One old auntie, however, leaned over the bank and in a trembling voice asked: "Chile, does yo' belong to the chu'ch ?" She drew a sigh of relief and seemed satisfied that he was a human being when he answered, "yes." A lonely run of one hundred and forty miles brought him to Milligan's Bend where he stopped at a planter's house over night.

The next day was Sunday and as he only had a twenty mile run to reach Vicksburg, he did not propose to start until rather late in the day, so that he would land at Vicksburg during the afternoon.

While he was taking it easy, chatting with the planter, and enjoying a fragrant cigar, the old minister of the parish called, and was introduced to him.
"God bless you my son," said the venerable gentleman, pressing Paul's hand, "I must say I have called expressly to see you and ask you to do me a favor." "I would be pleased to do anything in my power for you," replied Boyton.
"I knew you would, God bless you, I knew you would," fervently spoke the old minister, "my congregation is waiting along the bank of the river to see you start away and not a soul of them will enter the church until you go, if it is not until dark to-night.

And I wanted to ask if you would start soon, so that I may begin services ?" The old man spoke with profound sincerity and his face brightened when Boyton told him that preparations would be made for leaving at once.

He called down a benediction and joyfully departed for his little church, the weather beaten side of which could be seen in a grove not far distant.