Thus clad he came toward the church, his body thrown slightly back, walking leisurely with the air of quiet dignity possessed by the man sure of his standing, and not under the necessity of asserting it overmuch in his carriage.

The brothers pulled off their hats and the sisters put on their best smiles as the parson approached.  After a cordial handshake all around, the preacher entered the church to begin the services.  After singing a hymn and praying, he took for his text the following “passige of scripter:” 

“It air harder fur a camel to git through de eye of a cambric needle den fur a rich man to enter de kingdom of heben.”

This was one of the parson’s favorite texts, and the members all settled themselves back to have a good “speritual” time.

The preacher began his sermon in a somewhat quiet way, but the members knew that he would “warm up bye and bye.”  He pictured all rich men as trying to get into heaven, but, he asserted, they invariably found themselves with Dives.  He exhorted his hearers to stick to Jesus.  Here he pulled off his collar, and the sisters stirred and looked about them.  A little later on, the preacher getting “warmer,” pulled off his cuffs.  The brethren laughed with a sort of joyous jumping up and down all the while—­one crying “Gib me Jesus,” another “Oh I am gwine home,” and so on.

One sister who had a white lady’s baby in her arms got happy and flung it entirely across the room, it falling into Mrs. Piedmont’s lap, while the frenzied woman who threw the child climbed over benches, rushed into the pulpit, and swung to the preacher’s neck, crying—­“Glory!  Glory!  Glory!” In the meanwhile Belton had dropped down under one of the benches and was watching the proceedings with an eye of terror.

The sermon over and quiet restored, a collection was taken and given to the pastor.  Mrs. Piedmont went forward to put some money on the table and took occasion to step to the pulpit and invite the pastor to dinner.  Knowing that this meant chicken, the pastor unhesitatingly accepted the invitation, and when church was over accompanied Mrs. Piedmont and her family home.

The preacher caught hold of Belton’s hand as they walked along.  This mark of attention, esteemed by Belton as a signal honor, filled his little soul with joy.  As he thought of the manner in which the preacher stirred up the people, the amount of the collection that had been given him, and the biscuits and chicken that now awaited him, Belton decided that he, too, would like to become a preacher.

Just before reaching home, according to a preconcerted plan, Belton and James Henry broke from the group and ran into the house.  When the others appeared a little later on, these two were not to be seen.  However, no question was asked and no search made.  All things were ready and the parson sat down to eat, while the three girls stood about, glancing now and then at the table.  The preacher was very voracious and began his meal as though he “meant business.”