hreshed it beneath the hoofs of horses.

The mode of life made men of strong convictions and deep feelings. But
those feelings were seldom expressed except under the influence of
religious devotions.

The ministers were all circuit riders and venerated leaders of the
people of the mountainsides. They traveled the mountains on horseback,
constantly exposed to hardships, and they labored devoutly without
consideration of the personal cost. It was the custom for these
itinerant ministers to give free rein to their horses and read as they
rode the mountain-paths, stopping for a prayer at every home they
reached. Protracted meetings were held in almost every community they
visited, for many months would pass before they returned. Funeral
services would be held for all who had died during the absence of the
minister. The meetings lasted so long as there was hope of a single
conversion.

One of the preachers of those old days, who was born in the "Valley of
the Three Forks o' the Wolf" and preached at Pall Mall as part of his
circuit when ordained, has left a record of one year's work:

"During the conference year I preached 152 times, traveled 1,918 miles
on horseback, prayed with 424 families, witnessed 80 conversions to God,
and received 67 persons into the church. I sold about $40 worth of
books, baptized 40 adults and 18 infants ... and received less than $30
of salary for same, and raised for benevolence $36.25. To God be all the
glory! I have toiled and endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
However, when God has poured from clouds of mercy rich salvation upon
the people, and when in religious enjoyment, from the most excellent
glory, I have been lifted to Pisgah's top, and have seen by faith the
goodly land before me, I would not exchange this work for a city
station."

Against the worldliness of some of his people, the same old mountain
minister recorded a protest:

"I have known families who had three or four hundred dollars loaned out
on interest, and not less than five hundred dollars' worth of fat cattle
on the range, who did not own a Bible, or take any religious newspaper,
nor any other kind, and did not have any books in their homes, and yet
owned two or three fiddles and three or four rifle-guns."

The day of prosperity and religious contentment at Pall Mall lasted
until the coming of the Civil War.

Fentress county had contributed its pro rata of volunteers to the
conflict with Mexico, and Uriah Yo