, fine
cattle, and a pack o' hounds--that's the way things was with the
Schuylers, Meredith and Hamilton both. I can see Squire Meredith
Schuyler now, the way he looked in that long overcoat made out o' dark
green broadcloth with big brass buttons on it, ruffled shirt-bosom,
high boots comin' 'way up to his knees, a broad-brimmed hat set back
on his head and a ridin'-whip in his hand, and long leather gloves,
and the hounds skulkin' along behind him.

"That's the way he looked when Judge Grace walked up to him and handed
him the second summons. And he opened the paper and read it, and then
he tore it in two and threw it on the ground. And says he, 'Does the
Rev. Samuel Wilson think that he's the Pope of Rome?' Says he, 'You go
to him and tell him for me that this is a free country and I'm a free
member of the Presbyterian church, and the journeys I take and the
language I use are a matter between me and my conscience and my God.'
And with that he walked off and left Judge Grace standin' there. And
the judge he picked up the pieces o' paper and went right straight to
Brother Wilson's house and told him what had happened. And Brother
Wilson he listened to it all, and he looked mighty stern and says he,
'Call the session together at three o'clock this evening.' Says he,
'This is something that concerns the honor of the church, and we can't
let the sun go down on it.'

"Well, the session, they all got together at the app'inted time, and
Brother Wilson says, says he, 'Brethren, there's a serious question to
be settled, and before we begin let us ask for light and wisdom from
on high.' And then he prayed a prayer askin' the Lord to guide them in
all they said and did, and when that was over, he called on Judge
Grace to tell the session jest how Squire Schuyler had acted and
talked when he handed him the summons. And the judge told it all jest
so. 'And now,' says Brother Wilson, 'I want you gentlemen to
understand that what Squire Schuyler said and did is not an insult to
me.' Says he, 'I am not summoning him to come before this session.'
Says he, 'The Squire has broken the rules of the church, and when he
refuses to appear before the session, he's resisting the authority of
the church, and when a man does that, why, there's nothing,' says he,
'for the church to do but to cut him off from its membership.'

"Well, the session, they looked at each other, and they hemmed and
hawed, and finally Doctor Brigham says, says he, 'Br