obably never heard of the
Inquisition. "Hiram's three hobby hosses air 'good roads, Calvinism and
slavery.' Which o' them ponies wuz he ridin' this mawnin'?"

"He took a gallop on all three," laughingly answered Abner; "but he
rode the doctrinal steed longest and hardest."

"Egzactly!" said Rogers, taking a chew of tobacco. "He's daft on good
roads; kinder rabid on slavery; but when it comes to the 'five p'ints,'
he's rank pizinous. I s'pose he rid the good-roads hoss fust. He
ginerly does."

"Yes, he took a preliminary canter on it. Then he looked at me
searchingly and asked if I was opposed to slavery. I rather think he
suspected me of being here on some secret mission to stir up
insurrection among the negroes; but when I said that I thought they
were much better off as slaves than they were in their native heathen
condition, he relaxed considerably. He then worked around to church and
doctrinal matters, and was argumentative and dictatorial about
'predestination,' 'effectual calling,' etc.; but I finally told him
that though not a church-member, I had been reared under strict
Presbyterian influences. This delighted him, and he said I was
doubtless well grounded, and that if I was one of the 'elect,' I would
be called in the Lord's own good time."

"I'm glad you got through so well. Hiram's a good man at bottom, but ez
full o' prejudice ez a aigg's full o' meat. He even claims thet Stone
hain't sound on orthodoxy, which means he ain't so streenous 'bout God
Almighty's fav'rin' some folks to etarnal salvation, befoh the
foundations o' the world, and others, jes' ez good, to everlastin'
damnation. Brother Stone he's mighty quiet an' mild-like, but kindah
hints thet God Almighty's too just to hev fav'rites. I tell you, thar's
trouble brewin' on this very p'int; and thar's gwintah be a tur'ble
split 'foh long in Cane Ridge meeting-house."

"Did you see the rest o' the folks at Gilcrest's?" Mrs. Rogers asked.

"No, ma'am, the interview was held at the stile block; but Major
Gilcrest asked me to return after seeing the other patrons, and take
dinner; and he also said something about my boarding with him."

"Boahdin' at Gilcrest's!" said Rogers. "Not ef me an' Cynthy Ann knows
it! Of course you'll stop with us."

"Yes," added his wife, "me an' Susan's been all maw-nin' a-fixin' up
the north room fer you, so's you kin hev----"

"You are certainly most kind, Mrs. Rogers. I'm sure I'll be pleased
with everything whic