The leader., 1901-01-02

After scattering ourself about in get
ting lunch, we sought more congenial
company from there to New Orleans,
where we we're transferred to the
Texas d Pacific depot, and were soon
speeding our way to Alexandria over
That rough, rooty road. What diff
ference in the management of rail
roads! The T. & p. are very clever
people, and will do anything for you
except pull you in on time. In many
Instances. the passenger trains side
track to let the freight trains pass.
Their explanation is, that the excess
sive amount of heavy freight that they
are handling since the Galveston flood
demands this sort of thing.
On our arrival at Alexandria, we
were taken in charge by Mr.. C. E.
Roberts, the business manager of the
wholesale hardware firm of Roberts
Bros. With this clever gentleman and
his accomplished family we had a
pleasant home. Mr. Roberts has can
Ger trouble, and we confidently believe
we are doing him valuable service on
this line.
Alexandria is an old town of about
5000 inhabitants, lies at the head of
low water navigation on Red river, and
is in touch with the T. & P, Iron
Mountain, Southern Pacific and Wat
kins railroads, and is a great trade
centre in that section. There is moth
ing flashy nor dashy about this city,
but the people all seem to have some
thing to do and they do it with a vim.
We knew that our war comrade, Geo.
Brewer, lived near Pollock, some
twenty odd miles across from Alexan-
dria, and wrote him of our coming, but
did not expect him to meet us, but he
did, just the same. He met us at the
train, and after just few minutes to
pat each other on the shoulder, his
train pulled out, with the agreement
to meet in Pollock Monday morning.
At the appointed time we boarded the
Iron Mountain train and in few min
utes we stepped off in Pollock, and
George soon had us in behind his dash
ing gray, whirling us toward his coun-
try home, some two miles away. Well,
we talked, ate dinner and then talked.
got in behind the gray again and talked
while he drove us all over the neigh
borhood, telling the people that we
would preach at their church pleasant
Hill next day at eleven o'clock.
At the appointed hour there gather
ed a good week day congregation, a
majority of whose families lived in
Mississippi. Those are the KEGS, Max
wells, Roberts, Barrettes, COINS and
others too numerous to mention, many
of whom we served as pastor in Mis-
sissippi in the early days of our min
istry.
At Pleasant Hill we were informed
that an appointment had been an
nounced for us in Pollock for the fol-
lowing night. You see, these exMis-
sissippians love to hear a Mississippi
preacher, even if he can't preach much.
At night we were greeted by a crowded
house, and in our humble way, tried
to tell the people the "Old, Old Story"
Bro. Isaac Watson is pastor of the
Baptist church at Pollock, and our ex-
tensive acquaintance with his people
gave us the exquisite pleasure of intro
ducing him to many of his flock. Whom
should we meet at our appointment in
Pollock but Rev. j. B. Lewis, whom we
heard preach when We we're quite boy.
We thought the Lord had taken him
to heaven long ago. "Grand pa" Lewis
is one of the old land mark preachers,
formerly of Pike county, is so years
old, and with lantern in hand, walked
two miles to meet US in our service in
Pollock.
We spent pleasant night with Mrs.
Fannie Stuart and her husband, Tom.
We baptized Miss Fannie into the fell
Iowship of Union Hall church in the
years agone She is daughter #
stephen ]. Smith, who, during his life
time, was we'll known in Brookhaven.
l.. w. Smith, formerly of Lincoln
county, Is rendering acceptable service
In Pollock In capacity of city marshal.
Lem seems to be doing WELL May the
Lord bless him. A few subscribers for
THE LEADER and we are speeding our
way Alexandriaward and thence home
ward. j. A. 3.