Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-08-13
Eearo Preashinr in Flnrida

A4r McLAEAc AcdEeN anu CIaAEGAEnLs OF n
people, which are % Intimately allied 70 its
character, must be thoroughly understood be-
fore q correct judgment can be formed as to
It's actual condition and existence. The ap-
p~iicstion Of this plain truth is iuperstiveiv
necessary In considering the true state, The
real life Of the African slave as affected bF his
peculiar relations. The negro. engaged in the
lsbors Of the field, following his mule through
the long cotton rows, chopping oat, picking.
ginning, or comprising into bales, presents 8
vastly different spectacle when the Saturday
holiday comes around, and the sabbath day
brings rep0ss and freedom. II they have their
day Of toll las who has not?) they have also
theiT hours Of miTth aHd hilarity. The Guilt.
ing party or the husking bee is a perfect hey
day Of hoistero0s merriment and laughter.
which they enjoy with a zest and srdor entire
II unspproaehsble.
Where can be found a gsysr, OK more buoy
ant, OF more Joyous company than that which
participates in the pleasures Of q colored ball:
the q lsdies1 Haunting IN 6nery and bedizzen-
ed with ribbons and wresths; the gemmsn /"
boWing and mincing; all moving with an in
describable grace through the mazes Of a re-
dowa to the heart-rending music q plantation
hanlos. There is nothing like a negro. Truly
It nav be said Quid fgHgit Tile fifii Tat.
There, too, on every Weil-Ordered plantation
is chspe. where religious services are per
formed monthly, If not oftener. One accus-
toned to the sight might conceive that there
wolld be many things connected with such a
worship Imaginable in the extreme, perhaps IL
rsvsrs1t. Let ne relate the result Of nv own
observation. While spending a Sabbath at a
plantation In the vicinity Of this city, I ac-
cspted an invitation 10 attend The service in the
negro chapel. Our way from the family man
sion Led through an immense cotton field into a
beautiful oak WOOD, where, bid BY branches
aud trailing vines, the little log building stood.
- 49, - -ma-kaI - 81 ---E - a.
morning hymn rang clear and loud through the
fOrsst-the widest melody that I had ever
heard.
Presently We stood beneath the grand old
oaks which bent their huge limbs pr0tectinEly
above its humble roof. The nusichad ceased,
and Tie solemn voice OF prayer was heard
frou within. Il was asked 3 hat the time
miElt come when tke master and The mistress,
the MAJ servant, and the maid servant, would
sft down IN the kingdom Of Heaven, with one
God. one Christ, one Faith, the differences and
dis tinctions Of earth left behind, and all re-
lsicinE in the wonderful redemption which
Christ had wrought out for them"
The simple esrnsstness Of the PRAYER, and
the h0meiy but hearty responses were extreme
" sHecting. We took our seats within the
house. The preacher was q large, powerful
negro, dressed with extreme n~satnsss, and had.
altogether, an appearance Cf u~uususl intsili-
gence and ability. He stood before a little
stand, with large Bible spread open upon il.
UDon one side Of the house were seated the
q genmeus," in their best suits. Upon The
other side, opposite to the preacher, we're the
"ladies,0 IN silks and ribbons, with rings upon
their fingers and rings in their ears, and with
skirts wonderfully expansive, the sight Of
which would kill a city belle with envy. -
The hymn was read with alm9st perfect cor
rectness, and with a better intonation than one
often hears from the pulpit L wac sang 8i.h
tremendous energy. The preacher then read d
portion Of Scriptures with the utmost ease.
and announced bis text. The sermon Ess GER
tainly one Of the best I ever listened to. Il
was somewhat difused, yet whatever was said
was urged with great force and prOpriety.
The Illustrations were frequent, and the very
best imaginable OF course words were often
Inisappiisd, and the pronunciation was lot uni
formly Of the approved standard yet the deep
earnsEtness OF tie manner, the ysrfect sim
piiclty and chsste beauty Of The language more
than redeemed all rhetorical fsuits. J1dged
BY David Hume's principle that elcq Isnce is to
Be determined b. the effect produced, Old
Isase's sermon was decidedly Fuccessful. His
hearers paid fixed and bresthless attention
throughout, breaking forth occasionally into
expressions Of assent, or giving vent 10 their
feelings In a Weli-TemembeTed line Of some
cherished hymn, as he dWslt with rapture and
with streaming eyes on the Eauttsrabls glories
OF Heaven.
Il was the first Of a series Of sermons that
Isaac proposed to preach to then in accordance
with their invitation. 10 znnosncing bis &C
cepsance Of the Invitation be remarked "Af-
ter der most sereous debilitation, ] have 'clud-
ed 70 preach der word unto yer. ! don't Ak
Won nary thing for my preaching, but as Il cost
ne something to com 50 far, aud as ] has no
horse nor mule 70 fetch ne, and as | an conse-
quen-hlF obligated to hire one Of a white in
[=-a1--H --n-E Ina - FhaA -n-A nhrAr-aehn-
house Just der other side Of ny mill, down By
der hill der, which cost me one dollar, / have
thought Il best 70 ssk you, ny beloved congre-
CATION, % dstribute one picayUne a piece, and
paw for nv mule. I don't ask DsTy thing for
ny preaching, only for ny mule. Sir. Steward
you nav pass your hat, or that Of any other
brother.S Josh, the steward, prepared 10 pass
the bet. and The colored gemmsB . made sun
dry Desperate attempts 70 pull out their wat
lets, some looking excessively surprised at
finding 10 picayUne within
One row OF negroes ~ distributed each the
amount requested. When Josh pushed bis hat
ever towards our party, we threw in nore than
enough to pay for the mule, wishing to remu-
nersts Isaac somewhat for TIE preaching. You
can Judge Of our surprise, when the hat was
passed 70 the next row., to see a great black
fellow deliberately turn the ~conten.s OF his hat
into his lap, coolly count them over, and, hsF
Ing satisfied himself that there was a Sufficient
smou1t to pay for q DE- mule, thrust his own
biz back into his pocket, and with 4 foolish
grin towards us, passed the bat to the next.
Il is needless 70 say that 10 more picayunes
were s. detrf5utedD after that coEfre c0pp
The worst remains 10 Be tod. Aftcr the ben
edlction, the lucklsss contributors rushed has
fily forward, and withdrew their deposits, and
even commanded Josh 10 keep in reserve al
the surplus remaining after paving for der
mgle.D g. B. s.