The Real America in Romance, Volume 10 | Page 7

furniture, and sawn boards, placed on
sticks of wood on end, furnished the seats. These were occupied and
the "entry" between the cabins was filled by children. The preacher,
who was also chorister, took his position near the door so as to
accommodate those without as well as those within. He opened his
saddle-bags and, pushing back his soiled linen, took out his bible and
hymn-book and, proceeding to "line a hymn," "started it" himself, the
congregation all joining.
Fernando Stevens had heard from his sister about these wonderful
meetings; but he had never dreamed that a score of voices could raise
such an uproar, and he ceased admiring his new shoes, while he fixed
his eyes in terror on the capacious mouth of a pious old man, who, in
his fervent zeal, was singing with all his might. As he sounded forth
each resonant note, louder than the preceding, his mouth opened wider
and wider, until Fernando took alarm and climbed upon his father's
knee.
At this critical moment, there came on the air a cracking sound, and one

of the boards which served the purpose of a pew broke in the centre and
came down with a crash, precipitating nearly half a score of buxom,
screaming girls into a promiscuous heap upon the floor. This was too
much for Fernando. He could not but attribute the disaster to the
wide-mouthed singer, and he screamed so lustily in his fright, that his
father took him from the house to calm his fears.
Fernando's first experience at "meeting" was not very encouraging; but
he did not despair. Soon after their return home he heard the family
begin to speak of the "camp-meeting," and learned that one was to be
held at the head waters of Bear Creek, not far from the home of Mr.
Moore, and that the family was going.
On the appointed day they took their places in the wagon and started
for the camp ground. Notice of the camp-meeting had been circulated
for several weeks or months, and all were eager to attend. The country
for fifty miles around was excited with the cheerful anticipation of the
approaching festival of religious feeling and social friendship. When
the Stevenses arrived on the grounds, wagons and carts, coaches and
old family chaises, people on horseback and on foot, in multitudes,
with provision wagons, tents, mattresses, household implements and
cooking utensils, were seen hurrying from every direction toward the
central point. The camp was in the midst of a grove of beautiful, lofty,
umbrageous trees, natural to the western country, clothed in their
deepest verdure, and near a sparkling stream, which supplied the host
with fresh water. White tents started up in the grove, and soon a sylvan
village sprang up as if by magic. The tents and booths were pitched in a
semi-circle, or in a four-sided parallelogram, inclosing an area of two
acres or more, for the arrangement of seats and aisles around a rude
pulpit and altar for the thronging multitude, all eager to hear the
heavenly messenger.
Fernando beheld all in a maze of wonder, and half believed this was
that Heaven of which his mother had told him so much. He half
expected to see the skies open and the son of God descend in all his
glory. Toward night, the hour of solemn service approached, and the
vast sylvan bower of the deep umbrageous forest was illuminated by

numerous lamps suspended around the line of tents which encircled the
public area and beside the rustic altars distributed over the same, which
sent forth a glare of light from the fagot fires upon the worshipping
throng, and the majestic forest with an imposing effect, which elevated
the soul to fit converse with its creator, God.
The scenery of the most brilliant theatre of the world was only a
painting for children compared with this. Meantime, the multitude, with
the highest excitement of social feeling, added to the general
enthusiasm of expectation, was passing from tent to tent interchanging
apostolic greetings and embraces, while they talked of the approaching
solemnities. A few minutes sufficed to finish the evening's repast, when
the moon (for they had taken thought to appoint the meeting at the time
of the full moon) began to show its disc above the dark summits of the
distant mountains, while a few stars were seen glimmering in the west.
Then the service began. The whole constituted a temple worthy of the
grandeur of God. An old man in a dress of the quaintest simplicity
ascended a platform, wiped the dust from his spectacles, and, in a voice
of suppressed emotion "lined the hymn," of which that vast multitude
could recite the words, to be sung with an air in which every voice
could join. Every heart