Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-09-28
The Scoffer Rebuked.

~ avn
Regiment, (Wilkinsou Rifes,) was an
old Negro man Familiarity known thro'-
out the camp as Uncle Dan. Uncle
Dan, besides his good qualities as a
body-servant and faithful friend to his
young master, to whom he seemed sin
cerely attached, was a devout christian.
He had been often heard to say, that
when his "young master went off to
iine de wars, his old master and misses
placed their son in his charge, with
strict injunctions to stay with, be a
friend to him through sickness and
health, and if it was his young masters
fate to be killed, to preserve the body
and take it home" "And dis" said
Uncle Dan, 81 will do, the Lord per-
hitting"
AS was the custom, the regimental
chaplains visited the street of Compa-
ny D one evening for the purpose of
holding prayer meeting Uncle Dan
was of present, and the chap
lain could not have found among the
boys a more attentive or devoted hear
er than the old negro. The services
= being ended, Ban was surrounded by
a crowd, and was being eagerly ques-
toned by the boys as to his intended
conduct there being q fight expected.
'Yodng masters said Dan, you
know not what a day may bring forth
tomorrow you 'spects to be in a fight
wild de Yankees, and none Of you'll dal
say ,hab said your prayers. How does
you know but dat you will be killed
am you prepared to meet the Grea
Judge and perhaps be sent to eterna
damnation p
Among the boys was one who wa
ever full of fun, ready for q frolic 0
fight, and withal an excellent youn'
man, but one who, as Dan had said,w wa
totally unprepared to enter eternity
Young - had been attempting t
tease old Dan, aud said
; well, old Methodist, as you are ,
= much concerned about our after fat
: suppose you pray for us. Ant if yo
. do, l may certainly expect you to ste
: my,last chicken tonight .
: Dan said he would, and announce
Let us pray
The writer, who was a witness
8 the whole of the scene, had heard sou
: of the most celebrated divines in tt
4 South, but never had he listened to
= prayer offered to the Most High wi
), such fervency, with so much emph'
sis, as was made by the old negro u
: der the starry canopy Of that Octot
! night on Virginia soil. The old nj
. prayed as only those thoroughly limb
q ed with Christian zeal can pray. A
= ter his prisons for bis young mast
a and his natural protectors at hon
!. with those present, had been offer.
he prayed for our thoughtless you
friend that God might, change a
give him a better heart, and cul
"a vate in him the true light of Chris
anity, so that when he was called FRI
10 this earth, be it 10 battle or among
friends at home, he would De fou
ready.
~ A death like stiffness pervaded q
ID ring the prayer, and when the old I
NV gro rose from his knees, young -
=. advanced, with tears in his eyes, (:
grasped old Dan by the hand, sayii
he My good old mother taught me, vi
h. a child, to pray to God ; since grow
IN Eup, she has a~dmonished me, and
~endeavored to instill into my mind
necessity of religion, and I have pa.
her counsels by. Boys, I Am natur
wicked, needless and thoughtless.
cat Jest OF religion again, I never shall
Uncle Dan, you have learned me a
II. son, and shown me what I am, AM
n. your prayer for me to night, I am
,;cI after a changed man.
haJ The shrill tattoo that instant ser
n ted US, but we were all visibly afs
;div by the scene, and turned away to
in soldiers duty with old Dams heal
prayer feeling its way down into
H.. hearts.
The scoffer was rebuked, and I
again was he heard to lightly spe
his Maker, or of religion, by tho
Won camp, or by an old member of the
Matches Csuri