Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-16
For the Spirit of the Age.
A Courting Sermon.

Mr.. EDITOR: [ have read with infinite
gusto the inimitable sermon on the text
"He played upon harp of thousand
strings, sperits Of just men made perfect"
but | heard one, in the back woods of Vir-
ginia, not long since, which was fully its
equal, if could only be as successful in
faithfully relating it. l will do the best
can.
The one to which allude was regular
courting sermon; and before l give it,
will premise by giving the "why and
wherefore" the Rev. gentleman took the
text he did and preached such sarmount,'
as he called it: 1t appears there was
plumb, red faced damsel in the neighbor-
hood who rejoced in the name of +" Becky
Josas''--.Bh4----~------ oClcf
store fxins to meeting, and was the belle
for miles round. Becky's father too had
four negroes, nice farm of several hum
dred acres, and Becky herself held in un-
disputed title a nice young flly "just five
year old, come Spring" So Becky was
attractive to the beaux for several reasons
She had sweethearts and lovers plenty,
but of all the number it only concerns US
to speak of two. One was smart young
preacher who had gained the hearts of the
; young and Old women, and the jealousy of
the young men, by the astonishing manner
he "splained the scripter." He had got
on swimmingly with Becky, and thought
for once the course of true love acould
run smooth But unfortunately there
came along ga good old brother in the
Lord" all the way from Kanawa, and the
: young Preacher invited him to "preach for
9 the edifcation of his flock" And of course
d he did "hat was what he come for" with
II another secret design, which it was not his
o duty to tell. But he preached nightly,
e setting the young girls to crying, and the
c old folks to groaning most satisfactorily
After preaching, he was invited by the
J good old Brother Jones to 60 and take
d dinner with Bro. Thompson, the young
n preacher. Of course Father Walton (the
d old preacher) went, for his eye had water
re ed several times during /" sarmount," while
m gazing on the charms of the beautiful
IN Becky.
m n Soon after dinner, our young Preache
u and Becky were broken up from a nice lit
&c tie cosy chat, by the intrusion of Fathc
re Walton. Go where they would he woul
IN soon follow, trying all the time to get clos
nd to Becky. Getting tired and vexed at sue
ke interruptions, Becky complainedto to Man
lst my" who told her, Father Walton was
&C. spruce widower, looking for wife, and b
a aS had told her and the old man that he wa
',e nightly pleased with her, Becky ). an
ID they had both consented that he shoul
ut have her, if Becky and him could agree
ne "match horses"
lie Becky was highly indignant at thus b
ire ing sold of, I" lilly aid all, and determi1
II ed at once that she would not match
Ia, with him. She abused him at rour
I'LL rate, as being cold enough for her gre
nd grandfather ugly and crooked as sin, al
III, mean as " garbrcth )" and she declared
luS never should mention such thing to her
ell The old lady tried to mollify her a littl
ore by telling her /" he was rich"-that s.
oh, had better be an old mans darling thi
ma young mans slave'-'and what nice !
oy tie queen she would be, setting up in Pa
: son Walton's big house entertainin' all t
ley great folks that come up the canal
uiy But it was allin vain. Becky mainta
= ed her ground VoWlng resistance to
u uh- such bargain and corruption" She '
en- en- pledged to Bro Thompson, and him
o'a- intended to have, if he didn't have a 81
u Is to his back"
give On the first opportunity she disclo
iSoh the whole matter to her lover, the 20,
50, preacher, and he determined to g nora
must upon the matter in mectin'. And
n ne brings US to the
Our Courtin' Sarmon.
fe) is My Breederen and Sisteren-my mi
sub been nightly set on to sence last me,
'ison. day, upon that importer tex xwhar it S
And {" Put off the old man and put on the
to or ruther, young man" Now this te1
man, spcretual 'tarpretation and wo