than -a quarter with us.’ The young lady said she -would come and take a school among us, if -we would employ her. After some further -conversation, I told her I would see what -could be done, and write her the result. Next -morning they left for the minister’s home at -M——, some fifty miles distant.</p> - -<p>“In a short time I had a school made up -and board engaged for the new teacher, and -wrote her to that effect. She came and commenced -her school at the time appointed. -But soon there was complaint that the new -teacher <i>read the Bible and prayed in her school</i>. -And her troubles did not cease here. The -man at whose house she boarded insisted that -she should leave, because she prayed, sung -hymns, and would keep talking about religion -all the time. Miss H—— then set out to -look up another home for herself; but she -met the same reply from all: ‘We cannot receive -you unless you leave off praying and -singing.’</p> - -<p>“When she applied to me, I objected on -the same grounds. Finally, I told her if she -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">130</span> -would come on my own terms, I would take -her into my family. She inquired what those -terms were. ‘Why,’ said I, ‘you shall have -such a room to yourself; there you are to -stay from the time you return from school -until you start to go back, only when you -come to your meals: you must not sing -hymns; you may pray as much as you please, -but mind you don’t let us hear you at it; and -<i>remember</i>, the first time you infringe this contract, -you leave the premises.’ To all this -she agreed, with as much meekness as if my -terms had been reasonable and right. That -evening she took up her abode under my -roof; and little did I think what a blessing -God was sending me in that frail, delicate -girl.</p> - -<p>“The children all loved the new teacher -very much. So one day she told them to ask -their parents’ permission, and if <i>they</i> were -agreed, she would teach them on Sunday too. -This proposal pleased us all. If she taught -on Sunday, that was so much clear gain to -us.</p> - -<p>“I soon observed that my children took to -staying in the teacher’s room much of their -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">131</span> -time. At length, one Sunday morning, they -came down with some tracts; I looked over -them, and found they were on the subject of -religion. Ah, said I, my lady, I’ve caught -you now. I called her down, told her she -had violated her contract, and must be off. -The poor girl began to weep; I felt ashamed. -‘Dear sir,’ said she, ‘will you read those -tracts? If you do, and still continue in your -present mind, I will leave your house immediately.’</p> - -<p>“Here was a pretty fix; the children were -all crying, and begging me not to send Miss -H—— away; and the books, Oh, they could -not part with the books. I was mightily -perplexed; at last I gave in. Said I, ‘Miss -H——, you may go back to your room; I will -consider the matter.’ I shall never forget the -smile that passed over her face as she thanked -me and went back to her room. Thanked -me, indeed! Well, I set to work, read one -of the tracts, felt self-condemned; read it -again, felt dreadfully troubled. Then I read -them all, and felt that I was a great sinner. -I said nothing more to Miss H—— about -leaving my house. Each day my convictions -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">132</span> -became deeper. At last, I could bear it no -longer. Thought I, this won’t do; I must -talk with Miss H——. So I invited her to -come and sit with us in the family. She -cheerfully complied. I asked her a great -many questions about the doctrines of the -Bible, not meaning to let her know any thing -about my concern. But all would not do; -my distress continued, or rather my agony, -for I thought I was the greatest sinner on -earth.</p> - -<p>“At last, I sent one evening for Miss H—— -to come down, and I told her my troubles; -for my proud heart was well-nigh broken. -Said I, Miss H——, I feel so and so ever -since I read those tracts of yours; and I related -all that was passing in my mind; and, -said I, do you think there is any mercy or -hope for such a poor miserable sinner? The -tears began to run down her cheeks; then -she laughed; then she caught me by both -hands, and looking up into my face, she said, -‘Oh, my dear friend, I am <i>so</i> glad.’ ‘Why,’ -said I, ‘are you glad because I am in trouble?’ -‘Oh, my dear sir,’ says she, ‘this is the Spirit -of God operating on your heart.’ All at once -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">133</span> -a great light seemed to shine into my mind. -All that I had been learning for so many -weeks seemed now just as plain as A B C. -Said I, ‘Come, Miss H——, kneel down then -and pray for me;’ and she did pray for me, -and I do bless God for his wonderful mercy -to such a poor hardened sinner. I believe -that God <i>did</i> change my heart just while that -<i>very prayer</i> was going up. All at once it just -came: I loved my Bible and I loved to pray, -and I could not bear the company that I used -to take so much delight in.</p> - -<p>“On the next Sabbath, Miss H—— asked -me to go along with her and the children to -the school—which was, and had been a Sunday-school, -though we never suspected it; -and here came a trial. If I go, they will say -I am getting religious; if I stay, it will be a -sin, for I know I <i>ought</i> to go; and then it -will grieve Miss H——. These last considerations -were the strongest; so I went. The -room was crowded with children, all waiting -for their teacher; I thought they all looked -happy. After a little while, Miss H—— took -the Bible, and coming to me, she said, ‘Mr. -D——, will you read and pray with us this -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">134</span> -morning?’ I was startled; my very heart -trembled. Said I, ‘Oh no; not now.’ Then -she read a chapter and prayed herself. Oh, -how I felt, to think that I was ashamed to -pray before those children! Ah, thought I, -this will never do; I will come here and pray -next Sunday. That night I read and prayed -with my family; and the next Sabbath I -opened the school with prayer.</p> - -<p>“The news spread soon all through the -settlement. D—— has got religion and is -praying in the Sunday-school! strange news -this! Very soon the people began to drop -into our Sunday-school. Then Miss H—— -said to me, ‘You had better read us a sermon -at the Sunday-school, after the other -exercises are over.’ She selected the sermons, -and I read them. Our meetings grew -very solemn. Presently we sent word to a -good man at B—— to send us a minister; he -did so. The minister came and preached for -us. The little school-house could not contain -one half of the people who crowded to -hear him. We held our meetings in the open -air, under the trees.</p> - -<p>“Ah, that was a wonderful time; the cry -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">135</span> -of the anxious sinner went up from every -house. The Spirit of God was moving mightily -upon the hearts of the people, and many -were born into the kingdom of Christ. All -this brought a great change in our settlement. -Instead of the dance, and the gaming-table, -and the foolish song, we had meetings for -prayer and praise; and the tavern and still-house -were exchanged for the temple of -God.</p> - -<p>“The Sabbath became a day of holy rest -among a people who used to spend it in revelry -or idleness. Houses of worship were -built, where our population flocked every -Sabbath to hear the preached word from the -living minister; and in the course of two -or three years, hundreds professed faith in -Christ, and joined the church. We have had -a flourishing church here ever since. Ah,” -said the good man, in his peculiarly emphatic -way, “see what God hath wrought for us.”</p> - -<p>How often have I reproached myself, when -I contrasted the heroic conduct of this devoted -female with my own man-fearing spirit! -She has gone to her reward; her memory will -be cherished for a few more years in the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">136</span> -hearts of those to whom her humble efforts -were of such immense value, and then pass -away and be forgotten. But her <i>influence</i> -will pass on, an ever-increasing current, down -the long tracts of time, and throughout the -endless ages of eternity. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">137</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</h2> - -<p>The latter part of the year 1848 was spent -laboring in South-western Virginia. I visited -several towns as a colporteur, taking with me -some applicant for this service, to give him a -favorable introduction to his labors.</p> - -<p>I reached the beautiful town of A—— late -in the evening, an entire stranger, and stopped -at a hotel, wet, cold, and hungry. About the -same time the stage arrived with a number of -passengers, and we all asked for rooms with -fire in them. While this was preparing I -stepped into the bar-room, the only place -where I could find a fire; but it had been -election day, and such a company of intoxicated -men I had never seen in one room. -Several of them were lying on the floor, unable -to rise; and the swearing was awful. I -immediately began the distribution of tracts -and little paper-covered books; and among -them I laid down a copy of “Universalism -not of God.” As I passed round, laying them -down on chairs and tables, as well as handing -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">138</span> -them to the men, I observed a very fine-looking -man who had come in the stage, following -me, and looking at them.</p> - -<p>As I laid down “Universalism not of God,” -he took it up, and said to me very abruptly -that the book was a libel on the Universalists. -“Oh,” said I, “I understand the cause of -your objection to the book. You are one of -those who believe that thieves, murderers, -and liars all go to heaven; that there is no -such place as hell.” “Yes,” said he, “I have -too good an opinion of God’s mercy to believe -there is any such place as hell.” When he -made that remark, one of the fellows who was -lying drunk on the floor raised his head and -said, “You are a liar;” while another said -he “wished that was true, but there was no -such good news.” Said I, “Sir, I will hand -you over to these men, and you and they may -settle the controversy.” He immediately disappeared -from the room.</p> - -<p>During my stay of three weeks in this beautiful -town, I visited every family in it, and -either sold or gave books.