The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-12-22

preachers are not all accurate scholars, 81
the following will illustrate it. and also
that they are not all strictly honest 4
preacher was brought TO the colonels quar-
tiers one day charged with stealing QIe
was really guilty.) The colonel made his
examination, and in the course of it drew
out the following: You are a preacher.
are voul'' ..YiS. sah," said the man.
"Well. do You preach that ii is wrong to
lie and steal and then 90 and lie and stead
yourself - No, s;,h,' lie replied Il
does not lie and steal myself; and |
breaches 10 my people that if they lie and
steal they will 90 to a place where they
will be tormented forever with fire and
grindstoneS ~
One day l met man who had just
come through the lines, who sad 10 me.
''Sah. | wants to hire out TO do nothing"
TO do do nothing l repeated with sur
prise. "Oh no. | forgot" he replied :;
ito do something, | mean
In Sunday school was once caiechiz-
ing some small children about various
things. and among other questions asked
a bright eyed little boy the common one,
''Who made you. sir ," ''Abe Linkun,"
was his loud and hearty response,
One of my friends went 10 hear Il col
ored preacher on a certrin evening, and to
his surprise found the man very fluent
speaker. and very sensible and eloquent
withal. Ye. the matter of the discourse
seemed TO him quite familiar. He thought
no more of it however until the next Sun
day, when he happened 10 be looking over
Il volume of Spurgeon's sermons. where he
found the Very one which the colored
brother had delivered with 50 much grace.
and at least original fervor Thus ii APP
pcrs that the practice of pulpit pilfering'
is not confined exclusively 10 the white
clergv.
One brother. in meeting. de>irous of ex-
pressing his JOY, said, Brethren. ] am
awful happy, feels as if had fiddle
in my heart
Al a military examination where | WAS
present one dav. = negro was testitving
about some party whom he called '-,Ji,n.
Jim who p a>kei the president We'll
S;,h. Jim want exactly his name NV
mamie Is Robert. but thev call me Bob :
my full name i Robert Sledge, but they
always call ne Bob Slel.
/ WAS intensely amused one day ii i
man who had FORGOTTEN his wiie's name
She was one of the hundred for whom
had obtained PASSES. and had taken her
name and knew what il WAS, but was
anxious TO see what h would say: 80 |
said. '.Ii' you don; tell me your wife'>
name how can give YOU a passion her =
We'll. s,,h,,' hcsrepliei. Il dun i"rse,S her
namr ii- now" ..Bui." Slil /. '.yoa
must ieil me" And while he stnoIthink-
ing | asked, .Wllat DO you think ii was ?
Do vou think ii was - Abraham. or
WAS il - Moses ," We'll. mass,
cliaptcn,' he replied, Il dun know exact
"; but gncs> il was Abraham Moses -
| looked al him expecting TO see him iaugh.
but the poor fellow WIS serious about ii.
/ then read over half dozen names until
came TO ''Nirrinia Blossom when he
exclaimed, "Ah masSa chapten. dat's il,
,lat's ii -
Some things in connection with the
marriages and married life of the negroes
are quite amusing Yet We find that the
little disturbances. family lars, and even
separations which happen in eolored fani-
lis. are similar in every respect 10 those
wIic'i occur amcn- white people One
man asked his captains permission 10 he
married No" said the captain. Il
shall not consent for | 10 not think YOU
are proper person TO he married just
now. But if You are determined 10 he
married can't forbid ii. only | don't ad-
wise Won 10 be-" The man went away
and no more WAS heard of If until about
three weeks afterwards. when the man
came to his captains tent. his face very
badly scratched, and said in an almost
crying tone. ''Cap'n. | got married that
/
night against your consent; now see what
dis woman's done TO me- Cap'n. wants
70 get rid of dis WOMAN can't live with
her -
1t Is remarkable that they have such n
sacred regard for the married relations.
considering the shocking morality ther
have been taught in this matter. They
have been taught that one woman WAS 10
more a wife TO them than another, and
that children were to he raised for the
market, ard very far from being regarded
as gifts from heaven 20 bc trained up for
the enjoyment Of parents and the glory of
God. Heretofore they have felt that the
marriage relation was bv no means per
manent: it might be severed by their own
caprice. it must he by the will of the m;ls-
ter, And Il strong proof tina. slavery has
not robbed them of affection for each 9TH
er, nor their respect for risht and the law
of God. is found in the fact that multi
tudcS. since they came under the protec-
ton OF the United States. have sought to
have their union solomnized by legal forms
in order that the dread SEPARATION NAV
not haunt them any longer.
In speaking of their eccentricities their
passion for great names should not be
omitted. The celebrated men of Ameri-
Ca, ani in fact of all history, both sacred
and proi;lne, are remembered among these
children of 4 du-ky race Wetind George
Washingtons by the dozen, ani many Of
them prefiy the title "General." I'm fact