Presbyterian church (which, by the way, was a school-house), and
appropriated our full share of the seats. The 'natives' could not be
satisfied with staring, as they came to the door and filled up the
vacant part of the house. The pastor was late, and we 'occupied the
time' in singing. Those sweet Sabbath School songs never sounded so
sweetly before. Their favorite hymn was, 'Come, ye sinners, poor and
needy,' and they rolled it out with a relish. It was a touching sight,
and pocket-handkerchiefs were used quite freely among the audience.

"At the close of the sermon the people were informed of the object of
the Children's Aid Society. It met with the cordial approbation of all
present, and several promised to take children. I was announced to
preach in the afternoon; but, on returning to the tavern, I found that
my smallest boy had been missing since day-break, and that he was last
seen upon the high bridge over the creek, a little out of the village.
So we spent the afternoon in hunting, instead of going to church. (Not
an uncommon practice here, by the way.)

"We dove in the creek and searched through the woods, but little George
(six years old) was not to be found; and when the boys came home to
supper there was a shade of sadness on their faces, and they spoke in
softer tones of the lost playmate. But the saddest was George's brother,
one year older. They were two orphans--all alone in the world. Peter
stood up at the table, but when he saw his brother's place at his side
vacant, he burst out in uncontrollable sobbing. After supper he seemed
to forget his loss, till he lay down on the floor at night, and there
was the vacant spot again, and his little heart flowed over with grief.
Just so again when he awoke in the morning, and at breakfast and
dinner.

"Monday morning the boys held themselves in readiness to receive
applications from the farmers. They would watch at all directions,
scanning closely every wagon that came in sight, and deciding from the
appearance of the driver and the horses, more often from the latter,
whether they 'would go in for _that_ farmer.'

"There seems to be a general dearth of boys, and still greater of girls,
in all this section, and before night I had applications for fifteen of
my children, the applicants bringing recommendations from their pastor
and the justice of peace.

"There was a rivalry among the boys to see which first could get a home
in the country, and before Saturda