BACKWOODS DEBATING SOCIETY^ 171 



prizes, and moved off towards Conwell's dwelling in a? 

 direct a line as the nature of the country would allow. 

 We kept no look-out for game on our way home, having 

 meat enough, and being almost tired to death. 



We received a hearty welcome from Conwell's family, 

 and we resolved to enjoy a little repose after all our hard 

 work. In spite of the bears and bats that I encountered 

 in my dreams, I awoke quite refreshed, and did full jus- 

 tice to the beautiful breakfast of bear-collops, milk, and 

 maize bread. Perhaps the wild out door life which we 

 had been leading may have lent more charms to the quiet 

 life of this happy home, than under other circumstances 

 I should have been sensible of; but, be that as it may, I 

 shall never forget this amiable family. Old Conwell and 

 I sat the whole day by the fireside, mending our leggings 

 and moccasins. He was certainly the last man in the 

 world to neglect spinning a yarn when he had a good op- 

 portunity, and he told me so many anecdotes, and related 

 80 many adventures, that the day passed away only too 

 soon. 



About an hour before sunset, a neighbor came in to 

 inquire whether we would go with him to the debates. 

 "Debates!" I asked, quite astonished, "what does that 

 mean?" He seemed still more astonished at my ig- 

 norance, and explained that, on every Friday, it was the 

 custom to hold a meeting at the school-house, about two 

 miles off, to debate on any subject which might be pro- 

 posed, and in which the scholars took part. The account 

 excited my curiosity still more, and I decided on no ac- 

 count to miss such an opportunity. Old Conwell had 

 frequented these meetings too often to be induced to 



