o to church. He had
St. James's formula to quote in self-defense, which insists that "Pure
religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world." Often, when pressed too close, he would deliver this
with kindly violence. One of the most touching anecdotes representative
of this was related to me by his daughter, who said:

"Mr. Kent, a poor man of our town, was sick for months previous to his
death, and my father used to go often, sometimes daily, to visit him. He
would spend perhaps a few minutes, perhaps an hour, with him, singing,
praying, and ministering to his spiritual wants. The pastor of the
church living so far away and coming only once a month, this duty
devolved upon some one, and my father did his share, and always felt
more than repaid for the time spent by the gratitude shown by the many
poor people he aided in this way.

"Mr. Kent's favorite song, for instance, was 'On Jordan's Stormy Banks
I Stand.' This he would have my father sing, and his clear voice could
often be heard in the latter's small house, and seemed to impart
strength to the sick man.

"Upon one occasion, I remember, Mr. Kent expressed a desire to hear a
certain song. My father was not very familiar with it but, anxious to
grant his request, came home and asked me if I would get a friend of
mine and go and sing the song for him.

"We entered the sick-room, he leading us by the hand, for we were
children at the time. Mr. Kent's face at once brightened, and father
said to him:

"'Mr. Kent, I told you this morning that I couldn't sing the song you
asked for, but these girls know it, and have come to sing it for you.'

"Then, waving his hand gently toward us, he said:

"'Sing, children.'

"We did so, and when we had finished he knelt and offered a prayer, not
for the poor man's recovery but that he might put his trust in the Lord
and meet death without fear. I have never been more deeply impressed nor
felt more confident in the presence of death, for the man died soon
after, soothed into perfect peace."

On another occasion he was sitting with some friends in front of the
courthouse in his town, talking and sunning himself, when a neighbor
came running up in great excitement, calling:

"Mr. White, Mr. White, come, right quick. Mrs. Sadler wants you."

He explained that the woman in question was dying, and, being afraid she
wou