On a certain fast-day (appointed by the Confederate authorities) he was to preach in a rural church within the Confederate lines.

The Northern army was lying so close to them that a battle was imminent at any moment.

Dr.Palmer had begun his "long prayer," when a Federal shell landed immediately under the windows of the church and exploded with a terrific crash! The doctor was not to be shelled out of his duty, and he went steadily on to the end of his prayer.

When he opened his eyes the house was deserted! His congregation had slipped quietly out, and left him "alone in his glory." Soon after my visit to New Orleans, my old friend was sorely bereaved by the death of his wife.

I wrote him a letter of condolence, and his reply was, for sweetness and sublimity, worthy of Samuel Rutherford or Richard Baxter.