to put the Judge on the defensive whenever I could, I said; “Well, Judge, if it required more than six days, will you have the goodness to tell me just how long it did take to make it?” The Judge felt the awkward position he was in, and before he could recover I had bidden him good bye and was on my way.  Nor was he less embarrassed when he came to learn that the old gentleman to whom he referred was my father.

Having spent the Sabbath at Ceresco, I now started in a southwesterly direction to explore the country along the south side of Green Lake, with the purpose to establish an appointment should a suitable location be found.  After traveling about three miles, I came to a large log house, which with its surroundings seemed to say, “We have come to stay.”  Hitching my horse to the limb of a tree near the gate, I approached the house.  I was met at the door by a lady of fine presence and intelligent bearing, who invited me to enter and be seated.

I began the conversation with the usual compliments to the weather and the beautiful country about Green Lake.  Receiving frank responses to these common places, I next enquired if there were still good locations untaken in the neighborhood.  Her intelligent face radiated a smile as her sharp eyes gave me a searching glance, which seemed to say, “You can’t come any land-seeking dodge on me, you are a Minister.”  Changing the conversation, I soon found that the proprietor of the house was a Mr. Dakin, she, his sister, Mrs. White, and that she was a Methodist.  At a subsequent visit to Ceresco I had the pleasure to enter her name upon the list of members.

Passing on I came to the residence of Mr. Satterlee Clark, since widely known in the State, but he being absent I stopped only a few moments and continued my exploration.  The next house I visited was located near a beautiful spring in a grove of timber.  The building was small, but the surroundings indicated thrift.  I rode up to the door and saw a lady at her wash-tub.  She threw the suds from her hands and came to the door.  In a moment I recognized her as a lady whom I had known in the State of New York.  She did not recognize me, however, as I had doubtless changed very much since she had seen me.  But she was not mistaken in thinking I was a Minister.  She invited me to tarry for dinner, saying her husband would soon be in.

When Shadrach Burdick, for that was the name of the husband, came to dinner he found his house invaded by the irrepressible Itinerancy.  He gave me a cordial welcome, expressed his satisfaction that his new location did not lie beyond the limits of Gospel agencies, and urged me to make his house my home whenever I might come that way.  I saw that he did not recognize me, and concluded not to make myself known until the surprise could be made more complete.  Conversation turned on the character of the settlement, the number of families and the prospect of opening an appointment.  It was known that a few families had settled in the vicinity, but mine host was not informed as to their religious proclivities.  I decided at once to visit every family in the neighborhood.