The dreaded inquiry must be answered
satisfactorily _and at once._ That Vance was equal to the emergency
will be seen from the sequel.

Promptly laying down the chicken leg, the chunk of salt-rising
bread, and cucumber pickle with which he had been abundantly supplied
by one of the dear old sisters, and assuming 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 observing man than the candidate have been sufficient
warning that he was on the wrong trail. "But," continued the
speaker, "my father during long years of faithful service in the
Master's cause was an equally devout member of the Methodist
Episcopalian Church."

The sombre aspect of the shepherd, with the no less significant
shake of the head, was unmistakable intimation to our candidate
that danger was in the very air. Rallying himself, however, for
the last charge, with but one remaining 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 came to the conclusion _that
the old Baptist Church was right."_

"Bless God!" exclaimed the old preacher, seizing 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 is my brother Bob," referring to General Robert B. Vance;
"he is, you know, a Methodist, and believes in falling from grace,
_but he never falls,_ while I am a Presbyterian, and don't believe
in falling from grace, _but I am always falling!"_

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
imperturbably good humor, "the fact is, Uncle John, as I had tried
Rum, and tried Rebellion, I just thought I would try Romanism too!"

Many years ago, near the western border of Buncombe County, lived an
old neg