An orderly walked up to the Preacher and handed him a note.
“What is it?”
“Read it!” The men crowded around.
“Read it, Major Dameron, I’m dumb,” said the Preacher.
“A military order from the dirty rascal. Berry, commanding the mountain bummers, forbidding the Rev. John Durham to speak during his imprisonment!”
A roar of laughter followed this announcement.
“That’s cruel! It’ll kill him!” cried deacon Kline as he jabbed the Preacher in the ribs.
In a few minutes, the Preacher was back in his place with five of the best singers from his church by his side. He began to sing the old hymns of Zion and every man in the room joined until the building quivered with melody.
“Now a good old Yankee hymn, that suits this hour, written by an an old Baptist preacher I met in Boston the other day!” cried the Preacher.
“My country ’tis of thee,