</p> - -<p>One day I stepped into the office of a lawyer, -who was one of the first men in the state -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">139</span> -in his profession. I offered him a copy of -Nelson on Infidelity. Said he, “I could not -take time to read a book of that size, except -on law, for less than five hundred dollars.” -I then offered him Baxter’s Call. Said he, -“That is too big a dose for me too.” I then -presented him the tract, “The Great Alternative.” -“Well,” said he, “as you are so anxious -for me to read some of your books, I -will read that right off.” He commenced, -and I left him. An hour or two after I was -passing his door, and he was sitting in a -thoughtful mood. Said I, “Have you read -the tract?” “Yes,” said he, “and if I would -read a few more like it I think I might become -a Christian.” Said I, “Too busy to be -saved.” “Yes,” said he, “I fear that is my -case; I have not a moment to spare from my -business.” Alas, how many will have to say, -I was too busy to be saved.</p> - -<p>In the same town there was a man who had -once been a minister of some prominence in -an evangelical church, but had left it, and -embraced the doctrines of Swedenborg, for -which he was very zealous. I did not wish -to encounter him; but as I stepped into a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">140</span> -store one night to scatter tracts, he was present. -He immediately made an attack on me, -and said that he could not imagine how any -wise man could believe in the doctrine of the -Trinity; that it was so absurd that nothing in -heaven or earth could illustrate it. I saw the -eyes of all present were turned to me, and felt -in a tight place. I lifted my heart to God for -help to vindicate his truth. A candle was -burning between us. Said I, pointing to the -candle, “Sir, there is a trinity giving us light. -There is tallow, wick, and fire, three in one.” -He acknowledged he was beat, and took his -leave, to the amusement of those present, and -to my great satisfaction.</p> - -<p>After two months’ labor in South-western -Virginia, I returned to my home in L——, -near two hundred miles distant from A——, -and devoted a month to correspondence and -adjusting accounts with over fifty colporteurs -I had now employed.</p> - -<p>Though L—— had been my home for over -two years, I had never had time to visit all -the families with our books and tracts. I had -often determined to do it, but other labors -had prevented. The number of warm friends -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">141</span> -and liberal contributors in and around the -town seemed to lay special claims on me to -do the work, and I resolved to spend the -months of January and February laboring in -the town and vicinity.</p> - -<p>At this time it was remarked by the ministers -and praying people of God, that they had -not felt such a spiritual dearth there for many -years. The ball-room was better attended -than the churches, and the young seemed to -be rushing into sin with greediness. My own -soul too was in darkness, and my strength -nearly prostrated. My devotions, public and -private, were heartless. I was even tempted -to leave my work and engage in some secular -business.</p> - -<p>At last I told a few of the most pious whom -I knew about the desire I had to visit the -families, and that the state of my own heart -was such that I was prevented from doing -it. They urged me forward, and promised -to pray for me. I set day after day to begin; -but when the day and hour came for -me to start, my heart would fail, and Satan -seemed to have some excuse always ready. -At last I entered into covenant with God to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">142</span> -begin the next day; but when the morning -came my hard, cowardly heart failed me. I -tried to pray again and again. I put it off -till the afternoon, with a hope of getting -strength. A carpet-bag had been standing -full of books and tracts for some days waiting, -and they seemed to rebuke my cowardice.</p> - -<p>At last I thought that if Moses had not -stepped into the Red sea, the waters would -never have receded. The next morning still -found me at home. As soon as my breakfast -was over I took the carpet-bag and books to -a room and earnestly prayed over them, and -then started.</p> - -<p>The next neighbor to me was a Mr. H——. -His wife and mother-in-law were devoted -Christians, but he was careless about religion, -and so was his brother, a young man -that had his home there. I dealt faithfully -with them, and prayed with them. Each of -them bought a book, and I left them in tears. -Soon after the young man professed religion, -and the other remained serious as long as I -knew him. All my fears were now gone. A -few minutes before I was ashamed to own -Christ before a kitchen-maid; now I could -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">143</span> -face the world, and the promise was realized, -“My strength is made perfect in weakness.”</p> - -<p>I next went to Mr. P——’s and had a long -talk with his daughter, a very intelligent girl -of twelve summers. In a short time she professed -religion.</p> - -<p>I next entered the house of Mr. R——. -He and his wife were two of the friends to -whom I had told my difficulties, and who had -engaged to pray for me. They had two very -interesting daughters that moved in the most -fashionable circles of society. As soon as I -entered the house they knew my errand. I -was directed to the parlor, and told by the -father, “I will send the girls in, and wife and -I will go into our own room and pray while -you talk.” I felt God was there while I talked -and prayed. One received Pike’s Persuasives -to Early Piety, the reading of which -led her to the Saviour soon after; the other -got Baxter’s Call, and was an inquirer during -all the time I remained there.</p> - -<p>I cannot find words to express the joy I -felt in my own soul at the close of this day’s -work. All nature seemed to rejoice with me, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">144</span> -and I fully realized the promise, “He that -watereth shall be watered.”</p> - -<p>The next day I visited eleven families, -talked and prayed and sold and gave books -and tracts in every house. In almost every -house some feeling was manifested, and soon -after several professed religion. Among them -was a Mrs. M——, who told me it was the -Anxious Inquirer that led her to Christ. I -visited half the town in a week, and sold and -gave away many books and tracts. Quite a -number of those visited showed much feeling -while I talked with them.</p> - -<p>At this time special religious services were -held in one of the churches that had but little -sympathy at that time with the Tract Society, -or any thing else that was not under their -own exclusive control; and I was advised to -stop my work till their meeting closed, for -fear they might say I was proselyting. I attended -all their meetings, and prayed and -exhorted when called on. Their meetings -continued two weeks, during which time -twenty professed religion, most of whom I -had previously visited.</p> - -<p>At the close of these meetings, I told the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">145</span> -Rev. Dr. McE—— that now was the time for -him to have meetings in his church. He said -he was not able to do any extra work, and -did not know where he could get any preacher. -I proposed to get the Rev. R. N. D——, -who was then laboring as a colporteur of the -Tract Society some fifty miles distant, to -which he agreed, and I wrote to Mr. D—— -to come on a certain day. During the intervening -time of ten days I visited all the balance -of the town and held prayer-meetings -every night. The meetings became more and -more interesting, and religion became the -theme of conversation in every circle.</p> - -<p>When Mr. D—— came public preaching -was held every night, and the word was attended -with the power of God. Every morning -we had a prayer-meeting, and through -the day visited the inquirers from house to -house, and scattered tracts. By the end of -four days thirty-five were attending the meeting -for inquiry, and at the close of the first -week thirty-three had professed hope in -Christ, most of them the most influential -people in the town.</p> - -<p>The Rev. Mr. V—— then came and aided -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">146</span> -another week, at the close of which forty-two -were added to the church. Thus did God -carry on his work with the humble instruments -he had chosen.</p> - -<p>One young lady who had been an inquirer -for two weeks, told us at last she did not care -about being converted then, and left the -meetings. In three weeks she died. Her -last words were, “I could have been saved, -but I rejected God’s Spirit, and now I am -lost.”</p> - -<p>Another came sometimes to the inquiry -meetings, but owing to the fact that she was -soon to marry an irreligious man, put off her -day of grace. In a few weeks the day of her -intended marriage came. She rose in the -morning in usual health to prepare for the -ceremony, but before night her costly bridal -dress was her winding-sheet.</p> - -<p>Four miles from town Mr. W——, a colporteur, -was at work during the time of this -meeting in the town, and ten were there -added to a little church.</p> - -<p>I have been thus particular in stating the -facts in relation to this work, as it was the -starting point of one of the most powerful -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">147</span> -revivals that I have ever witnessed. It extended -over one hundred miles square of a -sparsely populated country, in which near -one thousand souls were converted to God -within about four months. The fidelity and -perseverance in the service of Christ of those -thus brought in, is the best evidence that this -was truly the work of God’s Spirit.</p> - -<p>At the close of these cheering labors in L——, -I went to the town of U—— to be with Mr. -H—— at a sacramental meeting, and take a -collection for the Tract Society. He is one -of God’s ministers that does his work faithfully. -The meeting began on Friday night. -Mr. H—— requested me to occupy the time -in giving an account of the great work at -L——, which I did. Although but few were -present, and they mostly pupils in the academy -he taught, the bare relation of the facts -of the revival at L—— made a deep impression, -and resulted in the conversion of his -son, who is now a minister.</p> - -<p>The next morning at nine, we had a meeting -for prayer and exhortation, at which there -was still more interest. At eleven Mr. H—— -preached. At night I conducted the service -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">148</span> -by exhortation and prayer. The solemnity -was still increased. At each meeting we gave -each one present a suitable tract, with a word -of earnest counsel.</p> - -<p>At nine, Sabbath morning, I conducted another -prayer-meeting. At eleven, Mr. H—— -preached and administered the communion. -God was truly there in great power. At -three we had a meeting for prayer again. At -night the church was full. I based my remarks -on the words, “I will arise and go -to my father.” I saw that every heart was -moved, and but few cheeks were dry. At the -close of my remarks, I turned to Mr. H——, -and said to him, “If you will ask them, some -anxious souls will remain for instruction and -prayer.” The result was, seven inquirers took -a stand on the Lord’s side that night. This -seemed to rouse the great soul of Mr. H—— to -an extraordinary pitch of fervor, and led to the -appointment of a meeting the next morning.