called to labor, as the results have abundantly and clearly shown.

His last field, as we have already seen, was Deavertowr circuit. While engaged in the performance of his ministerial duties on this circuit, he was attacked with a slight stroke of paralysis, which, for a short time, disqualified him from hard labor. Still, he continued in his loved employ, as his strength permitted, till a second attack, which totally prostrated him, and put an end to all his labors in the ministry. For two years he lingered in a helpless condition, yet he patiently and pleasantly awaited the will of his heavenly Father, full of faith and the Holy Spirit. No complaint ever escaped his lips; but keeping his eyes fixed upon the bright and joyous inheritance of the saints in light, when the messenger came, conscious of his dissolution, he said, in soft, sweet tones, to his spirit, "Arise, the Master is come, and calleth for thee." Then his worn-out and broken-down tabernacle went to the dust, and his happy soul, on wings of faith and love, entered the "building of God, the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

CHAPTER XXXVII.

WILLIAM H. RAPER.

AMONG that class of preachers who entered the itinerancy, in the beginning of the present century, was the Rev. Wm. H. Raper. That he was born in troublous times, is evident from the fact that a block-house, belonging to one of the military stations in the wilds of western Pennsylvania, was the place of his birth, which event occurred in the year 1793.

His father was a surveyor under the Government, in the North-Western territory, which made it necessary for him to be much from home, in the discharge of the duties of his office. His mother was one of the matron pioneers of the west, and among the first class of Methodists in the North-Western territory. She was a woman of exemplary piety, of great faith and devotion. She was also a patriot mother of the Revolution, as her subsequent history, in relation to her sons, most abundantly shows.

When William was quite young his parents removed to Columbia, on the Ohio, a few miles above Cincinnati, where his early days were spent, in those sports and employments incident to frontier life. When he reached his nineteenth year his thoughts were turned to war. Having two brothers in the army of General Hull, whose base surrender has forever associated his name with an ignominy little less than that which attaches to Arnold, a call was made for volunteers, and the young American joined the company of Captain Stephen Smith, and went forth to try the rigors of the camp and field. Not long

after entering the company, the sergeant being disqualified, by sickness, from filling his post, young Raper was chosen to the office. He felt an ambition to fill with honor and bravery the post assigned him, and labored with zeal and diligence to become master of all the arts of war.

A day or two before the battle of the Thames, his com pany was ordered to march up the Lake, some fifteen miles, to prevent the landing of the British. The engagement took place during their absence, and the battle was nearly closed before the company arrived on the ground. This circumstance rendered it necessary, as Captain Smith's company was now the strongest, that it should take charge of the prisoners of war, which had been taken by Commodore Perry and General William Henry Harrison, and bring them to the Newport station. All the officers who ranked above Raper in the company having taken sick, the command devolved upon him. It was a responsible undertaking, but, as the sequel will show, the young officer proved himself adequate to the emergency. The company consisted of one hundred soldiers, and the number of prisoners amounted to four hundred. Every arrangement being made, they commenced their march. On their route it was necessary for them to cross the Black Swamp, which, at that season of the year, was nearly covered with water, which extended for miles through a drear and desolate wilderness. In their march the company became bewildered and lost, and the commander was at his wits' ends to know what to do. For three days and nights they wandered about in the swamp, without food. The company had become scattered, and on the morning of the third day he found himself with a guard of only twelve men, and about one hundred prisoners. The prisoners, seeing the weakness of the guard, resolved on a mutiny, and refused to march,

threatening to kill the few who had them in charge. No time was to be lost, and Raper, calling out his men, drew them up in line and commanded them to make ready for the emergency, which they did, by fixing their bayonets and cocking their guns. In this position both parties stood for some time. At length, finding that the prisoners refused all entreaties to march, the commander gave them five minutes to decide, and if, at the expiration of that time, they did not march, he would fire and charge upon them. At the end of each minute he announced the fact, but they would not move. When the last minute had expired the soldiers were commanded to present arms, take aim, and-but before the word fire had escaped his lips, a large Scotch soldier, fresh from the Highlands of his native country, cried, hold! and, stepping aside, asked the privilege of saying a word. captain asked him if it was for peace. To which he replied in the affirmative. The privilege was granted, and, addressing his fellow-prisoners, he said, "We have been taken in a fair fight, and are prisoners, honorably so, and this conduct is disgraceful to our king's flag, and is not the conduct becoming true soldiers, but disgraceful to ourselves and country. Now," said he, "I have had no hand in raising this mutiny, and I propose that all who are in favor of behaving themselves as honorable prisoners of war, shall come to me, and we will take the others in hand ourselves, and the American guard shall stand by and see fair play." This speech had the desired effect, and the mutiny was brought to an end without bloodshed.

The

Raper continued in charge till he delivered them over at Newport, opposite Cincinnati. A few years ago we met with an old soldier, one of that company and guard, who told us that Mr. Raper was considered one of the best soldiers and bravest men in the army; that he had seen him under almost every position in which a soldier

could be placed, and never saw him evince the least fear. They had among the prisoners two Indians, who, after very severe threatenings, and, indeed, at the point of Raper's sword, finally led them out of the swamp. That evening they reached a settlement, where they obtained provisions, and, notwithstanding the efforts of the officers, many of the men killed themselves by eating.

After his arrival at Newport with the prisoners, he was offered a commission in the regular army, which he consented to take, provided it was agreeable to the wishes of his mother. Such was his love for her, that he would take no important step without first consulting her. His mother's answer was characteristic of the noble mothers of that day: "My son, if my country was still engaged in war, and I had fifty sons, I would freely give them all to her service; but, as peace is now declared, and there is no such necessity, as a Christian mother, therefore, I can not consent, for I think something better awaits my son than the mere camp-life of a soldier in time of peace." We have often heard him speak with gratitude, in view of this advice of his mother, and that he felt it a far greater honor to be a humble minister of Jesus Christ, than to have been at the head of the American army. He, accordingly, declined the commission, and returned to his former occupation, which was that of a tanner.

In the spring of 1816 he joined the Church, under Rev. Russel Bigelow, at the house of Judge Ransom, at Newbury, Clermont county, Ohio, and after months of deep penitence, he was converted. Shortly after he assisted in holding meetings in his neighborhood, and the next year was employed by the presiding elder, on what was then called the Miami circuit.

In the year 1819 he was received on trial in the traveling connection, at the conference held at Cincinnati, and appointed to Madison circuit, with the Rev. Henry