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Missionary in China in the 1870's Letter - Coolville Circuit and his horse
At Mr. Shepard Humphrey's
Dear Sister; Although four weeks have fled, to-day, since I came to Coolville, yet the time has seemed but a few days. However in those four weeks Charley and I have been over a good many roads in Athens and Meigs counties, and in every place we have formed numerous and pleasant acquaintances, and have found hospitable homes and stables. At first Charley could not understand what all this running up and down the country meant, and at times manifested a decided unwillingness to put up with any more of it, at least, until the mystery had received a solution. Added to this, for a considerable time after he came here he was kept entirely by himself; and as he is naturally fond of company, the result of his forced seclusion was, that it brought on a fit of melancholy, which was fast threatening to terminate in a downright spell of homesickness; so that I really began to pity him. Fortunately Bro. Griffith took a two weeks' trip down the Ohio (leaving me in charge of the Coolville Circuit), and he brought his mare (for whom Charley had from the beginning conceived a passionate attachment) down to Bro. Humphrey's to put her in the pasture with Charley. Of course the moment she entered the gate where Charley was mournfully grazing over 12 or 15 acres of excellent pasture, which he had entirely to himself, his home-sickness and melancholy all left him, and such a feeling of contentment and of love for his surroundings succeeded, that the next time I wanted to ride him I was an hour in trying to catch him.The yellow rascal however (don't let Joe see this), has not given me much trouble since, and I suppose that all remembrances of his Blue Run acquaintances are fast flitting from his mind -- if he has any. A farmer below here, Mr. Bumgardner, was so taken up with him at first sight; that he wanted badly to buy him of me for a match to one of his horses; and last Sabbath while at a distant part of the circuit I heard that he had said he would give one hundred and twentyfive Dollars (!) for him, if I wouldn't take any less. I haven't sold him yet, but if I am offered $200 or $250 for him I cannot tell what the consequences will be. I am satisfied, at least, that Joe would justify me in taking the first offer of a thousand dollars for him. I have been at every appointment on the circuit but one, and the Quarterly Meeting hindered me from going to that. To-morrow I begin my second round. I believe the people like me very well, at least such is the conclusion I have drawn from many sly hints as well as direct intimations from Bro. Griffith and from prominent men on the circuit. Wherever I go I have no difficulty in finding a place to stop at, and although I have been at more than 50 different places, at only two or three have I met with anything resembling a cold reception. I am always treated to the best the house can afford, and if there is a piano or melodeon in the family, I am sure to find with it some charming girl of "sweet eighteen," whose skillful fingers are ever ready to trill off some favorite piece of music expressly for my benefit. I had an instance of this no longer back than last night -- but the details might possibly be uninteresting to you, and I forbear. The family with whom I am staying are as clever as clever can be, and in a hundred different ways show me every mark of attention and respect. Still it is not like home to me -- not so much as Bro. Salladay's was; but I suppose I shall get more used to it by and by. On Monday Bro. Griffith and I propose to start to the Ministerial Association at Logan. We intend to put our horses in one of Bro. Humphrey's buggies and ride to Athens, distant 24 miles, where we shall leave them until our return and take the cars. I am anticipating a great deal of pleasure from the trip, especially from my visit to Athens. Bro. Griffith came back from Buena Vista this morning. He was at Lucasville a few days after Robert Morgan was married, and would have come out to Blue Run if he had had time and a conveyance. The notice of Bro. Morgan's marriage I received through the Advocate before I got Wm.'s letter. I think Wm. had better not think of taking an agency for fruit trees or for anything else. I hate agencies of every kind, and I am sure he will not succeed, or at least make enough to cover the loss which must accrue from neglect of the farm. I am glad Pa has gone to superintend Elder Dillon's farm. I think the change will make him more reconciled to remaining in Ohio, and may possibly scatter his notions of going out West again. Give my respects to Bro. Field and everybody else. I shall write to him after while. Bro. Griffith is almost idolized on this circuit. Every place I go the people speak highly of him, and the esteem in which he is held is most gratifying. The people also remember Bro. Morgan well, and some of them are exceedingly interested in him yet. But now that he is married this interest on the part of a few will, I think, be considerably abated. Please write soon. Tell me how you are getting along with the Fresh Leaves. Goodby for this time. Yours, etc., |