CHAPTER VII.
Visit to Pittsfield, Carrollton, Calloway Co., Booneville.—Masonry more Liberal than Sectarianism.—Visit to Warsaw.—Primitive Hospitality.—Visit to Versailles.
On our way to Batavia, in 1851, after the debate in Hannibal, we visited Pittsfield, Illinois, where Mr. Jones Clark, an uncle of Dr. Hopson, lived. The Doctor, preached there several days, and had fifteen or twenty additions. It was the home of the eccentric Billy Brown. From there we went to Carrollton and left our horses and buggy until our return. We had a romantic trip on the Illinois river and the "raging kanawl" from Alton to Chicago. Dr. Hopson had an aunt living in Carrollton-Mrs. Lucy Samuels. We paid her a short visit and left for St. Louis. We remained but a few days with mother, and from there the Doctor drove through to Fulton to visit our daughter, whom we had not seen for three months. She was with her aunt in Fulton, where she remained until we were through the year's work and settled in Palmyra. We then paid a visit to the Doctor's grandmother, who still lived on the old homestead on Nine Mile Prairie. While there, the Doctor preached in the Antioch Church, where the Cowherds, McMahons, Duncans and Mosbys were members. They were a grand, good people all through that county. There were quite a large number of additions to the church during the meeting.
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From there we crossed the river to Booneville. We had very few brethren there. He could not get a church to preach in, and was refused the Court-house unless he would give bonds, if the house was burned, to pay damages. He made himself known as a Mason, and his Masonic brethren secured a hall, took the seats out of their lodges, and gave him a good hearing. He did not think best, under the circumstances, to attempt to organize a church, but later I think he and Bro. T. M. Allen visited the city and succeeded in getting together the nucleus of a congregation.
His next appointment was at Warsaw, on the Osage river. This was his second visit there. He preached in town every night, and during the days at a church four miles in the country. He had twenty-five confessions at Warsaw and thirty-three in the country. During the meetings he preached three times a clay, and usually baptized twice after preaching, in the afternoon and after night meeting.
He closed his meeting at night, and had barely reached home when he was attacked with a congestive chill and came near dying, but the third day he got up out of bed, was assisted to mount a horse, and with some one to lead the horse and another to steady him in the saddle, he rode down to the river to immerse a gentleman who was compelled to leave in a few hours. One of the brethren went into the water to assist him, but the water revived and stimulated him so he was able to go through with his work.
His next meeting was to be held in the neighborhood of Bro. Wilkes' father, but he had an appointment to preach at Versailles on the way. In order to meet his engagement he said he must leave Warsaw that evening
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and go part of the way. We all remonstrated, but he was firm, and we left at 4 P.M. We had a very easyriding buggy and two good, gentle horses. We made him comfortable, and I drove for him. Sunset found us in the middle of a large prairie; not a house in sight except a small log cabin. We had ridden ten miles, and the Doctor was too much fatigued to go further. The prospect was not inviting, but we had no alternative but to call for shelter for the night. The house contained but one room and a small shed attached, but the woman's pleasant face and her large heart compensated for restricted quarters. We were cordially welcomed, but the woman said she had no bread in the house and only a little corn meal, with nothing but green corn and grass for our horses. Thanks to dear Sister Atkinson, we had a basket filled with excellent lunch, and did not need to trouble the good woman further than for a glass of milk.
After we had made a light supper, we gave the mother and three little ones all the bread, butter and cold ham they wanted, and had plenty left for another day. The host of the house had gone to mill and would not return till the next day. His absence left ample sleeping room. There were two large beds and a trundle-bed in the room. The one given us as guests was a comfortable, fat feather bed, with two snowy woolen blankets for sheets and two small pillows without cases. We accepted these with thanks, although the thermometer was 90°. We got along very well, as there was a huge chimney at the end of the cabin, the doors were left open, and the chinking was out from between the logs in places.
Fatigue and a clear conscience soon put us to sleep. We arose the next morning at four o'clock, in order to get a good drive before the heat of the day came on.
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After two hours' ride we called at a farm house, were greatly refreshed and strengthened by a good breakfast, and our horses were gratified in like manner.
We then drove till twelve, and found a good resting place at a hotel with a long porch in front of it. I made the Doctor a pallet on the floor, and he was only too glad to stretch himself out and rest. We left at four and reached Versailles in time for supper and a little rest before church time. The Doctor had to preach in the Court-house, as we had no church. He was too weak to stand up, and a dry-goods box was provided, from which he delivered an hour's discourse. If I had only known, what has been learned since, that Paul did not mean what he said when he commanded women not to speak in church, I might have relieved my husband and preached for him.
You can not imagine how thankful we were when we found ourselves comfortably housed in a quiet, airy room. Under such circumstances we learn the meaning of the word rest. We spent the following day with our hospitable hostess, who was a Methodist. We had no members in the town.
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