Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-12-20
Bro. Craffords Farewell Sermon.
REPORTED BY BILL EASEL.

1.-THE story of Brother Craford,n with political
application, became quite familiar to the ear Of
those who were in the habit of attending meetings.
in this county, during the late campaign. wehave
concluded that it ght be profitable now to give
the origin of the story. 1t is rather rich.
During my sojourn in Mississippi, shortly
after | heard the great sermon, which was
played on harp of thousand strings, |
had occasion to visit friend in the neighbor-
hood of Fort Gibson The next day being
Sabbath, accompanied him to Zion's chapel
A new minister had been called to that neigh
borbood, and this was his sslUtatorr sermon.
He began apoIogetcally, as follows
"lHy BrethcriRg You don't see me to-day
in the.dress | alters wear; come among you
as a stranger, and | am not trcked out in
my store clothes; am not proud man, but
| thought it would be more becoming among
strangers"
And after this he raised hymn in which
the congregation joined. He then began his
sermon
ny Dear Brahering and SiNeyses: First
and foremost, I'm gwyne to tell you about the
affectin' parting had with my congregation
at Bethel Chapel. After had got through
with my farewell sarmon, as | came down
outen the pulpit, the old grey-headed breth-
ering and sisterses who had listened to my
voice for twenty years crowded around me,
and, with sobbing voices and fearful eyes,
said-F Farewell, brother Craflord
As walked down the aisle, the young la
dies, trcked out in their fuery and brass jew
elry, gewgaws, jimcracks, paint and hounces,
looked up with their bright eyes, and pro
nounced with their rosy lips, in the loyeliest
accent Farewell, brother Craflord
The young men, in their tight patent leath-
er boots high collars and lashy waistcoats-
smelling of pomatum and cigar smoke-with
their shanghai coats, and striped zebra pants
they too said Farewell, brother Graf
ford
The little children-lambS in the field
lifted up their tiny hands and small voices,
and with one accord they said-F-a-r-e-well
brother Crafford
The colored brethering of the congregation
now came forward black sheep who had
been admitted to the fold under my ministry
and with big tears rolling down their sable
cnccks, tltl 700 SHUT -dI-'-N'Iii h@NNtNi
! Craiford!
As / got on my horse and bade adieu tc
my congregation forever | turned to take 6
| last look at the old church where | preached
the unsearchable richest of Christ for morn
twenty years-and as | gazed at its dilapida
ted walls and moss-covered roof, it, too die
seem to say Farewell brother Craliordl
AS | rode down through the village, peo
pie who poked their heads outen the win
ders, and the servants who leant on then
brooms all seemed to say-F-a-r-e-well bro
ther Crafordl
As | passed along down the highway
through the forest the wind as it sighed and
whistled through the tree-tops, playing OF
the leaves and branches, the burden of sal
vation, it, too, seemed to say-Fa-r-e-well
brother Craifordl
Crossing little creek that was gurglne
and singing over its pebly bottom, as it re
oiced on its way to the green ocean of eter
nifty, it, too, seemed to say-F-a-r-e-well, bro
thcr Craffordl
AS rode down hot, dusty lane, an old
SOW, that was asleep in fence corner, jump
ed out of suddent, with a loud broo-hoc
broo-hoo; she, too, seemed to say-F-a-r-e
well, brother Craifordl
My horse he got frightened, and jumped
from under me, and as he curled his tail oyel
his back-kicked up his heels and ran Off
he, too, seemed to say-F-a-r-e-well, brother
Craiford