Long before man came to live on Marley Knott's Mountain, it was foretold by a mountain circuit rider who came and held a tent revival around the foothills of that mountain that God would use that mountain to bring forth a multitude of souls to the Lord. People had come far and wide to the revival, and witnessed the power of God to heal and deliver their friends. Everyone but a few scoffers received salvation. How can this prophecy be true? No one lived up on that big mountain. The land was so rugged, not many animals could roam up there, much less people. But God had a plan. Not long afterward, a man named Marley Knott brought in his big draft horses and bucksaws and hewed out a road up through that mountain. He built his family a small cabin on the north side and they lived there until their deaths, but no revival. The prophecy had been talked about for years. People speculated much about it. Even called the old circuit rider a false prophet. But God knew better. Slowly, ever so slowly, people began to build small shacks up in the mountain to escape progress. They were set in their ways and would not conform to change. The road that Marley Knott hewed out provided a way to get up there, and that is just what they did. They loaded wagons, often having to set some of their possessions off and come back later for them. But they nevertheless trudged forward, and soon families dotted the mountain. Some couldn't cut the harsh winters and moved back down leaving but a remnant. Those who stayed battled the elements and often lacked food put down roots so far down in that mountain, they actually became part of the mountain, no less the rocky ground.

--Pam Nester Cloud

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