The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-24

Aunt Rose, kneading him down as if he had been
batch OF biscuits, and going on at the same
time with her hymn.
"Fs on the Rock of Agesl" screamed a
neighbor.
"Iwant oget ona rock edyewaysl" screamed
Tomtit, struggling desperately with Aunt Roses
great fat hands.
Mind yourself-Ill crack you overi" said
Aunt Rose. And Tomtt, still continuing re-
bellious, tcas cracked over, accordingly, with
such force as to send him head foremost on the
straw at the bottom of the tent-an indignity
which he resented with loud howls of impotent
wrath, which, however, made no impression in
the general whirlwind of screaming, shouting,
and praying.
| Nina and Uncle John stood at the tent door,
laughing heartily. Clayton looked on, with his
usual thoughtful gravity of aspect. Anne turned
her head away, with an air of disgust.
"Why don't you laugh?" said Nina, look.
ing round at her.
alt doesn't make me feel like it," said Anne.
1t makes me feel melancholy"
"Why SOP"
| because religion is a sacred thing with me,
and don't like to see it travestied," said she.
| 60" said Nina, ~ don't respect religion
any the less for a good laugh at its oddities. 7
believe [ was born without any bump of revsr-
ence, and so don't feel the incongruity of the
thing as you do. The distance between laugh.
ing and praying isn't so very wide in my mind
IS it is in some peoples"
"We must have charity" said Clayton, "for
every religious manifestation. Barbarous and
half:civilized people always find the necessity
for outward and bodily demonstration in wor-
ship; | suppose, because the nervous excite
ment wakes up and animates their spiritual
natures, and gets them into a receptive state,
| just as you have to shake up sleeping persons,
and scream in their ears, to put them in con-
dition to understand you. l have known real
conversions to take place under just these ex-
| elements"
"But," said Anne, 81 think we might teach
them to be decent. These things ought not to
be allowed"
81 believe" said Clayton, intolerance is a
rooted vice in our nature. The world is as full
of different minds and bodies as the woods are
of leaves, and each one has its own habit of
growth. And yet our first impulse is to forbid
everything that would not be proper for us,
No, let the African scream, dance, and shout,
and fall in frances. 1t suits his tropical line
age and blood. as much as our thoughtful in
ward ways do u.s."
II wonder who that u.s. said Nina, as gen.
eral movement on the ground proclaimed the
arrival of some one who appeared to be excl
ting general interest. The stranger was an un-
usually tall, portly man, apparently somewhat
past the middle of life, whose erect carriage,
full figure, and red cheeks, and certain dash
ing frankness of manner, might have indicated
him as belonging rather to the military than
the clerical profession. He carried rifle on
| his shoulder, which he set down carefully against
the corner of the preachers stand, and went
around shaking hands among the company
with free and jovial air, that might almost be
described by the term rOllicking.
"Why," said uncle John, CHATS father Bon
ME! How are you, my fine felow2"
"What goa, Mr.. Gordon? How do you
doP" said father Bonnie, grasping his hand in
his, and shaking it heartily. "Why, they tell
me-" he said, looking at him with jovial
smile, "that you have fallen from grace %
dog l dare say
40, 1 tell you what" said father Bonnie,
but it takes strong hook and long line to
pull in You rich sinners! Your money bags and
your niggers hang round you like millstones |!
You are too tough for the Gospel! All !" said
he, shaking his fist at him, playfully, but Pm
going to come down upon you, to day, with the
law, / can tell you You want the thunders of
Sinai! You must have dose of the lawl ="
"Well," said Uncle John, thunder away /
suppose we need it, all of Us. But, now, father
Bonnie, you ministers are always preaching to
US poor dogs On the evils of riches; but, some
how, don't see any of you that are much afraid
of owning horses, or niggers, or any other good
thing that you can get your hands on. Now, /
hear that you've got a pretty snug little place,
and likely drove to work it. You'll have to
look out for your own SOUL father Bonne!"
| A general laugh echoed this retort; for father
Bonnie had the reputation of being shrewder
hand at q bargain, and of having more expert
ness in swapping horse or trading negro,
than any other man for six counties round.
"He's into you, now, old mani" said several
of the bystanders, laughingly.
90, as to that" said father Bonnie, laugh
ing, also, ~ go in with Paul-they that preach
the Cos pei must live of the Gospel. Now, Paul
was man that stood up for his rights to live
as other folks do. Isn't it right, says he,
that those that plant vineyard should first
eat of the fruit? Haven't we power to lead
about sister, a wife? p says he. And if Paul
had lived IL our time, he would have said a
drove of niggers, tool No danger about us
ministers being hurt by riches while you lay
men are so slow about supporting the Gospel"
| 1t the elbow of father Bonnie stood brother
minister, who vas la many respects his con-
trast. He was tall, thin, and stopping, with
earnest black eyes, and serene sweetness of
expression. A thread bare suit Of rusty black,
evidently carefully worn, showed the poverty of
his worldly estate. He carried in his hand
q small portliantesS, probably containing a
change of linen, his Bible, and a Jew sermons.
Father Dickson was man extensively known
through all that region. He was one of those
men among the ministers of America who keep
alive our faith in Christianity, and renew on
earth the portrait of the old apostle " In jour-
neyings often, in wsaf,ness and painfulness, in
watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in Hastings
often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those
things that are without, that which cometh
upon them daily, the care of all the churches.
| Who is weak. and they are not weak? Who is
|; offended, end they burn not?"
| Every one in the State knew and respected
father Dickson and, like the generality Of the
world, people were very we'll pleased, and
thought it extremely proper and meritorious
| for him to bear WEAKNESS and painfulness,
hunger and cold, in their spiritual service,
leaving to them the right of attending or not
attending to him, according to their own con.
veniencs. Father Dickson was one of those
who had never yielded to the common customs
and habits of the country in regard to the hold.
ing of slaves. few, who had been left him
by relation, he had at great trouble and ex-
there comfortably. The world need not trouble
itself With seeking to know OF reward such
men; for tae wofid csnnot know and has, no
power to reward them. Their citizenship Is In
Heaven, and all that can be given them in this
life is like morsel which peasant gives in
his cottage to him who tomorrow will reign
over kingdom.
He had stood listening to the conversation
thus far with the grave, yet indulgent, AZ III.
which he generally listened to the sallies of his
ministerial brothers. Rather bonnie, though
4 nnf AZ n,nnh rasnecked Or c0nfidhd In an father