“But it will not be necessary to walk much,” said Miss Annie.  “We can take the spring-wagon, and you can go with us, aunt.”

The old lady permitted herself a little grin.  “When I go to church,” she said, “I go to a white folks’ church, and try to see what I can of white folks’ Christianity, though I must say that Christianity of the other color is often just as good, as far as works go.  But it is natural that a stranger should want to see what kind of services the colored people have, so you two might as well get into the spring-wagon and go along.”

“But shall we not deprive you of the vehicle?” said Lawrence.

“I never go to church in the spring-wagon,” said the old lady, “so long as I am able to walk.  And, besides, this is not our Sunday for preaching.”

It seemed to Lawrence that an elderly person who went about in a purple calico sun-bonnet, and with an umbrella of the same material, might go to church in a wheelbarrow, so far as appearances were concerned, but he had long ceased to wonder at Mrs Keswick’s idiosyncrasies.  “I remember very well,” said Miss Annie, after the old lady had left the table, which she always did as soon as she had finished a meal, “when Aunt Keswick used to go to church in a big family carriage, which is now sleeping itself to pieces out there in the barn.  But then she had a pair of big gray horses, one of them named Doctor and the other Colonel.  But now she has only one horse, and I am going to tell Uncle Isham to harness that one up before he goes to church himself.  You know he is to take Aunt Patsy in the ox-cart, so he will have to go early.”

They went to the negro church in the spring-wagon, Lawrence driving the jogging sorrel, and Miss Annie on the seat beside him.  When they reached the old frame edifice in the woods beyond Howlett’s, they found gathered there quite a large assemblage, for this was one of those very attractive occasions called a “big preaching.”  Horses and mules, and wagons of various kinds, many of the latter containing baskets of refreshments, were standing about under the trees; and Mrs Keswick’s cart and oxen, tethered to a little pine tree, gave proof that Aunt Patsy had arrived.  The inside of the church was nearly full, and outside, around the door, stood a large number of men and boys.  The white visitors were looked upon with some surprise, but way was made for them to approach the door, and as soon as they entered the building two of the officers of the church came forward to show them to one of the uppermost seats; but this honor Miss Annie strenuously declined.  She preferred a seat near the open door, and therefore she and Mr Croft were given a bench in that vicinity, of which they had sole possession.