</p> - -<p>On Monday morning we both exhorted, and -the interest was deep. At three we held an -inquiry-meeting, and nine attended. At night -I spoke again; the meeting was deeply interesting. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">149</span></p> - -<p>Tuesday morning the prayer-meeting was -crowded, and in the afternoon there were -seventeen inquirers. We had three services -each day, the one at three only for inquirers; -and each day there was an increase of -interest. On Saturday morning Mr. H—— -had to go some miles to another preaching-place, -and I was left alone on Saturday and -the Sabbath. Sabbath, at three, there were -twenty-seven inquirers, and ten were indulging -a hope in Christ. During the next week -forty-two professed faith in Christ.</p> - -<p>In the whole course of these meetings we -kept the very choicest of our books and tracts -in the hands of the people. One observing -Christian said to me, “There has been more -reading here on the subject of religion in the -past eighteen days, than there had been in -three years before.” Quite a number of the -inquirers told me they were first awakened -by reading a book or tract, and others that -they were greatly aided by them in coming -to Christ. Their interest in these publications -was shown by their contributing one -hundred dollars on one of the Sabbaths to -aid the tract and colporteur work. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">150</span></p> - -<p>This town was one of the wickedest in -Western Virginia, and had for years been a -centre of infidelity. A worthy farmer who -lived near told me, at the close of our meetings, -that for years he had never passed -through that town without hearing oaths and -vulgar songs; “but now,” said he, “that is -all stopped, and I hear them singing hymns -of praise to God.” This town will now compare -favorably with any other within my -knowledge for piety and sobriety. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">151</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</h2> - -<p>At the earnest request of Mr. H——, I -promised to meet him on the next Sabbath -at one of his country churches, about six -miles from town, in one of the most densely -populated and wealthy communities in all -Western Virginia, called Mount P——. It was -only fourteen miles from my home at L——. -I reached the church a little before the hour -of service, a stranger to all except a few who -had met me at the meetings in town. The -house, although large, was crowded, and I -took a seat in the back part of the house. In -a few minutes Mr. H—— came in and walked -up into the pulpit. He looked sick and feeble, -and while glancing his eye over the house, -saw me, and beckoned me to him. He was -unable to speak louder than a whisper.</p> - -<p>Said he, “I am attacked with bronchitis -and unable to preach, and you must preach.” -This I refused, on the ground that I had no -authority. Said he, “I will give you the -authority here, and stand between you and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">152</span> -danger.” He arose, and with great exertion -told the people that he had never had such a -desire to preach as he had that day, but the -Lord had shut his mouth, and sent me to do -the preaching, for which he was very thankful.</p> - -<p>I at once opened with singing and prayer, -and announced my text, “Behold, I stand at -the door and knock.” I felt that the thoughts -and words were not mine, but dictated by -the Holy Ghost. I spoke for an hour. The -audience was still as the grave. After an interval -of thirty minutes, as was the custom, -we resumed the service. My text in the afternoon -was, “Remember now thy Creator in -the days of thy youth.” The feeling was -deep. I asked the anxious to remain for instruction, -and twelve remained. At night I -had a meeting at a private house, where great -interest was manifested.</p> - -<p>At the earnest request of many, services -similar to those of the Sabbath were continued -on Monday and for several days afterwards. -On Monday morning, when I came -to the church, there was a crowd, and much -to my joy and relief, Mr. W——, one of our -best colporteurs, was there. He had labored -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">153</span> -faithfully over all that ground but a few -weeks before, and knew almost every one -in that region. Although very diffident, he -conducted the morning meeting with great -acceptance. I spoke at eleven, and at two; -and at the close of the last service we had -eighteen inquirers. God seemed to come -down as on the day of Pentecost. Ten of the -number indulged hope, and their countenances -were lit up with joy.</p> - -<p>At night we had a meeting at Mr. D——’s. -One half could not get into the house. He -had a son that was desperately wicked, and -had done all in his power to oppose the work -of God. During the time of the service he -went out of the house in an agony of conviction -for sin. The next morning, at family -prayers, he cried out in the bitterness of his -anguish, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” -A sister of his, that had been a very thoughtless -girl, also cried out in great distress. -This seemed instantly to electrify the whole -family. The place seemed awful with the -majesty of God. I felt as much of the divine -glory as I could bear. Such a scene I had -never witnessed. Soon the whole family -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">154</span> -were embraced in each other’s arms, rejoicing -in hope of eternal life. We seemed to be in -the inner sanctuary and the most holy place. -Although near fourteen years have since -passed, while I describe this scene it fires my -own soul afresh.</p> - -<p>Though it was a hurried season of the year -with farmers, work was suspended, ploughs -were stopped, white and black were in the -church, or as near in as they could get, as -the church would not hold more than half that -came.</p> - -<p>The Tuesday morning prayer-meeting was -one of the best I ever attended. At eleven -the Rev. Mr. H—— returned, and preached -one of the best of sermons. In the afternoon -I spoke again. There were thirty-six more -inquirers, and twelve more were indulging -hope.</p> - -<p>On Friday night I held a meeting at the -house of a Dr. N——, who was a man of the -world. I spoke on the <i>broad road and wide -gate</i>. The doctor was awakened that night, -and has ever since dated his first impressions -on religious subjects to that time; and two -young men, one of them since educated for -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">155</span> -the ministry, likewise dated their conversion -the same night.</p> - -<p>At eleven the next morning Rev. Mr. -H—— preached, and in the afternoon Dr. -McE——. At the close of this service, sixty-two -were added to the church on profession -of their faith.</p> - -<p>When the hour for public worship arrived -on Sabbath morning, one half could not enter -the church. It was arranged that I should -invite those who could not get in to assemble -out of hearing of the church and preach to -them. I selected the graveyard, where most -of the graves had enclosures of rails around -and over them. The circumstance suggested -my text: “Man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, -man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” -I felt as I never did before, standing among -the dead and the living, and spoke as I never -did before or since. Some of the wickedest -men in all the country were before me.</p> - -<p>One gray-headed sinner seventy years old, -who sat on the rails which were around the -graves of his wife and children, shook as if -he had the ague. A year after, he died; and -often, when he was on his death-bed, spoke -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">156</span> -with deep sorrow of resisting God’s Spirit at -that time. At the close of the services in the -church a collection of $120 was taken up for -the Tract Society, which was five times as -much as could have been obtained a week -before. Books and tracts were circulated -every day in these meetings, and read with -interest. Twenty persons told me that books -or tracts were the means of either awakening -them, or directing them to Christ. In -addition to the sixty-two added to the church -as above, twenty-four who obtained a hope -at these meetings joined a church of another -denomination a mile distant.</p> - -<p>Only two miles from the above meetings, -was the church of a large congregation of -Seceders. Till this time they had not gone -to hear any preacher but their own, nor admitted -any other denomination to preach in -their church. But so great was this work -that some of their young people had been -drawn away, and gained a hope in Christ, -but kept it secret. Their pastor, Rev. Mr. -McG——, came himself on Saturday, and became -deeply moved with what he saw and -heard. In the evening Rev. Mr. H—— told -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">157</span> -him there were many still anxious about their -souls, and not a few of them were among his -own people; “and now,” said he, “this harvest -must be gathered, and if you will go on -with a meeting next week I will close my -meetings to-morrow.” This arrangement was -made, and it was agreed that I should go and -assist Mr. McG—— on the afternoon of the -next day, after the services in that church -should be closed.</p> - -<p>At four o’clock the Seceder church was -crowded, and all the ardor of feeling seemed -to come along with the people. Rev. Mr. -McG—— was very feeble in health, but was -a devoted servant of God; and it was arranged -that he was to take a text and speak -ten minutes, and I was then to fill up the -hour. After that service we held another in -a private house at night.</p> - -<p>The next morning at nine, we had the house -full at the prayer-meeting. At eleven, Mr. -McG—— preached ten minutes, and I followed; -and after the service all were supplied -with tracts. During the afternoon service -the presence of God seemed to move every -heart. And as I believe that when God -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">158</span> -moves on men’s hearts, they ought to move -too as the prodigal did, when I had ceased -speaking, and the congregation were singing -the eighty-fourth Psalm, Rouse’s version, I -said to Mr. McG—— that I had no doubt -but if an invitation was given some would remain -for instruction. He feared it would not -be acceptable to the officers of the church, -all of whom had come from Scotland, and -had been accustomed to hear preaching only -from Seceders, and considered <i>occasional hearing</i> -an offence. But he said he would not interfere -with what I thought was duty.