They were singing when we entered; we were pointed to a good seat.
"There may have been fifty persons present, all well dressed; the women in the fanciful checkered headdresses so much favored by the negro race, the men in clean collars, nankin trousers, and dark coats.

All showed that they were well kept and well fed.
"The audience was increased by new comers frequently, and these, whatever the exercise might be, shook hands with those around them as they seated themselves, and joined immediately in the services.

The singing was by the whole congregation, the minister lining out the hymns as in the early times in New England.
"Several persons carried on the exercises from the pulpit, and in the prayers and sermon the audience took an active part, responding in groans, 'Oh, yes,' or 'Amen,' sometimes performing a kind of chant to accompany the words....

A negro minister said in his prayer, 'O God, we are not for much talking.' I was delighted at the prospect of a short discourse, but I found his 'not much talking' exactly corresponded to 'a good deal' in my use of words.

He talked for a full hour.
"There was something pleasing in the earnestness of the preacher and the sympathetic feeling of the audience, but their peculiar condition was not alluded to, and probably was not felt.
"The discourse was almost ludicrous at times, and at times was pathetic.
I saved up a few specimens: "'O God, you have said that where one or two are gathered together in your name, there will you be; if anything stands between us that you can't come, put it aside.' "'God wants a kingdom upon earth with which he can coin-cide, and that kingdom are your heart.' "'God is near you when you are at the wash-tub or the ironing-table.' "'Brethren, I thought last Sabbath I wouldn't live to this; a man gets such a notion sometimes.' "April 9, Alabama River.