n once called on his employer, Samson Loring, to see if he could
hunt his cattle. When asked if he could identify the new brand, "A. B.",
he took a stick and, stooping down before them, drew the outline of
these letters, in the loose sand of the road. On seeing this performance
one remarked to the other, "That boy will make a smart nigger." That
remark was a source of considerable encouragement to him, and awakened
the desire, to take advantage of every opportunity to gain knowledge.

LEARNING TO READ

When, at 16 in 1867, he was accorded his freedom he obtained a primer
and first reader, and undertook to master these by private study. About
four years later, a testament and shorter Catechism were given him. He
now had what was regarded as a good library for a young man and he
applied himself to the reading and study of these books, in the evenings
and other periods of spare time. The testament was frequently taken to
the field when plowing, in order that he might learn to read a verse or
two, while the team was resting, or get a neighbor, passing on the road,
to read it for him. The reading of the testament soon awakened a desire
to be a teacher and preacher, and this greatly increased his interest in
the study of that book.

He learned to sing from his mother, who greatly enjoyed whiling away
spare hours on the Sabbath, singing the songs they used to sing in
slavery times. The only help of a teacher, that he enjoyed was a period
of three months, to enable him to read the Bible aloud correctly. This
instruction was given only on Sabbath afternoons, and for it he had to
cut and split for the teacher 250 oak rails.

THE MAN WHO BUILT THE ARBOR

The story of the incidents, that prepared the way and providentially led
him into the ministry, is as novel and interesting as the one relating
to his method of learning the alphabet.

When he had learned to read portions of the Testament and Catechism
there were no meetings held in his neighborhood on the Sabbath, for the
religious instruction of the colored people. He had a good voice and
loved to sing. He had experienced as much joy and delight in learning to
read the Bible, as many do, when they learn to play a musical
instrument. He longed for an opportunity to read the Bible for others.

This yearning first took the form of a prayer, that God would provide
for them a church or place for meeting. When this prayer had been
offered a few times, at the foot of an oak