</p> - -<p>As soon as the song was sung, I arose and -told them that a piece of old Scotch history -had just come into my mind. That over one -hundred years ago, previous to their communion -occasions, the minister at the close -of his services for some days would invite all -that intended to commune for the first time -to remain for instruction in regard to their -duties; and that for want of that many came -to the Lord’s table who were ignorant of the -nature of the ordinance. And as I believed -there were a number who contemplated joining -the church and going to the communion -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">159</span> -table on the next Sabbath for the first time, -I would ask all such to remain after the congregation -was dismissed, to receive such instruction -as should be given. After some -agitation all was quiet, and I told them the -first point of inquiry for them was, to know if -they were born again, and spoke some twenty -minutes on the nature and evidences of regeneration. -The old elders sobbed aloud; -and as soon as the services were closed, they -had me by the hand, and said, “That is just -what our young people need.” The oldest elder, -whose daughter was among the inquirers, -came up leaning on his staff, and said, “That -did my soul good.” We had an appointment -that night five miles distant, and this old man -went all the way with me on horseback. The -house was crowded. Many were awakened, -and among them Mr. B—— the proprietor, -who was a hardened sinner of fifty years. -He soon professed his faith in Christ.</p> - -<p>The next morning this old elder, Mr. M——, -said to me, “Oh, Mr. C——, I slept none last -night. I have had a foretaste of heaven, and -long to be there. I have never experienced -religious joy till last night; and now I have -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">160</span> -one request to make, and deny me not, that -is, that you commune with me next Sabbath.”</p> - -<p>The next day we had similar services, and -at the close of the last service I told them as -all the congregation seemed desirous to hear -what was said to those wishing to consider -their duty to join the church, such would -come forward while we sung the twenty-third -Psalm. Sixteen thus presented themselves, -and Rev. Mr. McG—— spoke to them -with a heavenly unction. The next day there -were twenty-eight inquirers, and the next day -thirty-nine, of whom twenty-two appeared to -be indulging a good hope in Christ. All the -business of the field was suspended, and many -were saying it was the dawn of the day of -glory to the church. As the time had arrived -for me to visit another place fifty miles -distant, to engage in similar labors, the pastor -told them he wanted them to make a -thank-offering to the Tract Society, and in a -few minutes $80 was on the table, and a present -of $20 to me. On the Sabbath fifty-six -were added to the church, and more than -thirty to a Methodist church near by. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">161</span></p> - -<p>Fourteen months after, I visited this church -again. The presence of God was still there, -and many said they felt as if they were ready -to begin again where they had left off fourteen -months before. The strong prejudices -against worshipping with other Christians -were among the things that had been.</p> - -<p>During my brief stay many incidents were -related to me. One young man told me it was -“Advice to a Married Couple” that awakened -him, as he was soon to be married. Three -of the anxious got relief by reading the tract -“What is it to Believe in Christ?” A man -well acquainted in the community told me -thirty family altars were reared on one Sabbath -night.</p> - -<p>In one instance two families lived in one -house, and both the men and their wives had -joined the church. They felt that they must -have family worship, but neither was willing -to pray. One said he could do the singing, -and the other said he would read the Bible. -At last they united in asking a lame negro -man that was pious, and he led in prayer.</p> - -<p>There is probably no region of our country, -when all the difficulties are considered, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">162</span> -where the Tract Society and colporteurs -have done as much real good as in Western -Virginia. Some of the most godly men we -ever employed had visited every house again -and again, and most of the books to be found -in the houses were the Society’s publications. -In some of the poorer districts they were -even the only school-books. I have heard of -schools in those mountains where one had -Bunyan, another Baxter’s Call, or Saints’ -Rest, and so on all through the school. We -can say that in many places the work has -made the wilderness and the solitary place -rejoice and blossom as the rose. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">163</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</h2> - -<p>After one night’s rest at home, I left the -next morning for C——, thirty miles distant, -to meet my friend Rev. Mr. D——, who was -with us at the commencement of the meetings -at L——, and engage in another meeting. -The Rev. Mr. P——, who was pastor at -that place, was likewise a colporteur of the -Tract Society, and had five little churches in -as many different communities in the county. -So he left us to hold a meeting in C——, -while he was laboring in other portions of -his field.</p> - -<p>I had on several occasions passed through -this town, which, in a religious view, was one -of the darkest I have ever visited. I saw the -men, most of them young men, while Mr. -P—— was preaching to a few, mostly women, -standing all round the church with their heads -in the windows, talking aloud, and even swearing -profanely, till the preacher’s voice could -scarcely be heard. As Mr. D—— was a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">164</span> -stranger there, I informed him that we might -expect open opposition. The meetings were -to be conducted in the same way as those to -which I have already alluded.</p> - -<p>After warning the people of the impropriety -of such conduct, and insisting that if they -attended the services, they should come into -the church, Mr. D—— preached, and I followed -by telling of the Lord’s work in the -places where I had been. A deep solemnity -seemed to fall on every soul, and we felt God -was there. All present were well supplied -with tracts.</p> - -<p>The next day our meetings were very solemn, -and still more so at night, when there -were five anxiously inquiring for salvation. -By the next night most of the females began -to feel very deeply, and some young men -began to interrupt by their talking; but I -rebuked them most solemnly, and we had no -more interruptions during that meeting, and -I am happy to say there have been none since -in that place.</p> - -<p>This meeting began on Thursday night, -and by Monday twenty-two had professed -hope in Christ. Among the number was one -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">165</span> -man sixty years old. He had been intemperate -forty years. Though he was then so -ignorant that he did not know who was the -Saviour of sinners, and did not know one -letter of the alphabet, he still lives a monument -of grace.</p> - -<p>One young lady of fortune, who was there -at school, and whose anxiety about her soul -bordered on despair, gained a hope on Saturday. -On the next Saturday she joined the -church, and then told her companions, “I -will go to the Lord’s table to-morrow; it may -be my last Sabbath on earth.” On Monday -morning she came to school apparently in her -usual health, and seemed deeply affected by -the opening prayer; but soon complained of -being unwell, went to her boarding-house, -and in forty-eight hours she was numbered -with the dead. Grace and glory came very -near together.</p> - -<p>After a few days of rest, at the request of -the Rev. Mr. H——, to whom I have alluded -at the town of U——, I met him in an old -log-church on Wolf Creek, one of his preaching-places. -I left home in the morning, rode -twenty-four miles, and reached the place at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">166</span> -one. Mr. H—— was preaching to a small -congregation, as it was now the beginning -of harvest. After an interval of thirty minutes, -I addressed the people. The next day -was Saturday. The house was full; and in -the evening we had five inquirers. Sabbath -morning Mr. H—— preached with great power, -and then left for another appointment, -with the expectation of returning on Monday. -In the mean time I was to go on with the -services. In the evening I had thirteen inquirers; -and among them was Colonel H——, -fifty years old, and Major B——, sixty-eight, -two men of the largest wealth and highest -standing in that community, who had been -remarkable instances of grieving the Spirit -of God. I related in their hearing the fact -of what an aged man had told me about his -grieving the Spirit. I saw it affected them -both very deeply. They told me they had -felt all that that man did whose case I had described, -and that they had now made up their -minds to seek Christ. In a few days both -were hoping in Christ; and two years ago -they had continued active Christians.</p> - -<p>Becoming exhausted, almost as if I was at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">167</span> -death’s door, I left for home; but Rev. Mr. -H—— continued the meetings. Such was -the interest awakened, that daily labor in the -harvest-field was entirely suspended. Masters -and servants were all at the same mercy-seat. -God was there; the world was lost -sight of, and eternal things took its place. -Everybody had a tract in hand. You could -see them reading on their way home; some -in carriages, some on horseback, and others -on foot. The result was, thirty-six were added -to that little church, and many others to -the other churches in that region of country. I -soon learned that one wild, thoughtless young -woman was awakened by reading a tract, and -she is now one of the mothers in Israel.</p> - -<p>I had received several letters from the Rev. -Mr. C——, an aged man who had moved to -Fayette county, to preach in a very destitute -region, near the celebrated <i>Hawk’s Nest</i>, or -<i>Marshall’s Pillar</i>, a cliff or precipice of about -one thousand feet perpendicular height, hanging -over New River, ten miles from its junction -with the Gauley. After a day of rest, I -took the stage, and at the end of fifty miles -reached the place. On Friday morning the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">168</span> -meeting began in the woods. No church was -near; but an arbor was made by putting up -poles and covering them with green bushes. -When I came it rained, and only about thirty -were present; but God was there with his -gracious power. We had a meeting in the -evening at one of the neighboring cabins, -and a crowd was collected.