The Indians enjoyed, for part of the time that I was in Wallencamp, the
ministrations of a Baptist clergyman, a truly earnest and intelligent
man, gifted with a most forceful manner of utterance, but so lean as to
present a phenomenal appearance. This good man feared nothing but that he
should fail in some part of the performance of his duty. He believed that
it was his duty to come over and preach to the Wallencampers also, in
their school-house, and he did so.
I think that the Wallencampers regarded this, on the whole, as a doubtful
though entertaining move.
I do not think that they took any particular pains to harass or annoy the
Rev. Mr. Rivers. But they certainly did not restrict themselves in that
natural freedom which they always enjoyed on the occasions of their
spiritual feasts.
They attended, as usual--the old and the young, the good, the bad, the
indifferent, with a lively sprinkling of babies.
Though not a cold night, they kept the stove gorged with fuel. It roared
furiously. They were restless. They made signs audibly expressive of the
fact that the air of the room was insufferably close, and very audibly
slammed up the windows.
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