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. Paul immediately donned his dress and took to the water,
paddling a few miles down and hauling up on a muddy bank to wait until
it was time to start for Vicksburg. Though it was not so pleasant there
as it was on the cool porch of the planter's, and he had suffered much
from the heat, thoughts of the satisfied old minister did much to
lighten the discomforts of his surroundings.
He arrived in sight of Vicksburg at four o'clock in the afternoon and
was met by the steamer Silverthorn towing a big barge, loaded with
excursionists. It appeared as though the entire population of the town
and surrounding country had assembled on the river bank. So dense was
the crowd, that it caused a philosophical negro to remark:
"Ef dose yere people keep on a crowdin' on dis en' ob town, de whole
place are gwine fur to tip ober in de ribber, suah 'nough."
With the aid of the city marshal and a few policemen, Boyton got through
the crowd to a carriage in which the Mayor was awaiting him.
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