for jug-biting is just as much something as whisky-drinking. And then see what a chapter of accidents you will have. You will be compelled, under the logic you have just heard, to go through life biting a piece out of every hedge you come to, drinking out of every mud-puddle you see, nibbling at every tree you pass; and finally, my dear sir, you will have to bite a piece out of every dog's tail you meet on the road."

For many years, in connection with his educational work, Dr. Mell preached at Antioch, and in going and coming he used to travel with a preacher of the Methodist camp, who held forth in the same neighborhood. Now, this traveling companion was a widower and Dr. Mell was an inveterate jester. Driving through the country one Saturday afternoon Dr. Mell suggested that his Methodist brother preach from the text, "This widow troubleth me." On meeting again the next week in Athens, the Methodist divine was asked if he had preached from the text which Dr. Mell had furnished.

"Oh, no," said he, "I took the text, 'How long halt ye between two opinions.""

“Ah,” replied Dr. Mell, smiling, “I did not know there were two of them."

Sometimes Dr. Mell preached to the negroes. He was greatly beloved by the colored contingent to whom his sympathetic and friendly offices were most pleasing. On one occasion, so the story goes, the great chancellor dropped into one of the colored churches near Athens merely to worship, and the old negro preacher who had caught sight of the slender figure of Dr. Mell as he en

tered the door, soon afterwards lifted his stentorian voice in the most fervent prayer, which was largely dedicated to the spiritual comfort of the distinguished worshiper. Said he:

"God bless Mars Pat. Give him de eyes uv de eagle so he kin see sin a-fur off

Give him de claws uv de

eagle so he kin tare sin to pieces.

de holler of dy fist.

Keep him, oh Lawd, in

Strenken his weak arm uv flesh wid

de widder's mite, and an'int him wid de ile uv Patmos."

S

CHAPTER XLV.

The Pierces.

UCH an ovation as greeted the eloquent young Methodist divine who in 1844 addressed the American Bible Society in New York was an achievement the like of which falls to the lot of comparatively few orators. But it was nothing strange or new to the experience of the brilliant young theologian; and, dramatic as the effect was, there sat in the audience at least one man who could testify that the youthful speaker was merely repeating in the great metropolis of the nation an effect which he had seldom failed to produce on any public occasion since he first began to ride the mountain circuits in upper Georgia.

Two distinguished speakers of international reputation-Senator Frelinghuysen and Lord Ketchum—had recently addressed the same immense gathering, but they had failed to reach in any single climax the high level of enthusiasm from which the youthful speaker had commenced only to mount higher and higher. Breathless attention, unbroken except by outbursts of approval, had waited upon his sentences throughout. The whole vast assemblage had bent forward with ears athirst fearful lest some accent might be lost. An archangel could hardly have intensified the profound interest.