Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/267

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��HISTOKY OF RICHLAXD COUNTY

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��and quarrels, but the verdict invariably was, " the whisky was to blame."" Where stood those six seething still-houses, near beautiful springs and never-failing fountains, now stand churches and sehoolhouses. and the pure waters are not pttl- luted to base uses.

Singing schools were a source of enjoyment in earl}^ times — healthful, pleasurable and in- structive. The music was better, no doubt, than it is now. judging from the pioneer's stand- point, although fine culture was wanting. Those stalwart lads with sound lungs, and the rosy girls with strong, sweet voices, untrained as now. made excellent music. As with spell- ing schools, the 3'oung people went far and near, night after night, some of the young men following the singing master through his week's round of appointments and not missing a week- day night in a month. Some of them went eight miles and returned home the same night. The rivalry at spelling schools went beyond all bounds. Brothers, proud of their little sisters, took them on horseback behind them, eager to "show off sis ;"' parents studied the spelling- book with their children, and pronounced to them, encouraged them bv cheering words, and were strong incentives in their laudable and zealous efforts.

Dances and dancing schools were one of the sources of entertainment in the long ago. In very early pioneer times, and quite before the heroic and enthusiastic INIethodist preacher had pushed his way into the wilderness of the Far West, heads of families sometimes hurried through with their day's work, made a kettle of mush for the children, gave the elder one his orders about caruig for the little ones, told him to bury the embers carefully at bedtime, and, if remiss, would give him a good scutch- ing, and then mounted the same horse from a stump at the door, and hied awa}' on liAcly gallop to the dance, perhaps five miles dis- tant. But, when the ^' still, small voice of conscience whispered of a wiser and a better

��way, and of the mysteries of life and death, and that —

" There'll come a day when Ihe supremest splendor

Of earth, or sky, or sea, What e'er their miracles sublime or tender. Will make no joy in thee,"

then the men and women were ready and will- ing and eager to seek and find that pearl of greatest price.

These people had all the warmth and fire in their souls of which to make active Christians. At their camp-meetings in the beautiful wild- wood, with their frank, honest, luistudied man- ners, their native intelligence, and their cordial, winsome ways, religion was attractive and lovely, and they could not help being zealous workers.

One poor woman, in giving her experience, jears afterward, unconsciously drew an exquisite picture for the pencil of the beauty-loving artist.

She said she was working near the roadside, poorly clad, when the sound of singing came to her ear — sweet singing of men's and women's voices mingling together. It came nearer, and her surprise increased, when, in glimpses among the dense branches of the trees, she saw a pro- cession on horseback. Abashed, she hid her- self behind a tree and peeped around. It was a company of men and women returning home to the southern part of the county (Richland), from a great Methodist camp-meeting that had been held at "the springs."' The class-leader and his wife rode foremost ; her bonnet hung by the ribbons down her back, her light brown hair lay in loose curls on her shoulders. Her face was lighted up beautifully, it seemed the glorified face of an angel ; all their ftices glowed with a joy such as she had never known in her life, and, as they rode, some horses carrying double, in and out among the low hanging branches, their voices blent in harmony and sweetness as they sang that old hymn : " What is this that casts you down, Speak, and let the worst be known. Speaking may relieve you."
 * What is this that grieves you ?

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