</p> - -<p>The next morning we met at the arbor. -The day was fair and beautiful, and the crowd -great. The Lord helped me greatly in the -service. At the interval I scattered tracts -freely, and set all to reading who could read. -At the close of the afternoon service there -were eleven anxious inquirers. On Sabbath -morning we met at nine for prayer. By -eleven o’clock a thousand people had assembled; -and after the evening service, seventeen -came out for instruction. On Monday the -communion was to be administered, and seventeen -were added to the Lord’s people. The -Lord was there in his mercy. After the afternoon -service nineteen more came out as -inquirers, among them men of sixty years -and from that down to boys, most of whom -professed religion soon after. A church was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">169</span> -soon after organized, which still lives. The -blessed influence spread for miles around, -and all denominations shared in the glorious -work. I shall ever believe the way was prepared -by a faithful colporteur, who had been -over the ground a few months before.</p> - -<p>Mr. P——, an elder in a vacant church -called Locust Bottom, had applied to the -Rev. Mr. P—— to come and administer the -communion in that church, and to bring me -with him. The meeting was to begin on the -Friday before the third Sabbath in August. -I left home on Thursday morning, and reached -the place, fifty-four miles distant, at noon -the next day. In the afternoon I addressed -the audience by telling them what the Lord -had done in so many other places, and that -I felt assured if they would seek him with -their whole hearts he would bless them too.</p> - -<p>The next morning we were assembled at -nine for prayer and exhortation. At eleven -Mr. C——, a student of divinity, spoke with -much fervor. After recess I spoke with much -liberty, and five came out as inquirers. We -held meetings at night in two places; both -well attended, and several were awakened. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">170</span> -The Sabbath morning prayer-meeting was -crowded. The communion was administered -by Mr. P——; and after recess I spoke again, -and we had nine inquirers. The next morning -we had a crowd, and there were clear indications -of the presence of the Spirit of God.</p> - -<p>Some weeks previous, Mr. W——, a colporteur -to whom I have alluded, had been all -through this region, and circulated books. -A daughter of Colonel S——, one of the elders, -became awakened by reading one of them, and -her state of mind had aroused some of her -friends and companions, who were among -those most deeply concerned; and it was -agreed to hold the evening meeting at the -colonel’s, though four miles distant.</p> - -<p>In addition to the colonel’s large family, a -number of others were present, all seeking -peace with God. After tea was over we were -all seated in a large parlor, to the number -of at least twenty. As Mr. C—— expected -soon to leave, I asked him to lead us in prayer, -and especially to remember the anxious souls -in the room. At the close of the prayer, one -of the colonel’s daughters was sobbing as if -she would break her heart. I sat down beside -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">171</span> -her, and pointed her to Jesus who died -for sinners. She looked at me a moment, and -then sprang into her mother’s arms, and said, -“Oh, mother, I have found Jesus.” But a -short time had elapsed, when a daughter-in-law -of Mrs. S—— went to her and said, “Oh, -mother, I have found the Saviour too.” Soon -the wife of one of the elders who was there -cried, “Oh, Mrs. S——, the Saviour has -blessed me too. Oh, what a Saviour I have -found.” This woman had been so opposed -to religion that her husband could not have -family prayers. All these three had been -awakened by reading tracts. During all this -time the old grandmother, ninety years old, -and for over seventy years a follower of Christ, -was walking through the house saying, “Oh, -Mr. C——, is not this heaven? my poor soul -can bear no more of the divine glory.”</p> - -<p>In a short time Colonel S——, who had -been absent, returned. As soon as his daughter -saw him she was in his arms, saying, “Oh, -my dear father, your prayers are answered; -I have found Jesus.”</p> - -<p>By this time the news had spread all over -the farm, and more than fifty blacks of all -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">172</span> -ages were in and round the house. The old -mother of Col. S—— said to me, “Oh, Mr. -C——, won’t you preach to these poor souls?” -“Certainly,” said I; and in a few minutes a -large room was crowded with them. I stood -in the door, with the old mother holding me -by the arm, and announced the words, “Behold, -I bring you glad tidings of great joy -which shall be to all people.” The negroes -soon became so excited they could hardly contain -themselves. Some were on their knees -praying, and others clapping their hands. -The old lady undertook to keep them in order; -but her own heart became so deeply impressed, -that her bodily strength sunk under -it. The scene was one that neither tongue -nor pen can describe. No doubt some who -have never seen or felt any thing like this, -will call it enthusiasm; but if it was, I would -wish to live and die in the midst of such enthusiasm. -This was one of the most intelligent -families in that community—all educated -and refined, and strict Presbyterians. -I have found but few such families.</p> - -<p>The next morning we all repaired to the -church, where I was met by Mr. W——, the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">173</span> -colporteur whom I have mentioned. Before -that day’s meeting closed eight more professed -hope. That night I had a meeting at -a Mr. C——’s, who was a professed atheist, -but within a few days after, was numbered -among God’s people.</p> - -<p>The next day the house was crowded below -with whites, and the gallery with blacks. -The presence of God seemed to be with every -soul. There were in the house two men, -brothers, of large wealth and much intelligence, -both unmarried and somewhat dissipated. -For two days they had been deeply -concerned, and their pious friends were earnest -in prayer for them. Just as I was closing -my last discourse in the evening, when -there was scarce a dry cheek in the house, a -negro who was subject to fits, fell in a fit in -the gallery, and made the most unearthly -noise I ever heard. All fled from the house -with fright, thinking the house was falling. -These two brothers, when they went out, said -they were glad at what had happened, for if -they had remained any longer they would have -been compelled to yield to the Spirit of God. -They both went away, and never returned; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">174</span> -and said often afterwards that they sealed -their damnation that day. Each of them died -a horrible death with delirium tremens.</p> - -<p>I exhorted three or four times each day -throughout all the week, and brother W—— -scattered books and tracts, and talked and -prayed. Twenty-two were added to that -church, and as many more joined other -churches. Before this meeting began, that -church was nearly broken up, and in six -months after, the student to whom I have -alluded was the pastor.</p> - -<p>Ten years after, as I was passing through -this region in a stage, one of my travelling -companions told me he was one of the converts -at a place where I had labored. We -were alone in the stage when we reached the -place of crossing a river near this church. -The driver stopped to water his horses, and -I handed tracts to two men that were working -at the edge of the river. They looked at -me a moment, and then caught my hands: -“Oh, this is Mr. C——. It was your tracts -and labors that God blessed to save our -souls.” The stage-driver dropped his bucket -and rushed to me: “Oh, is it possible I have -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">175</span> -been hauling Mr. C—— and did not know it? -It was your tracts and labors which you began -in the rain in Fayette county that God -blessed to my soul.” Here were four men -who had been led to Christ at different places, -and now had met the one whom they called -the instrument of their salvation. To God -alone be all the glory. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">176</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> - -<p>As, in the providence of God, I have been -brought into contact with thousands of persons -who have told me with much candor -the history of their own minds, and conversed -freely in reference to the all-important -subject of their salvation, I have thought it to -be my duty to record some of the facts I have -met, for the benefit and warning of others. -That there is a point when the Holy Spirit, -if wilfully and perseveringly resisted, ceases -to strive with man, no one doubts who believes -in his renewing and sanctifying agency; -but too many take it for granted that this -point is not reached till the close of life, and -neglect or resist the strivings of the Spirit -till he gives them up to hardness of heart -and blindness of mind, perhaps many years -before their earthly existence has terminated.</p> - -<p>The first case I shall mention is that of a -woman about thirty years of age, with whom -I conversed in the presence of her mother. I -inquired if she was a member of any church. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">177</span> -She answered, “No.” I asked if she had not -at some time felt concern for her salvation. -“Yes,” she said, “I think but few have been -more anxious on the subject than I was once.” -I asked at what period of her life this occurred, -when she gave me the following account -of God’s dealings with her. “When I -was about fifteen years old, I felt that I was -a great sinner in the sight of God. Often -my distress was so great that I could not -sleep; and for three years I seldom had -peace for a week at a time. I knew that the -Holy Spirit was striving with me, and that I -ought to yield my heart to his influence; but -I thought it would cut off my pleasures in -the midst of youth. I tried to banish the -thoughts of eternity; but they would still -return and interrupt my pleasure. I tried -reading novels and romances; they gave me -relief for a while, but my distress returned. -At last I went to the ballroom—and I have -never since had such feelings as before.” -“And have you no fears,” said I, “that you -have grieved away the Spirit of God for -ever?” “Yes,” she replied, “I have no doubt -of that, and that I shall be lost.” I proceeded -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">178</span> -to describe the state and misery of the -lost, and appealed to her, by the prayers of -her mother and the tears which were then -falling from her sunken eyes, by the danger -of an eternal separation from pious friends, -by the glories of heaven and the agonies of -the Son of God, now to make her peace with -him and be saved. “All this,” she calmly -replied, “has been tried upon me before. -Nothing that you or any other man can say -on that subject, can move me now. My doom -is fixed.”