human
Come, Cissy, don't set thah with folded hands, ez though you wuz a fine lady. Ef you can't see well 'nough to do the overcastin' on thet jac'net petticoat, git out yer tettin' or them quilt squares. Rache, you triflin' niggah, wake up. You don't airn yer salt. I declar' I'll hev you sold down South the nex' time ole Jake Hopkins teks a drove to Alabam'. I reckon you won't hev much time fur noddin' down in them cottonfields, with the overseer's lash a-lippin' yer back ever' time he sees you idlin'. You'd better mek yer needles fly, fur nary a thing 'cept a switch an' some ashes will you git in yer Chris'mas stockin', ef all them socks fur Rube an' Tom ain't done by then. Lucy, you an' Lucindy leave 'lone them strips; you're jes' hend'rin' yer brothah. Git yer nine patch pieces. Gre't, big gals lak you ortn't idle.
gpt
Some one's comin'! exclaimed Mr. Rogers, the first to notice the barking of the dogs outside.
human
See who 'tis, Henry.
gpt
Heah, Lucy, gether up them twigs, bustled Mrs. Rogers, as she swept the hearth.
human
Rache, tek thet harnish out. I declar', Mason, I wish you'd do sich wuck in the kitchen or stable. Folks'll think I ain't no sort o' housekeepah.
gpt
How's Mrs. Gilcrest? asked Mrs. Rogers a moment later, as she shook hands with Major Gilcrest and nodded to his boys, Martin Luther and Silas.
human
Wish she'd come with you, but I reckon she's feared to be out in the night air.
gpt
Why didn't Betsy come?
human
Oh, Abby had company; Drane and Hart rode out from Lexington to spend the evening. Abby felt that she couldn't entertain two beaux at once, so Betsy stayed to help her.
gpt
Don't pull the house down, childurn, Mr. Rogers called cheerily, as his four youngest and the Gilcrest boys were hurrying off to the kitchen for a game of romps.
human
Hold out yer apurns, gals, an' tek some apples 'long, he added to the twins.
gpt
You kin roast 'em on the h'arth.
human
I hear, Mr. Dudley, said Gilcrest presently,
gpt
Only in one instance, replied Dudley.
human
Eli and Jacob Hinkson use the Bible as a reader because their father refuses to get them any other.
gpt
Ah! exclaimed Gilcrest;
human
I must remonstrate with Hinkson.
gpt
I'll be obliged if you will. I said all I could to him with no avail.
human
It's a wrong use of the Word,
gpt
Oh, I don't say that, Dudley replied.
human
If the text were not such hard reading for the little fellows, I'd be satisfied to have the Bible the only reader used in school.
gpt
No, no! Gilcrest objected with an emphatic shake of his head.
human
Such a course would tend to lead the young mind into error.
gpt
On the contrary, returned Dudley, thoughtfully,
human
No! It's dangerous to place the Bible in the hands of the unconverted young.
gpt
Do I understand you to mean that children should not read the Bible at all?
human
The mysteries of the Scriptures are not for the child to tamper with. When I was a schoolboy in Massachusetts, the New England Primer was the only reading-text, and I wish it were in vogue in our schools now; it contained the Lord's Prayer and the Shorter Catechism, and that's all a child should know about the Bible until after he is converted.
gpt
But, asked Dudley,
human
By study of the catechism, of course, answered Gilcrest.
gpt
Once rooted and grounded in that, he will not be liable to fall into error later on, and put wrong interpretations on the Holy Scriptures. I'd rather have the Bible a sealed book to the unconverted, so that the Spirit may work untrammeled and sovereignly on his heart.
human
Ah! I see now why the priests in olden times chained up the Bible so that the common people could not have access to it, observed young Dudley, with a sarcasm which was entirely lost on Gilcrest.
gpt
But isn't it the idea of this age and country that there should be a 'free Bible for a free people'?
human
Yes, for a 'free' people, retorted Gilcrest,
gpt
How about that passage, asked Abner,
human
Henry kin say it fur you, interrupted Mason Rogers, thinking that the schoolmaster's Biblical knowledge had failed him;
gpt
Precisely! Gilcrest exclaimed.
human
All Scripture is profitable--but to whom? To 'the man of God.' To such--the elect, the called--how are the Scriptures profitable? Why, as Paul says, to reprove and correct when he goes off into forbidden paths, and to instruct him further in righteousness. Only the regenerate, the elect, are referred to; for they only can do good works. Moreover, the very passages that are 'a savor of life unto life' to the called, are 'a savor of death unto death' to those out of Christ.
