Flowers and fruits from the wilderness: or, Thirty-six years in Texas and two winters in Honduras,/ by Z.N. Morrell, an old Texan.

THE EASTERN CONVENTION.'
Hie came from Mississippi to Texas in the spring of 1853,
and, passing in a boat up the Trinity River, landed on the
soil of Anderson County. In a strange land and out of
money, he had a fine opportunity to manifest that indepen dence of thought and action that has been characteristic of
the man in all his subsequent history in Texas. He entered
a store in the town of Palestine, and spent a few weeks in
keeping books. As he came to Texas to preach, and not to
keep books, the position was by no means a pleasant one;
and receiving a pressing invitation from brother John Smith
to pay him a visit five miles in the country, with a prospect
of finding employment as a preacher, he left the store and
the town to preach among the destitute. He left the town
as he entered it, afoot, and walked to the house of brother
Smith. Here he was furnished with a horse, and from this
brother received a pledge, that, if he would devote his time
and energies on that destitute field, he should not only be
provided with a horse, but should in addition to this have
food and raiment.
The surrounding country was then one vast field of destitution. No sooner did this missionary enter that field than
evidences were given of tlhe divine approval of the man and
his work. One revival after another, at different points in
the county, followed in quick succession. Before the year
closed more churches were organized than he could supply.
Among the first work he did was the baptism of two of
brother Smith's children, and as he returned with the son of
sixteen summers from the water, he said to the father, "I
feel that I have baptized a preacher." That son was Elder
MI. V. Smith, whose name is familiar to the Baptists of
Texas. With the exception of a short interval, during
which time he served as pastor in Freestone and Limestone
.e, e.t
331