</p> - -<p>Another case was that of Mr. B——, who -was over seventy years old, and living an ungodly -life. I approached him with kindness, -and at length he conversed freely. I spoke -of the goodness of God to him in his advanced -years, and asked if he hoped he had -an interest in Christ. He replied, “No.” I -asked if he received the Bible as the word of -God. He answered, “Yes.” I said, “The -Bible teaches that a man must be born again -before he can enter the kingdom of God; do -you think you have experienced that change?” -“No,” said he, “I never have.” I saw that -he was intelligent, and inquired if no “still -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">179</span> -small voice” had ever whispered to him, -“Son, give me thy heart?” “Yes,” said he, -“often. I used to feel, but for many years I -have not felt as I did when I was young. I -then had some very serious times.” I asked -at what period he had felt most deeply the -importance of religion. He replied, “When -I was seventeen I began to feel deeply at -times, and this continued for two or three -years; but I determined to put it off till I -should be settled in life. After I was married, -I reflected that the time had come when -I had promised to attend to religion; but I -had bought this farm, and I thought it would -not suit me to become religious till it was -paid for, as some time would have to be devoted -to attend church, and also some expense. -I then resolved to put it off ten years; -but when the ten years came round, I thought -no more about it. I often try to think, but I -cannot keep my mind on the subject one -moment.” I urged him by all the terrors of -dying an enemy of God, to set about the work -of repentance. “It is too late,” said he, “I -believe my doom is sealed; and it is just that -it should be so, for the Spirit strove long with -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">180</span> -me, but I refused.” I then turned to his children, -young men and young women who were -around him, and entreated them not to put -off the subject of religion, or grieve the Spirit -of God in their youthful days. The old man -added, “Mind <i>that</i>. If I had attended to it -then, it would have been well with me to-day; -but now it is too late.”</p> - -<p>On conversing with a man in middle life, -he informed me that his father was a devoted -Christian, that he was faithfully instructed -and his mind was early impressed with the -importance of religion. In his youth, there -was a period of six months in which he was -in distress, day and night; and a voice within -seemed to be continually saying, “Forsake -your sins and come unto me, and I will give -you peace.” “But,” he added, “I did not -wish to be a Christian then; I thought it -would ruin my pleasures. I visited a part of -the country where dancing and balls were -frequent; in a little time my serious thoughts -were gone, and I have never had any since.” -I asked if he did not fear that God had given -him up. “Yes,” said he, “I am afraid he -has. I go to church and read the Bible, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">181</span> -try to feel, but I cannot.” I strove to arouse -his fears, but it was in vain. I afterwards -learned that he was pursuing his worldly -business on the Sabbath.</p> - -<p>It is not for me to pronounce that God had -said of all these persons, they are “joined to -their idols, let them alone;” “woe to them -when I depart from them;” but the state of -all such is unspeakably alarming. If the eye -of such a one falls upon these lines—if you -have persisted in saying, “Go thy way for -this time; let me alone, that I may have the -pleasures of this life,” and have quenched -the Spirit by resorting to amusements, the -novel, the ballroom, or the theatre, God may -have given you what you desired; but what -have you now of all these pleasures? Can -you look back upon them with an approving -conscience? Will they bring you consolation -in a dying hour? Have you not even -now in your own soul, if you would make the -confession, the gnawings of the worm that -never dies, the burning of the fire that is -never quenched? If the Spirit of God is now -striving with you, it is the most momentous -period of your existence. It is perhaps the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">182</span> -turning-point between heaven and hell—the -songs of angels, or the wailings of the finally -lost. Beware of stifling the Spirit. Multitudes -have told me the dreadful tale, “I went -to scenes of amusement, or turned to the exciting -romance, and I have felt no anxiety -since.” While the Spirit strives it is the -seed-time of eternal life, the embryo of a -happy immortality. Sit not down to count -the loss of sinful pleasures; receive the Saviour -into your heart, and you will have pleasures -lasting as eternity—pleasures that leave -no sting behind—pleasures that will sustain -the soul when on your dying pillow, when the -last trumpet shall sound, and the congregated -world stand before God.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Many facts of a more cheering character -might be given. The Rev. N. C——, who had -a pastoral charge in M—— county, said to -me, “A colporteur had left a copy of the -Anxious Inquirer in the house of a wealthy -man in M—— county. After some time he -became interested for his salvation. One day -while there on a visit I pointed him to a chapter -in this book, and requested him to read it. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">183</span> -He read it, and soon found peace. Like every -real Christian, he desired the salvation of his -relations. He sent the book to his brother, a -physician, who, together with a sister, were -led to Christ by reading it. The book is kept -in the family as an heir-loom.” On another -occasion Rev. Mr. C—— said he was sent -for to go some distance to see a sick woman. -His custom was always to carry with him a -few select books to give or loan. He gave -her a copy of the Anxious Inquirer, and requested -her husband to read it to her. Both -were irreligious; but by God’s blessing on -reading this book, both were led to the Saviour. -A colporteur sold a copy of the same -book to a man who sent it to an absent son. -It led him and two of his companions to -Christ. A colporteur gave a copy of Baxter’s -Call to a very wicked family, who never went -to church. Within ten months he found the -reading of it had been blessed to three of -the household. A tract put into a wagoner’s -feed-trough while driving his team -on the Sabbath, was the means of stopping -him from travelling on the Sabbath, -and led him to repentance. He became -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">184</span> -eminent for his piety and usefulness in the -church.</p> - -<p>A missionary who preached once a month -in a wild region, and gave part of his time -to colporteur work, often told me of a family -that lived just beside his little mountain -church, but never entered it. When he began -the colporteur work he made them a -visit. The man told him he did not wish -him to say any thing to him on the subject -of religion; that if he wanted to hear him, -he could go to the church. All the time he -talked and prayed, the man was muttering, -and his wife increased the speed of her wheel -to drown his voice. Finding all his efforts to -get their attention in vain, he laid down a -copy of Baxter’s Call and a few tracts, and -left them. On his return to fill his next appointment -at the little church, to his surprise -this man and his wife were in the church near -the pulpit. During service they were deeply -exercised. At the close he spoke to them -about their souls. They told him that after -he left their house they began to think about -the way they had treated him, and had read -his little books, and found they were great -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">185</span> -sinners. At his next communion they both -joined his church, and they were among the -most consistent and useful of its members.</p> - -<p>One morning I took the stage to go to the -railroad, some sixteen miles distant. There -were two gentlemen in the stage. Both -knew me, but I did not know them. One -was a preacher, with whom I talked all the -way to the dépôt. While waiting for the cars, -the other passenger, a fine-looking young -man, said, “I can’t let this opportunity pass -without making myself known to you. Do -you remember laying your hand on the -shoulder of a youth in the town of B—— -six years ago, and urging him to seek the favor -of God, and handing him a little book?” -I said I had no recollection of it, as I was -doing something of that sort almost every -day. “Well,” said he, “that talk and book -were the means, I trust, of my salvation. I -have since that time gone through college, -and hope soon to preach the gospel.” He -was the son of a poor widow. He is now an -able minister of the New Testament.</p> - -<p>One day while on a journey, I came to a -very small cabin on the top of a high mountain. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">186</span> -A poor widow was by the door in very -homely apparel. I asked her if she had a -Bible. “No,” said she, “but I have a part -of a Testament, and a number of little tracts.” -Seeing a number of clean but poorly clad -children, I began to ask them questions. -The answers they gave would have done -credit to most of our Sunday-school children. -I asked her if she had a church or Sunday-school -near. “No; there is no church or -Sunday-school anywhere in reach. My children -have never been in either, and I have -not been at church for eight years.” “Why,” -said I, “madam, how have you got your children -so well instructed?” She ran into her -cabin and brought her whole library, which -consisted of a part of a Testament, and several -little books and tracts sewed together, -which I learned had been given her by colporteurs -in their visits. Said she, “I read -these to my children every Sunday, and teach -them to read them, till they know all that is -in them.” I added to her supply little books -till the countenances of herself and her children -were radiant with joy, and I felt it was -truly “more blessed to give than to receive.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">187</span></p> - -<p>A few miles further on I stopped at another -cabin. The woman looked at me a moment. -“Oh, I know you. You are the man that -preached and gave us tracts at the church -down on the river. I trust I was converted -there. Can’t you give me some tracts to -give away? I am living now among very -wicked people.” I gave her a package, and -passed on. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">188</span></p> - -<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</h2> - -<p>On the invitation of several leading men, -I visited L——, east of the mountains. The -evening I got there the Rev. Mr. N—— called -on me to “hold forth the word of life” for -him that night. He stated that there was -some interest in his church, and that he was -unable to make any special effort, on account -of his health. Although I had travelled forty -miles that day by stage, in an hour I was addressing -the people; and for eight days meetings -were continued by exhorting and scattering -tracts; at the close of which time -twenty-two had professed faith in Christ, -some of them among the most influential men -in the city.