settlers have laid aside their prejudices and become connected with different denominations. After laboring in this field for one year, Ulin was sent to Salt Creek circuit, embracing the towns of Piketon and Waverly and the surrounding country. Some parts of this circuit were settled by old Methodists from Virginia; and one neighborhood particularly, a few miles below Piketon, called now the Barnes neighborhood, was settled by an old brother Boydston and his family, who were stanch. Methodists of the old school. Here brother Ulin found a welcome home, and was instrumental in the awakening and conversion of some of the children of the ancient families residing there. There was another settlement on the Big Bottom, called Foster's, which was a stronghold of Methodism, and there, also, our brother was made a blessing to the Church. Piketon was a wicked place, and there were but a few Methodists there in the days of Ulin, though the Church since has grown largely. His next and last field of labor was New Richmond, with the now sainted Collins. But his work was done. The cholera was doing its dreadful work. He and his beloved companion were engaged in ministering to the wants of the sick and dying. In the midst of her kind ministrations she was seized with the malady, and in a few hours death terminated her labors of love. The last sad office, of consigning the wife of his youth and the mother of his children to the grave, was scarcely performed ere the fell monster seized him, and there in his little hut, surrounded by eight lovely, helpless children, the father breathed his last. He had nothing to leave them but a father's blessing and a father's prayers. He gave up all for Christ, and when he died he gave his children to the Savior. After bidding them, one by one, an affectionate adieu, he told them to live for God, and meet their father and mother in heaven. In the midst of the

tears and heart-breaking sobs of those children, he shouted victory over death, and went to join the sainted above. We were on another part of the district when the event occurred, but we hastened with rapid pace to look after the dear children. Before we arrived, however, father Collins and the stewards had them all provided with good homes, where they were brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and some of them, we know, this day are following in the footsteps of their parents to heaven.

Inscrutable as are the ways of Providence, we know that "He doeth all things well." And though unbelief might ask in such a time of trial, "where now is thy God?" yet the Providence which took the parents to heaven provided bountifully for the children, and he who is the Fathor of the fatherless will always "temper the wind to the shorn lamb."

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CHAPTER XXXIX.

WILLIAM PHILLIPS.

THE subject of this narrative was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, on the 7th of May, 1797. His parents were pious, and, as might be expected, William was brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We believe there are no children whose early training has been religious, but become, at a very early period in life, the subjects of the Spirit's awakening influences. "The promise is to us and to our children," and if we devote them to God, and labor to bring them up in his nurture and admonition, we may conclude, with certainty, that the germs of truth planted in their young hearts, and baptized by our prayers and tears, will receive the additional watering of the Holy Spirit, without whose genial and attractive influences all human agencies must prove unavailing. Thus educated, young Phillips soon became impressed with the importance and necessity of religion, and often was induced to turn his attention to the subject. After laboring hard all day-for the youth of that period were not brought up in idleness, whatever else might be said about them—he would spend the evening in writing prose and poetry, for both of which species of composition his mind took an early turn, and he seemed to take great delight in the exercise. Many of these lucubrations have been kindly submitted to our examination by his son, Mr. J. M. Phillips, chief clerk of the Book Concern. Some of his poetic effusions are highly creditable. Among his papers is a melodramatic

performance, entitled, "The Hypocrisy Unmasked," the prologue to which is written in poetry, and which, for point and poetic merit, we think could not be excelled by any poetic wit of the present day.

It was customary for the farmers in the section of the country where young Phillips lived to raise their hogs in the woods; and there being an abundance of mast, they would grow fat without any other feeding. When the time for killing came, each farmer would sally forth and collect his hogs, which he was enabled to do from the fact that each owner had a private ear-mark, by which he could identify his stock, and distinguish it from those of his neighbors. It happened that there lived a family in the neighborhood, who, lacking that honesty which should have characterized all in those early times of privation and toil, did not scruple to appropriate their neighbors' hogs to their own use, without fear of discovery, as they cut off the ears of the hogs, thus obliterating all marks of ownership. Many efforts were made to detect them in their nefarious business; but as they carried on their depredations so secretly, usually taking the night season for their work of pillage, they eluded detection. The whole neighborhood seemed to be satisfied that they were guilty; but as it could not be proven, they continued to carry on their thieving with impunity. Young Phillips was aware of the state of things, and set himself to work to write a short poem descriptive of hog-stealing, and containing such an unmistakable description of the thieves, that all who read it would understand the application as certainly as though he had named the persons themselves. He knew the force of public opinion, if it could only be brought to bear upon the guilty; and, accordingly, keeping the matter a profound secret from every body, he waited till some public occasion would call out the neighborhood. It was not long till such an occa

sion presented itself. Taking his poem with him, which he had written in a disguised hand, and which none but himself could read, he went to the public gathering. While mingling with the crowd he purposely dropped it, knowing it would be picked up by some one. It was not long till it was rumored that a curious writing was found, and the ingenuity and learning of all was taxed to decipher its contents. Finally it was brought to Phillips, who, taking it, and looking at it for some time, said he thought he could make it out by hard spelling. When he had examined it sufficiently long, occasionally calling a knowing one to help him out with a hard word, he mounted a stump and began. At first he stammered considerably, which only increased the interest, making certain points more emphatic. As he progressed every eye was turned to the hog-stealers, whose persons and conduct were described to the life; and before he had finished they skulked away from the crowd, unable any longer to withstand the battery of eyes that was opened upon them, and the shouts and peals of laughter which rent the air. Suffice it to say, the hog-thieves left the neighborhood, and no complaint was ever after heard of such depredations.

But the most satirical thing in the English language we ever read, is his poem entitled, "Alexander the Great; or, The Learned Camel." Many of our readers have, doubtless, seen this production, as it was once published and somewhat extensively circulated. It was designed as an expose of Campbellism, or the "Christians," as they are denominated; but more familiarly known as the Reformers, or Campbellite Baptists-a denomination quite numerous in Kentucky. It flashes throughout with the most keen and cutting satire, and gives evidence of high poetic talent, as well as a thorough knowledge of the system which it exposes.