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

FLOWERS AN)D FRUITS.
my sense of duty to the land of my adoption required that
I should go alone to the town of Washington, one hundred
miles south on the Brazos River, in search of powder and
lead, at my own charges. At this point the devil sorely
tried me. The question was asked, " Now, sir, do you believe the language of the Bible, from which you preached so
earnestly to the people in the old town of Nacogdoches,
just one year ago?" After a little season of meditation
and prayer the language of my soul was sounded out audibly from my lips: " Yes, I believe, yet, that the wilderness
of Texas will blossom as the rose, and the solitary places
be made glad by the presence of the Lord;" and I started.
On my way down, travelling at one time thirty miles
without seeing a human being, or even the habitation of
man, my mind was active, and resolution firm, to preach
whenever and wherever opportunities were offered. At
Nashville I found six or eight families, and as I must
tarry there a night I called the families together and
preached.
Arrived in the little town of Washington about sunset;
met a man on a crutch; inquired for the public house, and
after he pointed -it out he inquired if I were not a Baptist
preacher. I replied that I bore the name of one in Tennessee, and would not deny it in Texas. He invited me
to preach for them that night, to which I consented. This
man pr6ved afterward to be brother N. T. Byars, who
preached for so many Scars as a pioneer Texas missionary.
Appointment was made and filled. Everybody, we were
told, turned out. The room obtained was filled, and many
stood outside. This was the first sermon ever preached in
the town. Thlere were then three or four Baptists there,
and of course they were greatly pleased to hear the sound
56