</p> - -<p>On the first Sabbath morning I was there, -a lady of earnest piety prevailed on her husband, -who was a Universalist and had been -raised in that faith, and a young German -whom he had employed as a clerk, to accompany -her to the church. This German had -been a tutor in one of the colleges in Germany, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">189</span> -a man of fine education; but he was -connected with a rebellion against the government, -and had to fly in the night, and made -an almost miraculous escape in disguise. He -was an infidel. My subject was, “the worth -of the soul;” and God truly gave me what I -said. They both became awakened; and -seven years after, Mr. H—— the husband of -the lady joined the church, and is now an -elder. He says he was never without conviction -from that Sabbath morning till he -yielded to Christ.</p> - -<p>The German, Mr. S——, became intensely -exercised. He attended all the inquiry meetings, -and often called on the pastor, Mr. -N——. His agony of mind bordered on despair. -He was told again and again that -whenever he could give up all for Christ he -would find peace. After spending a whole -night in prayer, he came to Mr. N—— in the -morning, woke him out of sleep, and said, -“Mr. N——, I have nothing on earth I care -for but this box of rings and jewels, which -my mother and sisters took from their ears -and fingers the night I fled from Germany; -these I have held as sacred mementos of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">190</span> -their love. Take them, sell them, and give -to the poor.” Mr. N—— said, “Mr. S——, -you are not far from the kingdom of God; -let us pray.” In a few moments he threw -his arms around Mr. N——’s neck, saying, -“Oh, I have found Jesus.” Mr. N—— handed -him back the box, and said, “Mr. S——, the -Lord does not need the jewels. All he required -was, that feeling of heart you manifested -in giving them up.” This man is now -a missionary in some of the islands of the sea. -His talents are all consecrated to God.</p> - -<p>A young lady, Miss L——, very wealthy -and proud, became awakened, and continued -for many days on the verge of despair. She -hardly ate or slept. She even became desperate: -said God was not as good as his -word; that she was willing to give up all for -Christ, but he would not save her. We talked -and prayed with her several times each day, -but all in vain. At last I said to her, “Miss -L——, you say you are willing to give up -all for Christ?” “Yes,” said she, “even life -itself.” “Well,” said I, “in the name of my -Master I ask you, out of your large wealth, -to give me a donation for the Tract Society.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">191</span> -She replied sternly, “I am not going to buy -my salvation.” Said I, “The Lord can do -without your money; but I have asked this -to show you the deceitfulness of your own -heart. You said a moment ago that you -would give even life itself. Now,” said I, “I -shall leave you to reflect.” In a few days she -sent for me to rejoice with her, and the donation -was heartily made.</p> - -<p>I then labored for three weeks in other -churches in the city, and a large number -professed religion.</p> - -<p>Among other services, I was a week with -Rev. Mr. W——, who has been for some -years president of one of our auxiliary tract -societies. At the close of his meeting one -day, he said he would tell them what one tract -had done. He gave the tract, “Have you the -Wedding Garment?” to a young lady, with -the request that she would go and read it -over three times. She did so, and the next -day she came to him as an inquirer. He -then gave it to her sister, making the same -request, and the next day she was an inquirer. -He then gave it to a young man, and he has -been led to Christ by it. “And here before -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">192</span> -you,” said he, “are all three of them now -rejoicing in hope.”</p> - -<p>The last month of the year 1850, I was invited -by the Rev. Mr. C—— to visit M—— -county, and spend a week with him at each -of his charges, as he had two. The distance -was ninety miles; the roads almost impassable. -I shrunk from the journey; but a voice -seemed to say, “You must go.” When I -reached the town they were holding a temperance -convention, which I addressed on -two occasions.</p> - -<p>On Sunday morning I spoke first on the -tract cause, and raised a collection of $150. -The night service was well attended. We -continued meeting twice each day, and visited -families and distributed books and tracts -all the rest of the time till Wednesday, but -with no very marked results.</p> - -<p>Notice had been given that meetings would -begin at B——, Mr. C——’s other charge, -nine miles distant, on Thursday morning at -eleven. We reached there at the hour, and -had only eleven hearers. At the close of the -service we were invited to a Mr. B——’s to -dine. He was a backslider, rich and eccentric. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">193</span> -We had determined to visit families, -talk, pray, and circulate tracts, till the time -for the night service.</p> - -<p>When we came to Mr. B——’s, the old man -invited us into the parlor, and in a few minutes -one of his daughters came in, a very -beautiful girl, and highly educated. After a -little time I introduced the subject of religion -to her kindly and politely. She gave me one -of the most scornful looks I ever got, and rose -to leave me. I was holding in my hand the -tract “<i>Don’t be Offended</i>;” and just as she -was passing me I presented it before her. I -saw the father was offended too. Rev. Mr. -C—— and I both felt unhappy; but in a few -minutes we were called to dinner, and Mr. -C—— introduced me to two other daughters, -which made all the family.</p> - -<p>When we were nearly through dinner, the -offended one came to the table. Her eyes -indicated that she had been weeping, but -nothing was said. After dinner we went to -another house, and met a young lady who -was teacher in the female academy and also -in a dancing-school. She made very light of -religion, and said she preferred the ballroom -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">194</span> -to the church. I spoke to her the truth very -plainly, and gave her a tract on dancing; -and she turned away offended, and said she -had no respect for such Puritanical religion. -At night we had a tolerably good congregation, -and the Lord was there indeed. Such -was the state of things, that we invited all -that were concerned about their souls to remain; -and to our utter astonishment, the -two offended ones were among them, weeping -bitterly. The exhibition they had made of -their wickedness had so overwhelmed them -that they could scarcely wait till night to -confess their sins.</p> - -<p>The next morning we resumed our visits. -The first visit was to Mr. T——’s, an elder in -the church. In conversation with a daughter -of his she manifested much feeling. I -gave a tract to one of his sons, who, after -reading it, came to his mother, and said, -“Oh, mother, if I was to die as I am, my -soul would be lost.” That day and night the -congregation was large. By this time the -pious people in the church had awoke, and -all were at work with books and tracts. -Business was almost suspended in the village, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">195</span> -and religion was the only theme. Almost -all were inquiring the way to Zion, with -the exception of half a dozen men, who threw -every obstacle they could in the way. One -of the worst of them went away to get out of -the influence of the meetings, and was dead -in three days. Another left his business and -went to the country to avoid the presence of -God, and has since died without hope.</p> - -<p>The interest had become intense. On the -way home from church three young ladies obtained -hope almost simultaneously, and were -all embraced in each other’s arms. A short -time after, a number of the anxious were assembled -at Mr. T——’s, where I was stopping. -All were pleading for mercy, but soon they -began to sing praises to God. They were -heard by people around, and in a short time -many assembled. The new-born souls were -rushing into the arms of each other, and of -their fathers and mothers, and thanking them -for their prayers. This joy was no doubt much -like that of the day of Pentecost. One hundred -and twenty-five professed their faith in -Christ, and were soon after added to the -churches; and so far as I have been able to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">196</span> -learn, there was no case of backsliding. -Where God does the work, the work is well -done; but where it is done by mere human -machinery, the results are very unsatisfactory. -The town was revolutionized by this -outpouring of the Spirit. The ballroom gave -way to the prayer-meeting, and the drunkard’s -songs to those of Zion.</p> - -<p>I gave Baxter’s Call to a youth during this -meeting, who told me, eight years afterwards -when I met him a preacher, that that book -was the means of his salvation, and had it -not been for it, he never should have entered -the ministry.</p> - -<p>At another meeting some months afterwards -in C——, there was a powerful work of -grace, in every respect like those to which I -have alluded. One old man professed faith -in Christ, who was the third unbeliever in -the family who had been led to Christ by the -same copy of James’ Anxious Inquirer.</p> - -<p>I visited J. C. C——, a highly distinguished -civilian of threescore years and ten, who -had filled many important stations in life, and -who now felt that his days were nearly ended. -He took me by the hand very kindly, his -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">197</span> -countenance expressive of deep emotion, and -said, “I am an inquirer on the subject of religion; -<i>I have attended to every thing but my -soul</i>.” I directed him very briefly to the -Saviour, and at the close told him I would -send him a little book in the morning, that -would direct him more fully. He thanked -me kindly for the interest I felt in him, and -urged me to call again. The next morning I -sent him James’ Anxious Inquirer.</p> - -<p>In four days after I called again. His -health had improved. He rose to his feet, -his countenance bespoke peace within, and -giving me a cordial shake by the hand, he -said, “I have read that little book through -twice; the great question is answered. I -think I understand what is meant by faith in -Jesus Christ.” I then explained to him as -fully as I could the nature of the <i>new birth</i>—the -evidences by which we might decide for -ourselves the reality of the change. His very -appearance was entirely changed—the deep -anxiety that sat on his countenance had -passed away, and happiness was expressed -in every feature.