| 336 "Were they religious people-pious?"
"No; they did not belong to any church; I know they didn't, for there were only two churches there, the Baptist and Methodist,-sometimes the Universalists preached there,-they did not belong to either of those churches."
Mr. Bryant.-"He (Cowdery), was strong against the Masons; he helped to write Morgan's book, they said."
"What do you know, now, about the Smiths, or others; you have lived here about seventy-five years, have you not, Mrs. Bryant?"
"Yes, I have lived here all my life; but I never knew anything about the Smiths myself; you will find it all in Tucker's work. I have read that. Have you been to see Mr. Booth? He lives right up here, on the road running south; he knows all about them, they say."
"Very good; we will call and see him. Thank you for your kindness in allowing us to trouble you."
"Oh, it is no trouble; I wish we knew more to tell you."
We then called upon Mr. David Booth, an intelligent gentleman, hale, hearty, and upwards of seventy years of age-and made known our business.
Mr. Booth promptly stated that he knew nothing of the Smiths, or their character; did not live in their neighborhood, and never saw either of them; did not know anything about them, or their book.
"Did you know the Cowderys?"
"I knew one-the lawyer."
"What kind of a character was he?"
"A low pettifogger."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Why, he was not a regular lawyer, but took small cases and practiced before justices of the peace. We call them pettifoggers here."
"What was his given name?"
"Lyman; he never taught school; guess he was no church member; he was a Mason; that was all there was to him. They called him 'loose Cowdery.'"
"What did they mean by that?"
"Why, he would take small cases; would be on the wrong side, and pettifog before justices, was the reason, I suppose."
"Are you certain his name was Lyman? Wasn't it Oliver?"
"It has been a long time ago. I think maybe his name was Oliver."
"Did he drink?"
"Everybody drank then. I never saw Cowdery drink."
"Mr. Bryant, here in the village, told us that he was a strong anti-Mason, and helped to write Morgan's work."
"Oh, that is all nonsense; they don't know anything about it. Mr. Bryant hasn't been here more than thirty-five years; his wife was raised here-is his second wife. Cowdery was a strong Mason, so they all said; that is all the religion he had."
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