Bountiful Late Harvest

The pattern was soon established and without much fuss. Solon was kind if not terribly demonstrative to Lou. That was fine with her. There was warmth and consideration when they retired to their big four poster cherry bed Uncle Joe T. had made and given them as a wedding present seven years ago. There were no children, but not from want of trying. Lou and Solon's rhythms were comfortable with him evoking her laughter and her common sense grounding his energy.

On the circuit from late September to about Easter, Solon tended best he could Universalist groups found in little country churches, farm house parlors, a few town churches, county seat rental halls and brush arbors from Columbus, Georgia to Mobile, Alabama to Jackson, Mississippi to Decatur, Alabama. He usually had a half dozen public meetings during his six months itinerancy for the revival of the faithful and attraction of new flock. Lou had secured worn railroad schedules from the Louisville - Nashville, Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama Central, Alabama and Chattanooga and Western RR of Alabama. She knew as much about railroads of the area as any passenger train dispatcher in the South. She was always given Solon's "preacher book", a big leather bound ledger, at the first meal they shared when he came home the week after Easter. She took delight in reading in his hand the recordings of his sermons and their scripture source, the places given, number of listeners, weather on the occasion, the names of the wedding couples, baptisms, christenings and funerals. He was nearly half way through filing his second volume since their wedding.