Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

I30 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
faith was much talked about when people gathered at husking-bees
and log-rollings. Along with this discussion came the
meaning of the word "baptism" as to its form, whether
immersion or sprinkling. Aunt Isabelle had listened to the
arguments pro and con until she decided to be immersed, but
she thought she would not care to unite with any of the
churches. As our father was a preacher, and a man given to
hospitality, our home was the "preachers' hotel," and Aunt
Isabelle made herself very busy finding out the one who would
"baptize me and let me run," as she used to say. At last an
itinerant minister of humble gifts and pretensions immersed
Aunt Isabelle. She remained true to her first idea of life,
which one might call her baptismal vows, for none did more
running than she. Brother Will told it as a fact that she had
been known to empty a pail of water on the ground when she
saw a carriage drive into the yard.
I see her now with that old slat sunbonnet, her wrinkled face,
light brown eyes flecked with small spots of a darker brown flashing
with curiosity and peering out from beneath that bonnet's
shade as in a loud whisper she would demand of us, "Who's
here.?" Then after a few leading questions she would make
haste to depart on her news-carrying round among the neighbors.
On such occasions she donned her old hack bonnet and
spread a checked gingham umbrella, and with her knitting in her
hand she sallied forth to be gone the rest of the day, telling who
had arrived and for what purpose, the latter information either
founded on fact or purely imaginary. So it was that, should
we chance to call on the neighbors later, we found them well informed
as to our company and affairs generally. Aunt Isabelle
was the first to hear that cholera was in New York and that a
comet was booked for the coming fall; that the Millerites were
to have an encampment on Mill Creek and display large
paintings on canvas of Daniel's vision, where we were to see
portrayed the image of metal and clay and the old dragon all
covered with scales. Next she bore us the news that "the
saints" were preparing ascension robes. These wonderful
tales filled the hearts of us children with terror; I could scarcely
breathe for very fear until I should have a chance to ask