</p> - -<p>In a few days he was able to walk, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">198</span> -called to see me. He said he had read the -book through again; that it was “<i>a great -book</i>; but the writer had omitted one important -point—he did not inform the reader how -long the work of sanctification must be continued -after a man was justified; that justification -was an act <i>instantaneous</i>, but sanctification -was a work.” I replied, “Our Saviour -said to the thief on the cross, ‘This day thou -shalt be with me in paradise;’ here sanctification -was completed in a few hours.” “I -thank you, sir, that is enough: here is a -check for $30, for the Tract Society; it is -doing a great work.”</p> - -<p>For six years he remained steadfast in the -great doctrines of salvation by faith in Christ, -and in a blameless Christian life, though ever -distrustful of himself. Soon after his death -in February, 1856, at the age of seventy-seven, -the Rev. Mr. M—— justly said of him, -“Well-deserved tributes have been paid by -the governor of the commonwealth, and by -the legislature and other public bodies to -the distinguished public worth and private -virtues of this eminent citizen. His views of -salvation by faith in the crucified Redeemer -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">199</span> -were clear and scriptural, and showed that -the powers of a vigorous and highly cultivated -mind had been brought to bear upon the -all-important subject. He often expressed -surprise that any one could read the holy -Scriptures in the proper spirit, and not be -convinced of the reality of religion, the divinity -of the Saviour, and the atoning efficacy of -his precious blood. His faith was simple and -childlike. No dependence whatever was placed -in his own merits or righteousness. The -atonement of the Son of God was ‘the anchor -of his soul,’ the basis of his hopes of heaven.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">200</span></p> - -<h2 id="CONCLUSION">CONCLUSION.</h2> - -<p>Most of the facts and incidents in these -sketches were committed to writing about -the time of their occurrence, and may be -relied on as simple verities. Much of deep -inherent interest, which met my eye, or fell -upon my ear, might have been added, but -for its inappropriateness to the character of -this work, or unduly swelling the narrative.</p> - -<p>Those enjoying the calm refinements of -social life in our favored cities and villages, -who have never entered the abodes of ignorance -and poverty in the moral wastes of -the land, may be unwilling to credit even the -facts related; but in a matter of such infinite -importance as the enlightenment and salvation -of perishing souls, could the real facts -have been consistently withheld?</p> - -<p>In the providence of God I was sent out as -a watchman, not upon the walls of Zion, but -<i>outside of those walls</i>; and ought I to conceal -the facts, and report, “All’s well,” when -hundreds of thousands are dying in sin and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">201</span> -ignorance of the great salvation? Would -not such unfaithfulness be criminal in the -sight of God?</p> - -<p>And when the Holy Spirit was poured out -in marvellous effusions, almost as in the day -of Pentecost, should not the facts be recorded -to the praise of divine grace in Jesus Christ?</p> - -<p>Reared as I was from infancy under religious -privileges, I had no idea that any part -of our land was in the sad moral condition -which I found actually to exist; or that the -distribution of printed truth and personal labors -“publicly and from house to house,” were -ever so richly blessed. And such erroneous -and defective impressions as to the wants of -our fellow-men, and the encouragements to -labor for their good, I believe are very prevalent.</p> - -<p>I remember the day when I was confident -that all around me were well supplied with -the Bible, but on examination I found eight -families, and among them my next door -neighbor, who had no Bible; and a pastor -who regarded Bible efforts in his congregation -as quite unnecessary, on investigation -received from family after family the report, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">202</span> -“No Bible,” the family of his own sexton being -among the number. An excellent young -man, now a missionary in a distant land, on -faithfully exploring a wealthy county, stated -what he had seen to Mr. W——, a distinguished -Christian citizen. “I have heard of you,” -said the gentleman. “I don’t believe the -statements you are making about the moral -destitutions of this county. I have made up -my mind to go with you and see for myself.” -The young man welcomed his company. In -the first dwelling they entered the family had -no books, not even a Bible. Said Mr. W——, -“Give them $2 50 worth, and I will pay for -them.” In the next they entered, and in the -third, they found equal destitution; and in -each case Mr. W—— said, “Give them $2 50 -worth, and I will foot the bill.” They went -further, but soon Mr. W—— said, “My young -friend, the half is not told; take this $20 and -go on with this heaven-directed work.”</p> - -<p>As to the rich blessing that has attended -the reading of books and tracts, it is well for -those reared in the midst of church privileges -and good libraries to consider how different -the influence of a good book may be on -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">203</span> -such as have few books, or none at all. -Take, if you please, a prosperous family in -the interior of the country, far from any -book-store, who may have an old family -Bible, a few school-books, or perhaps some -other old books moral and religious. A colporteur -enters with his saddle-bags of beautiful -books. The children are almost frantic -with joy. Each member of the family gets a -book. It is devoured with greediness—not -by a gospel-hardened sinner, but by one who -has few or no gospel privileges.</p> - -<p>Is it strange that such a one, on reading -the Pilgrim’s Progress, the Anxious Inquirer, -or Come to Jesus, is immediately awakened -to seek for pardon and salvation? Is it not -rather <i>more strange</i>, that every one who attentively -and solemnly reads such a book is -not led to Christ?</p> - -<p>And when we come down to those who are -wholly destitute of books, who rarely hear a -sermon, and yet are able to read, the effect is -often still more powerful for good.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding all that has been done, -I believe <i>one half</i> of all the families in our -land now belong to one of these two classes. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">204</span></p> - -<p>Hence the necessity of this system of evangelization. -We fear the time is far distant -when our country will be so well supplied -with churches and pastors as to reach the -surging masses of all languages that are -crowding our vast territories, seeking homes -for themselves and families.</p> - -<p>Let each one ask himself, in view of the -final account he must give to God, “What -can I do for these perishing thousands?” -Here a way is pointed out by which every -one can do something, either by <i>laboring</i>, -<i>praying</i>, or <i>giving</i>. An old lady unable to -move about, with an income of $600 per annum, -gave $150 each year as the salary of a -colporteur, and she had a few other ladies to -meet her once each week to pray for God’s -blessing on his labors. Few men in latter -days have done as much good as this colporteur, -Mr. C——r. She thus labored by proxy. -The man is still living who at first paid $150 -for my support, and was thus instrumental in -whatever good I have done. Hundreds would -be ready to go and work in this department -of Christian effort if means were provided.</p> - -<p>This system of labor developes the dormant -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">205</span> -power of the church. Hundreds whose -influence for good was never felt outside of -their own family circle, have become successful -laborers in this heaven-born work. Many -of them are now able ministers of the New -Testament, who would have remained “hewers -of wood and drawers of water” had it -not been for this system of doing good. I -call to mind the names of a score of men who -have been brought into the work of the ministry -either directly or indirectly by this system -of colportage.</p> - -<p>Shall a work of so much power for good, -and so much needed, be unsupported? The -price of one ocean steamer would support it -efficiently over the whole land for one year.</p> - -<p>The issuing of this history is what the -writer never intended to do, or allow others -to do while he lived. He has prepared it, if -he knows his own heart, purely with the hope -it may do good. He trusts it may suggest to -some whose supreme desire is to honor Christ -in the salvation of men, a way by which they -may gain the blessing of those who “turn -many to righteousness,” and who shall shine, -above the brightness of the firmament, “as -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">206</span> -the stars for ever and ever.” That this may -be the gracious reward of him who writes, -and of all who read this book, is the fervent -prayer of <span class="smcap">the pioneer colporteur in the -Alleghany mountains</span>.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—The labors of this single-hearted, devoted, and -fearless servant of Christ were at first secured for one year -to explore some of these wild mountain gorges. Having -been continued five years as above, they were extended -southward in the Alleghany range, and at length over -the whole states of Virginia and North Carolina, till he -had had the coöperation of three hundred colporteurs, -and their visits had reached five hundred thousand families, -over forty thousand of whom attended no place of -evangelical worship. Usually they read the Scriptures, -conversed, and prayed in each family; and they gathered -into Sabbath-schools seventy thousand children, many of -whom received their first book and learned their first lesson -through this agency. Such wonderful effusions of the -Holy Spirit as in some instances above recorded, were rarely -witnessed, but these continued labors were evidently -owned in the conversion of multitudes of souls. As the -writer of the above sketches, now a commissioned minister -of Christ, has well said, “It must have been the work of -God, who causes weak things to confound the mighty. It -was God who led the way, and raised up men and means, -and guided his servants, and blessed them with his presence; -and to him be all the glory.”</p> - -<p class="author"> -W. A. H. <span class="smcap">Sec’y.</span></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">New York</span>, December, 1863.</p></blockquote> - -<div class="transnote"> -<h3>Transcriber’s Note:</h3> - -<p>Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.</p> -</div> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIVE YEARS IN THE ALLEGHANIES***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 52697-h.htm or 52697-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/2/6/9/52697">http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/6/9/52697</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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