Part 28 (1/2)
It so fell out that our candidate for Congress at the ti his way on horseback to meet his appointment
Far out from the county seat, in a wild and sparsely populated locality, at a sudden turn in the road he found hiation in God's first temple It hat is known in ” The hour was noon, and the little flock had just been called from labor to refreshe tree, and liberally supplied with haers, cucumber pickles, and other wholesome edibles When Vance appeared upon the scene, the leader of the little flock at once greeted hiht and take a bite with us” The candidate accepted the invitation, and fastening his horse to a convenient tree, approached the asse candidate for Congress” The thought uppermost in his soul as he shook hands all around and accepted the proffered hospitality was, ”What denomination is this? Methodist? Baptist?
_What?”_ As soon as this inquiry could be satisfactorily answered, he was, of course, ready to join; his ”letter” was ready to be handed in But as he quickly scanned the faces about hiht upon the all-important question Suddenly hisway to the concrete, by the afore, ”Mr Vance, what persuasion are you of?”
The hour had struck The dreaded inquiry must be answered satisfactorily _and at once_ That Vance was equal to the e down the chicken leg, the chunk of salt-rising bread, and cucumber pickle hich he had been abundantly supplied by one of the dear old sisters, and assu an appropriate oratorical pose, with his eyes intent upon his interrogator, he began:
”My sainted grandfather was, during the later years of his long and useful life, a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church”
The gathering brow and shaking head of the local shepherd would even to a less observingthat he was on the wrong trail ”But,” continued the speaker, ” years of faithful service in the Master's cause was an equally devout member of the Methodist Episcopalian Church”
The sonificant shake of the head, was uner was in the very air Rallying hi shot in his locker, the orator earnestly resumed: ”But, when _I_ came to the years of maturity, and was able, after prayer and meditation, to read and understand that blessed book myself, I caht”_
”Bless God!” exclai Vance by the hand
”He is all right, brethren! Oh, you'll get all the votes in these parts, Brother Vance!”
Talking along religious lines at the time of the visit mentioned, he illustrated the difference between profession and practice ”Now, there isto General Robert B Vance; ”he is, you know, a Methodist, and believes in falling frorace, _but he never falls,_ while I arace, _but I a!”_
The first wife of Senator Vance was a Presbyterian Some years after her death, he was married to an excellent lady, a devoted member of the Roman Catholic Church Soon thereafter, he was taken to task by an old Presbyterian neighbor, who expressed great surprise that he should marry a Catholic ”Well,” replied the Senator with iood humor, ”the fact is, Uncle John, as I had tried Ruht I would try Roo, near the western border of Buncoro who had in early life been a member of the family of the father of Senator Vance In a little cabin at the foot of the ro was familiarly called, was, as he had been for two or three decades, ”living on borrowed time”
How old he was no man could tell When in confidential mood, he would sometimes tell of the troubles he and his oldthe Revolutionary War
Mr Vance, in his first race for Congress, having finished his speech at the cross-roads near by, visited the old man, from whom, of course, he received a elcoetting along, the old negro slowly replied:
”Mighty po'ly, s of dis world, but it's all right over yander, over yander”
”What church do you belong to, Uncle Ephraim?” said Vance
”Well, Mause Zeb, I's a Presbyterian”
”Uncle Ephraireat solemnity, ”do you believe in the doctrine of _election?”_
After a pause and with equal solemnity, the old man responded: ”Mause Zeb, I don't pertend to understand fully the ins and outs of dat doctrine, but 'cordin' to my understandin', it's de doctrine of de Bible, and I bleebes it”
”Uncle Ephraim,” said Vance, ”do you think I have been _elected?”_
”Mause Zeb,” said the old man in pathetic tone, ”ef it's jest de same to you, I would a leetle ruther you would wifdraw dat question
I's poorty ole and gittn' a little too near de grabe to tell a lie, but de fac ah onto a hundred years and knowed a heap of de big one, and I neber yet knowed nor hear tell of no man bein' 'lected, _an't a candidate”_
Like many other orators of his party, Senator Vance found the position of champion of the Democratic nominee for President in 1872 one of extreme embarrassment A story he occasionally told, however, relieved the situation greatly He said: ”My fellow-citizens, I am somewhat in the position of an old-tireat difficulty able to read off, after a fashi+on, one favorite hymn at which his book always opened at the opportuneof the services, so the fear of the Lord before their eyes, got hold of the book and pasted 'Old Grimes' over the favorite hymn At the auspicious moment the book opened at the accusto his glasses, slowly began: 'Old Griood old man' Amazed beyond description, the preacher instantly suspended the reading, carefully wiped off his glasses, looked appealingly to the congregation, and again soleood old ation now equally astonished with hi, carefully re down the book, solemnly observed: 'My beloved friends, I have been a-readin'
and a-singin' outen this blessed book for nigh onto forty year, and I never seed this hymn in thar before; but it's _in thar,_ brethren, and we'll sing it through if it smashes up this meetin!'
”Now,” continued Vance, ”my beloved brethren, I have been a-readin'