gpt
Egzactly! I see that p'int, anyway, said Mason Rogers, as he sat with chair tilted back, meditatively nibbling at the stem of his unlighted pipe.
human
Sartain Scriptures air made to suit sartain diseases, lak doctah's physic; an' ef took when the systum hain't jes' in the right fix fur it, they might kill, instid o' cure.
gpt
Well, Hirum, Preacher Stone hain't o' yo' way o' thinkin'; he's allus urgin' Bible readin'.
human
Ah! Sister Rogers, Stone has much to learn and to unlearn. He's too broad in his views. In fact, I sometimes question whether he believes in Calvinism at all.
gpt
Well, whut ef he don't, so long ez he lives right an' preaches right? asked Mrs. Rogers.
human
When I heah him preach, I feel lak I want to be bettah. An' hain't thet whut preachin's fur, to mek folks want to live bettah lives? Whut diffruns whuthah he b'lieves in Ca'vinism, or not? It's jes' a big, onmeanin' word, anyway.
gpt
That won't do, Sister Rogers. Calvinism is the stronghold of the Christian religion. Furthermore, it's a logically constructed system of belief, and if you are loose on one point, you're loose on all. Every departure from Calvinism is a step towards atheism. The downward grades are from Calvinism to Arminianism; from Arminianism to Pelagianism; from Pelagianism to deism; from deism to atheism.
human
Pshaw! exclaimed Mrs. Rogers, undaunted.
gpt
It teks a scholard to undahstand all them jawbreakahs. Common folks lak me nevah'd git the meanin' intah ther head pieces. An' I say thet the sort o' preachin' to do good is them plain, simple truths whut Bro. Stone gives us.
human
Yes, Hiram, Cynthy Ann's right, said Rogers.
gpt
The gospel ez Stone preaches it seems plain ez the nose on yer face, but when the 'five p'ints' is discussed, I git all uv a muddle.
human
But, Mason, asked Gilcrest,
gpt
Why, I s'pose I do b'lieve it--leastways, I subscribed to it when I jined the chu'ch; but I'll be fetched ef I understand it.
human
We've hed 'nough talk on religion fer one spaill, I think, now put in Mrs. Rogers.
gpt
Let's hev some apples an' cidah. Susan, see whut them childurn air about. They're mekin' 'nough fuss to tek the roof off. As she spoke, there came from the kitchen the sound of loud peals of laughter, much scampering, and the cry,
human
Pore Puss wants a corner!
gpt
Gazette on the stand:
human
So Aaron Burr came within one of the Presidency! I'm glad the House decided in favor of Jefferson. He is bad enough, but Burr would have been even worse. Are you a Federalist or a Democrat, Mr. Dudley?
gpt
How could a Virginian be anything but a supporter of the great Jefferson? replied Abner.
human
Could I have done so, I should have remained in Virginia until after the election, so as to cast my vote for Jefferson; but it was necessary for me to come to this State.
gpt
An' glad we air thet you come,
human
Being a Virginian ought to make you a Federalist, I should say, suggested Gilcrest.
gpt
You forget that a greater than Jefferson was born in Virginia.
human
Then, as Massachusetts is your native State, said Dudley,
gpt
I suppose your Federalistic convictions are modeled according to the hard-and-fast principles laid down by Adams, rather than the more elastic federalism which Washington taught. That is, if place of birth really has anything to do with shaping one's political views.
human
One could not have a better leader than John Adams,
gpt
Whut! exclaimed Rogers.
human
Afteh them Alien an' Sedition outrages?
gpt
Why, man! Gilcrest retorted,
human
Though a Democrat, I'm inclined to agree with you there, Mr. Gilcrest,
gpt
Ha, Mr. Dudley, said Gilcrest, pleasantly,
human
I've hopes of your conversion into a good Federalist yet. You're young, and your political prejudices haven't become chronic--as is the case with Mason here.
gpt
My motto, rejoined Rogers,
human
But, Mason, remember that at that time our nation was battling for independence, and could ill spare aid for us in our struggle for supremacy in this western frontier.
gpt
Jes' so! retorted Rogers.
human
An' whar'd you an' me an' the rest uv us who wuz strugglin' fur footholt heah hev been, ef we'd depended on the Federal Government to fight Caldwell, McKee, Simon Girty, an' ther red devils? We had to do our own fightin' then, you'll agree, Hiram.
gpt
Why, Major Gilcrest, Dudley exclaimed,
human
So I was, Gilcrest answered,
gpt
You surprise me, Abner replied.
human
I thought you did not settle here until after Indian depredations had ceased.
