416 History of Methodism 



dwelling on them, though they wondered how such 

 things could possibly be true. 



" For support, as far as any was to ■ be had, I was 

 dependent mainly on my colored charge, whose class- 

 collections, added to the collection which was made in 

 the congregation weekly, may have produced six or 

 seven dollars a week for all purposes. I had not ex- 

 pected such a deficiency, and was not provided against 

 it; and before I could command means from home, 

 my very last penny was expended. What small things 

 may prove important to us, and incidents of little 

 moment in themselves interest us deeply by their 

 connections. Here was one. It happened that I had 

 carried to market and expended for a fish (because it 

 was the cheapest food) the last penny I possessed. 

 And this was on the morning of the day when I should 

 expect the presiding elder on his first quarterly round; 

 and that presiding elder was Daniel Asbury, who had 

 sustained the same relation to. me during my first two 

 years, and was beloved and honored next to Brother 

 Gassaway. And there was no place for him but the 

 parsonage; or if there was for himself, there was not 

 for his horse. In such circumstances nothing might 

 seem easier than to meet the emergency by borrowing. 

 But should I go to a bank to borrow so little as a dol- 

 lar or two ? And of my flock I feared to ask a loan 

 of so much, lest it should be more than my brother 

 could spare, and for the pain it should give him should 

 he not be able to oblige me in so small a matter and 

 so great a need; and as the least of the evils before 

 me, I concluded to await my friend's coming, and 

 borrow from himself what might be needed during 

 his stay. He came in time for a share of the fish at 

 dinner, but before it had been produced, paid me two 



