A Modern Wilderness

One Sunday morning, in the year 1820, in his traveling circuit, near Hico, the Reverend Young Herrington Hamilton came upon a group of rowdy young hoodlums that were mocking his church’s parishioners. Just before the service began, The Reverend, and several of the elders dared the young hoodlums to sit in on a church service. Poking fun at each other, the young men took them up on the dare. It had been pre-arranged with the deacons to issue the group of dare-devils up to the front pew of the congregation, and to sit them there. The young revelers made quite a stir, as the regular choir abandoned the front pew, and scattered across the aisle to other pews. No one wanted to sit behind them.

Well, no longer had the service began, than when the young rebel-rousers started disrupting the service. The Reverend hastily proceeded into the service to give the sermon. As he walked over toward the pulpit, he drew his six-shooter, and cocked it.

With a Holy Bible in one hand, and waving a pistol lowly in the other, he held the young men’s attention for the duration of the service, and converted them to Christianity.

He paused to reflect upon Oldham's fiddle.

The Shaolin Monks arrived with the caravan in Oldham, England on their journey up the European countryside, and across the channel. The escort of Knights Templars were anxious to receive the duty for their service, and return to the region of France, where they had originally met the trader’s.

The Shaolin Monk in charge of delivery of the artifacts to the museum for King Charles II had taken the detour to witness the transition of power as the reign over the Scots, English, and Irish ended, and a new King would be crowned. He felt, in his wise way, that the transition would not occur without turmoil.

He had made a vow to place into the hands of the Duke of Oldham, the peculiar instrument that irradiated the presence of peace, and good will. The Duke had asked the envoy to collect the instrument, with payment in full to the violin maker, who had made such a stir at the Vatican during the fall festival in Rome, Italy.

The Duke’s family was sympathetic with the protectorate of Cromwell, and having been situated at the vast marketable Oldham estates since about the 11^th century, acquiring rareties like the special model violin was more, or less a pass-time for the Duke. He was unaware, for the most part of the musical quality of the instrument, other than the simple folk lore he had heard about the incident that had taken place.

Word had spread about Pope Innocent XII raising his hands to heaven, and the miracle that had occurred. Instilled in the French, and Spanish turmoil over the right of ascension, and assylum, the Papal blessing upon the plaza during the fall festival was supposed to replace the sabbatical observance of Rosh Hashannah (Jewish New Year).

The English believed, after receiving the story, that God must have a humor. The story was spread throughout the Oldham territory, and among the common people.

At the fall festival, playing his newest version of the finely crafted violin, that he had designed on his own, after years of study in the woodshop of Niccolo Amati, the craftsman paraded with the other renaissance musicians, reveling, and playing joyous duets, and quartets.

His instrument could be recognized by the inscription in Latin: Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno 1682 (Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, made in the year 1682). He had neatly named the model "The Messiah", and that is what caused the ruccus on the plaza that day.

The book is a collection of stories that depict the epoch of an American family, and the pioneer spirits of the many individuals, who’s stories are told. The descriptive language, and clarity of the stories are a beautiful masterpiece, and tribute to the testimony of people that lived in the American frontier, and stretches across generations, and places of rural 21^st century America.

It is a nicely read series of short stories, that can be easily followed with the true-to-life circumstances, real-to-life people, and exciting presentations. In depth details re-iterated once for clarity may be found through out the book, as the stories intertwine into a woven fabric of decent world views. It is a picture of a rural American society.

No offensive language is used in this book. The contents of the stories were carefully selected, and edited by the author to be a family, and kid friendly collection. Comfortable for a teen-aged , or mixed audience, the explanations, poetic jargon, and extensive use of correct English grammar make this book a good read.

The pages pass very quickly, as each story unfolds into a developing place, and time. The people portrayed in each story are real, though the names may have been changed to protect their identity. No malice, or grievance is expounded upon greatly, and there is no intention to offend anyone. The truth behind each story is a testimony, going beyond the facade of the outer character, into where the inner portrait of life is told.

Many of the stories were told by faithful kinsmen, to family that eagerly listened, with open hearts around the fire place, on olden days, during quality time, for entertainment. The tales of an American family, and the interaction they had with their struggles during the birth of vast territories intrigued the thoughts of many young at heart . Over the generations that occupied the creation of our modern society, many wonderful, and miraculous events took place. The mechanisms that enforced the behavior of the communities back then were often determined by the people, who’s stories you are about to read.

It was with my most earnest prayers, and clearest thoughts that the work done on this book be a prosperous adventure to share with you.