gpt
Ha! ha! laughed Gilcrest.
human
You thought I came like Abram from Ur of the Chaldees, bringing family, servants, goods and chattels, did you? No, I made that sort of migration several years later. I first came alone, to spy out the land, and to find a suitable location wherein to plant a home and rear a family. Descriptions of this new country beyond the mountains had led me to picture it a paradise of peace and plenty and tranquil beauty; but when I came, I found the picture obscured by the red billows of savage warfare. Why, the first time I ever saw Mason here, he was equipped with knife and tomahawk, rifle, pouch and powder-horn, and just setting forth to the relief of a beleaguered station.
gpt
No wondeh, exclaimed Rogers,
human
Rogers continued,
gpt
Never, while life lasts, replied Gilcrest.
human
And, as for a comrade in time of peril, one could not want a braver or a truer than yourself, Mason. You see, he continued, turning to Dudley,
gpt
he continued enthusiastically,
human
Did you leave the women and children in Fort Houston?
gpt
No, indeed, answered Rogers before Gilcrest could speak.
human
he murmured with a sudden break in his voice and a wistful look at his wife.
gpt
The hurryin' gallop oveh eighteen mile o' rough country with the br'ilin' sun a-scorchin' down on us all the way, cost us the life uv our fust-borned, our purty little William. I tell you, he added excitedly,
human
They were indeed, Gilcrest heartily agreed with an appreciative glance at Mrs. Rogers,
gpt
Like pore Page's wife,
human
Pore Mrs. Page! exclaimed Mrs. Rogers.
gpt
I'll nevah furgit her hard fate.
human
She was the wife of one of the Page brothers who were with us at Blue Licks, was she not?
gpt
Yes, Rogers answered.
human
The two brothers hed come oveh the mountains the spring befoh, an' hed built a cabin an' made a sort o' cl'arin' out in the wilderness 'bout two mile frum Houston's, on the road to Bryan's. One uv the brothahs--I can't re-collect his fust name--wuzn't married; but the otheh hed a wife an' a four-year-old boy when they come, an' anotheh child wuz borned to 'em 'bout two weeks befoh thet last Injun raid. They hed been warned agin an' agin thet it wuzn't safe outside the fort; but still they lived on out thar till thet tur'ble August mawnin'--when they runs pantin' inteh Houston's with the tidings thet the savages hed attacked ther cabin. They'd been roused in the night by the stompin' an' nickerin uv the hosses. It wuz a starlight night, an' peepin' out uv a loophole in the front uv ther house, they seen redskins skulkin' in the shadow o' the trees. They couldn't tell how many ther wuz, but nigh a dozen they thought, an' they didn't know how many more might be hidin' in the bushes. So they decided it wuz no use to try to defend themselves, an' that ther only chance to save ther scalps wuz to steal out befoh the Injuns got to the door. You see, they couldn't git to the hosses, fur the red imps wuz between the house an' whar the hosses wuz in the woods which grew up close to the cabin in front. But at the back the trees wuz all cl'ared off, an' ther wuz a gairden patch next to the cabin, an' then a cawnfiel'. The only door wuz in front, an' thar wuz no windah either in the back--only two little loopholes. One uv the puncheons in the floor hed been left loose a purpus, an' they took it up without mekin' any noise. Then, afteh waitin' tell they saw thet the Injuns hed skulked up nearly to the door, they crawled through the gap in the floor, an' then frum undeh the house into the gairden, an' then to the cawnfiel', an' stole through it to the woods on t'otheh side. Then they run fur ther lives, expectin' ev'ry minit to be attacked. It wuz a meracle they eveh reached the fort alive. Pore Mrs. Page wuz 'bout tuckered out. You see, her baby wuz barely two weeks old; besides, she 'peared to be a pore, weak-sperrited creeter, anyway; an' the long run an' the skeer hed well-nigh done fur her. It wuz her little boy, the four-year-old shaver, whut I toted befoh me as we hurried to Bryan's. On the road, we hed to pass the Pages' cl'arin', an' thar, still burnin', wuz the remains o' their cabin which the redskins hed fired. Ther gairden an' cawnfiel' wuz trompled an' blackened an' ruined; an' jes' on the aidge uv the woods by the roadside thar lay ther pore cow, still breathin', but welterin' in her own blood. The red devils hed split her wide open with a tommyhock. Mrs. Page fainted away when she saw thet, an' wuz most dead when we got to Bryan's. She got bettah, though, an' the next day when we sot out in pursuit uv the Injuns, her husband went with us. But, pore woman, she an' her baby both died thar in the fort befoh we got back.