The race question is a serious one.  The kindly feeling between black and white is giving place to bitterness with the rising generations.  One reason of this seems to be a jealousy of the whites for fear the negroes will presume to be socially equal with them.  The negro race should avoid this, should not desire it, it would be of no real value to them.  They are a distinct race with characteristics which they need not wish to exchange.  When a negro tries to imitate white folks, he is a mongrel.  I will say to my colored brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus; Never depart from your race lines and bearings, keep true to your nature, your simplicity, and happy disposition—­and above all come back to the ‘Oldtime’ religion, you will never strand on that rock.

CHAPTER III.

MOVED TO WOODFORD COUNTY, KENTUCKY.—­ALSO MOVED TO MISSOURI.—­SAVED FROM BEING A THIEF.—­MY CONVERSION—­GOING SOUTH AT OPENING OF THE CIVIL WAR.—­AN INCIDENT OF MY GIRLHOOD SCHOOL DAYS.—­WHY I HAD TO BELIEVE IN REVELATION.—­SPIRITUALISM OR WITCHCRAFT.

In 1854, we moved to Woodford County, Kentucky, and bought a farm from Mr. Hibler, on the pike, between Midway and Versailles.  Mr. Warren Viley was our nearest neighbor.  My father was one of the trustees in building the Orphans’ Home at Midway.  Here in Midway I attended Sunday school and I had a very faithful teacher who taught me the Word of God.  I have forgotten her name but I can see her sweet face now, as she planted seed in my heart that are still bringing forth fruit.

A minister came to our house one day and gave me a book to read, which made a very deep impression on me.  As well as I can remember it was called:  “The Children of the Heavenly King.”  This story represented three brothers, one, the youngest, was named Ezra, the other Ulrich, the third I forget.  These three were intrusted with watching certain passes in the mountains during the warfare between a great, good king, and a bad one, and in proportion as these boys were faithful, the good king was victorious in battle, but when they neglected their duty, he would suffer loss.  The character of little Ezra was a sweet, unselfish one.  He tried so hard to help, and have his brothers do right.  He would run from his post to wake them up, and tried to make up for their neglect; would do without rest and food for himself, and plead with them to do their duty.  At last, when the king came, little Ezra was richly rewarded; Ulrich barely passed, and the unfaithful one was taken out amidst weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, and the door was shut.  The minister did not know what good he had done.

     “Only a thought, but the work it wrought,
     Could never by tongue or pen be taught;
     For it ran thro’ a life, like a thread of gold,
     And the life bore fruit, an hundred fold. 
     Only a word, but it was spoken in love,
     With a whispered prayer to the Lord above;
     And the angels in heaven rejoiced once more
     For a new-born soul entered in, at the door.”