miles north and east of where we settled that were meeting the first day of the week to worship. We took a day to visit them. Learning that a Bro. Thompson was their speaker we went first to his home, but as he was busy in his young crop we did not tarry long, but having learned that Bro. John Parker was their recognized bishop we got directions to his house and reached there near noon. We asked if we could get our horse fed and get dinner. We were answered in the affirmative. Our horse being cared for we were soon seated in the house. We had talked freely of things in general, but saw that the old brother eyed us all the while with suspicion. Just before dinner was announced we told him who we were. He said he suspected something of that kind from first sight of us. He then called for the old sister, and as she entered the room he said, "Wife, the Lord has answered our prayers, this is Bro. Hancock, a preacher from Missouri, that has come to live among us."
The country had not recovered from the devastation wrought by the war. All were poor. Religiously the country was benighted, the preachers, as a rule, were of the more ignorant class. In a few days business called us to the town of Berryville, and as I wanted to get my horse shod I rode to a blacksmith shop. I concluded that while waiting for my work I would see if I could find any disciples of Christ there.
I asked the smith, who was an elderly man, if there were any members of the Church of Christ in Berryville? He gave no answer, only a sarcastic laugh; I repeated my question. He replied, "I claim to be a member of the church described in a Baptist." I replied, "I don't read anything about that kind of a church in the New Testament. I want to find members of the church I read about in that book. People that claim to be Christians, without any handle to their name." He said, "I suppose there are two in this town that are the kind you are enquiring for, one old man, and one old woman." He then went to the door of his shop and showed me where they lived.
I went to the old man's residence, but he was not at home. I then went to where the old lady lived. She was sitting on the porch fronting the street, and as I walked along the yard fence to the gate I thought she looked at me rather earnestly, and with marked surprise, and when I halted at the yard gate she said, "Come in." As I stepped on to the porch I said, "You know nothing about me, but I hope I do about you." She said, "Yes I do, Bettie Hancock was your mother. She and I were raised together, and your father held me in his lap many times when I was a little girl, for your father was getting up in years when he married. I recognized your mother's features as soon as I got my eyes on you as you approached the gate." I then told her of the conversation with the blacksmith, and that I had come to that country to teach the people the way of salvation. On receiving this information she fairly shouted, and when her excitement had subsided she told me of the destitute and benighted condition of that country, and asked me to set a time when I could preach in Berryville.
Our presence in that country had now created some excitement in
