CHAPTER XXII. THE WORSHIPPERS.

Thecamp-meetingisoneleadingfeatureintheAmericandevelopmentofreligion,peculiarlysuitedtothewideextentofcountry,andtotheprimitivehabitswhichgenerallyaccompanyasparsepopulation.Undoubtedlyitsgeneraleffectshavebeensalutary.Itsevilshavebeenonlythoseincidenttoanylargegatherings,inwhichthewholepopulationofacountryarebroughtpromiscuouslytogether.Asinmanyotherlargeassembliesofworship,therearethosewhogoforallsortsofreasonssomefromcuriosity,somefromloveofexcitement,sometoturnapennyinasmallwayoftrade,sometoscoff,andafewtopray.And,solongastheheavenlywayremainsstraightandnarrow,solongthesincereandhumbleworshipperswilleverbetheminorityinallassemblies.Wecangivenobetterideaofthedifferenceofmotivewhichimpelledthevariousworshippers,thanbytakingourreadersfromscenetoscene,onthemorningwhendifferentattendantsofthemeetingweremakingpreparationstostart. BetweenthegroundsofMr.JohnGordonandtheplantationofCanemastoodalogcabin,whichwasthetradingestablishmentofAbijahSkinflint.Theestablishmentwasanuisanceintheeyesoftheneighboringplanters,fromthegeneralapprehensionentertainedthatAbijahdroveabriskunderhandtradewiththenegroes,andthatthevariousarticleswhichhedisposedforsaleweremanyofthemsurreptitiouslyconveyedtohiminnightlyinstalmentsfromofftheirownplantations.Butofthisnothingcouldbeproved. Abijahwasashrewdfellow,long,dry,lean,leathery,withasharpnose,sharp,little,grayeyes,asharpchin,andfingersaslongasbird's-claws.Hisskinwassodrythatonewouldhaveexpectedthathischeekswouldcracklewheneverhesmiled,orspokeandherolledinthemanever-failingquidoftobacco. Abijahwasoneofthoseover-shrewdYankees,wholeavetheircountryfortheircountry'sgood,andwhoexhibit,wherevertheysettle,suchacaricatureofthethriftyvirtueoftheirnativelandastojustifytheaversionwhichthenative-bornSouthernerentertainsfortheYankee.Abijahdrankhisownwhiskey,—prudently,however,—or,ashesaid,"neversoasnottoknowwhathewasabout." Hehadtakenawifefromthedaughtersofthelandwhoalsodrankwhiskey,butlessprudentlythanherhusband,sothatsometimesshedidnotknowwhatshewasabout.Sonsanddaughterswerebornuntothispromisingcouple,white-headed,forward,dirty,andill-mannered.But,amidalldomesticandsocialtrials,Abijahmaintainedaconstantandsteadydevotiontothemainchance—theacquisitionofmoney.Formoneyhewoulddoanythingformoneyhewouldhavesoldhiswife,hischildren,evenhisownsoul,ifhehadhappenedtohaveone.Butthatarticle,haditeverexisted,wasnowsosmallanddry,thatonemighthavefanciedittorattleinhisleanframelikeashrivelledpeainalastyear'speascod.Abijahwasgoingtothecamp-meetingfortworeasons.One,ofcourse,wastomakemoneyandtheotherwastoknowwhetherhisfavoritepreacher,ElderStringfellow,handledthedoctrineofelectionaccordingtohisviewsforAbijahhadaturnfortheology,andcouldnumberoffthefivepointsofCalvinismonhisfivelongfingerswithunfailingaccuracy. ItisstatedintheScripturesthatthedevilsbelieveandtremble.TheprincipaldifferencebetweentheirbeliefandAbijah'swas,thathebelievedanddidnottremble.Truthsawfulenoughtohaveshakentheearth,andveiledthesun,hecouldfingeroverwithasmuchunconcernasapractisedanatomistthedrybonesofaskeleton. "You,Sam!"saidAbijahtohisonlynegrohelot,"youmind,yousteadythatarbar'l,sothatitdon'trollout,andpourapailfulofwaterinatthebung.Itwon'tdotogiveitto'emtoostrong.MissSkinflint,youmakehaste!Ifyoudon't,Ishan'twaitforyou'cause,whatevertherestmaydo,it'simportantIshouldbeonthegroundearly.Manyadollarlostfornotbeingintime,inthisworld.Hurry,woman!" "Iamready,butPollyan't',"saidMrs.Skinflint."She'sbusyaplasteringdownherhair." "Can'twaitforher!"saidAbijah,ashesalliedoutofthehousetogetintothewagon,whichstoodbeforethedoor,intowhichhehadpackedacopioussupplyofhams,eggs,dressedchickens,corn-meal,andgreensummervegetables,tosaynothingofthebarrelofwhiskeyaforesaid. "Isay,Dad,youstop!"calledPolly,fromthewindow."Ifyoudon't,I'llmakeworkforyou'foreyoucomehomeyouseeifIdon't!DurnedifIwon't!" "Comealong,then,can'tyou?Nexttimewegoanywhere,I'llshutyouupovernighttobegintodress!" Pollyhastilysqueezedherfatformintoaredcalicodress,and,seizingagaysummershawl,withherbonnetinherhand,rushedtothewagonandmounted,thehooksofherdresssuccessivelyexploding,andflyingoff,asshestoopedtogetin. "DurnedifIknowswhattodo!"saidshe"thisyerolddurnedgearcoat'salloffmyback!" "Galsisalwaysfools!"saidAbijah,consolingly. "Stickinapin,Polly,"saidhermother,inaneasy,sing-songdrawl. "Durnyou,oldwoman,everyhookisoff!"saidthepromisingyounglady. "Stickinmorepins,then,"saidthemammaandthevehicleofAbijahpassedonward. Onthevergeoftheswamp,alittlebeyondTiff'scabin,livedBenDakin. B