Brother Kline was gifted with that fortunate cast of mind which enabled him to draw from nature themes for thought and conversation, which added much to his happiness when alone, and to his geniality in company; and not only so, but even in his preaching he drew largely from the magazines of God’s creation.  I have not a doubt that if all the items of interest that passed between himself and Brother Long, in the way of conversations on this journey, could be collected and presented in proper form they would make a most instructive and entertaining volume.  I sometimes fear that the world’s best thought escapes its hands.  It may, however, so turn out that after awhile stenography will set her delicate nets and catch these wild birds which now flit by us on such active wing that we catch but a glimpse of their forms and beauty.

FRIDAY, August 13, the two brethren got to Jonas Goughnour’s, below Woodstock, in Shenandoah County, Virginia.  They had meeting in a schoolhouse near by.  Brother Isaac Long, at this early day, gave clear indications of the ability and usefulness which have characterized his ministry to the present time.  Trained to correct business habits from early youth, he carried them over into his church work; and judging by his success, to plan and to perform, to design and to execute, with him mean one and the same thing.

Between the fourteenth and twentieth of August the two brethren visited John Rowland’s, Emanuel Long’s, Joseph Long’s, Daniel Reichert’s, Daniel Long’s, David Kinsey’s and John Brandt’s.

FRIDAY, August 20.  The two brethren, in company with David Kinsey and John Brandt, go to Brother Nussbaum’s.  They went through London, Path Valley and Fennelsburg.  They must have had a long ride this day; but who could think the road long with such company?  The next day they went towards Huntingdon.  Brother Kline says they crossed a tolerably high mountain this day, and dined at Brother Jacob Berket’s.

I wonder how they kept him from wandering off and hunting for medicinal roots and herbs while crossing that mountain.  You may be sure that no patch of Lady’s Slipper, Golden-Seal or Golden-Rod escaped his eye.  The absence of a hoe is all that saved them from a deal of trouble with him.  They went on through Shirleysburg, and got to Brother Andrew Spanogle’s about sunset.

Following Brother Kline on this and similar journeys, by means of the Diary, enthuses my soul with an undefinable longing to have been with him.  The excitement, and danger, and hurry and bustle constantly incident to travel at the present day were all unfelt and unfeared by this company.

Brother Kline’s habit was ever to rise early; and, especially on excursions like the present, would he often rise before the family and walk out to take the air, as he said, and see the sun rise.  This he did even when the days were at their longest.  To get up with him and take a walk before breakfast to some elevation not distant from his lodging place, and hear him discourse upon the rising sun, the balminess of the air, the clearness of the water, the songs of the birds, the delicate tints and wonderful mechanism of the flowers of fields and woods, was a treat of rare enjoyment.