first one, and I never
shall forgit the day it was born. I went over to help wait on Marthy
and the baby, and as soon as I got the little thing dressed, we called
Amos in to see it. Now, Amos always took his religion mighty hard. It
didn't seem to bring him any comfort or peace o' mind. I've heard
people say they didn't see how Presbyterians ever could be happy; but
la, child, it's jest as easy to be happy in one church as in another.
It all depends on what doctrines you think the most about. Now you
take election and justification and sanctification, and you can git
plenty o' comfort out o' them. But Amos never seemed to think of
anything but reprobation and eternal damnation. Them doctrines jest
seemed to weigh on him night and day. He used to say many a time that
he didn't know whether he had made his callin' and election sure or
not, and I don't believe he thought that anybody else had made theirs
sure, either. Abram used to say that Amos looked like he was carryin'
the sins o' the world on his shoulders.

"That day the baby was born I thought to myself, 'Well, here's
somethin' that'll make Amos forgit about his callin' and election for
once, anyhow;' and I wrapped the little feller up in his blanket and
held him to the light, so his father could see him; and Amos looked at
him like he was skeered, for a minute, and then he says, 'O Lord! I
hope it ain't a reprobate.'

"Now jest think of a man lookin' down into a little new-born baby's
face and talkin' about reprobates!

"Marthy heard what he said, and says she, 'Amos, are you goin' to have
him babtized in infancy?'

"'Why, yes,' says Amos, 'of course I am.'

"And Marthy says, 'Well, hadn't you better wait until you find out
whether he's a reprobate or not? If he's a reprobate, babtizin' ain't
goin' to do him any good, and if he's elected he don't need to be
babtized.'

"And I says, 'For goodness' sake, Marthy, you and Amos let the
doctrines alone, or you'll throw yourself into a fever.' And I pushed
a rockin'-chair up by the bed and I says, 'Here, Amos, you set here by
your wife, and both of you thank the Lord for givin' you such a fine
child;' and I laid the baby in Amos' arms, and went out in the gyarden
to look around and git some fresh air. I gethered a bunch o'
honeysuckles to put on Marthy's table, and when I got back, Marthy and
the baby was both asleep, and Amos looked as if he was beginnin' to
have some little hopes of the child's salvation.

"Ma