, 1868-11-06
NUMBER ~
BIltz the Wizard.

The naughtiest thing that BlitE ever did
was TO disturb negro meeting some years
ago in Belknap street, Boston. The story is
not generally known, as it would perhaps
have led to some personal trouble to him, had
it been represented to the authorities.
All Boston has known or has heard Of
negro preacher, Father Showdown, who held
forth to his 'cullered bredderin' in Belknap
street for so many years. 1t was a quiet
summers afternoon, when the house was
pretty well 6lled--there being a revival Of
religion going on among the 'gemmen of
colOr:-when Blitz with somo other persons
(although he is himself as dark as mulaito,
and has curly hair to boot entered the
house. 1t was pretty warm weather, and
consequently the hall was not a little often
siye to the senses polite but things went
on nicely enough until the minister had got
warmed up in his subject, and was using
words almost too long for a common-sized
dictionary, when Blitz thought it was about
time to do something
And the Lord said unto Moses
'Bow>wOw'wow, came apparently from
behind the speaker.
The congregation looked each other in tho
face with countenances darker than ever,
while Father Showdown, after staring be-
hind himself, seemed to come to the conclus.
sion that the noise proceeded from the street
and so commenced again.
And the Lord said unto Noses
Stand from under ? cried voice, appar.
emily at the top Of the house.
The startled congregation rolled up the
big whites of their eyes to the ceiling in
amazement, while the minister drew sudden.
ly to one side expecting something was
coming down. But, after moments pause,
all seemed quiet, and so Mr.. Showdown re-
sumed.
aud the Lord said unto Noses
'Ain't you ashamed of yourself?-tako
your hands off of me J! said a voice proceed
ing apparently from a very neat muatto
girl, who sat in the front pew, and upon
whom all eyes were now turned. =
Il didn't touch yer, said the man next to
her, in amazement.
Some smiled and said, Sam Johnson
ought to be ashamed of himself to act SO in
meeting and the minister frowned upon
him in a way that would have thawed a
snowfall outright, after which Mr. Snow~
down attempted once more resume his re>
marks.
'AndIhe Lord said unto Noses
ztlN-1l f-,hat. Ai1 ~ aas p aania snd dpnlv
from tho big lips OF an attentive listenel ~
the side aisle.
The minister was astounded. He looked
at the mOu as though his boldness had elecr
trifed him, while some of the congregation
began to think that, under the cireumstan-
ces, the inquiry was a very natural and ap>
propriate one. As to the minister himself,
he was little yexed now, and repeated with
emphasis.
Fire fire = roared a vice, which seemed
TO come from the entrance of the house, with
startling earnestuess.
This was too much to bear tamely. Even
the minister rushed to the door, and the af,
frighted women screamed like mad, as they
bundled and pushed each other out of the
pews and down the aisle. Bonnets suffered
some on the occasion, and when-they all got
fairly out, they looked up to the top of the
meeting house, patiently waiting to see the
flames burst through the slated roof
And there Blitz left them standing, their
eyes rolled heayenward, and Parson Snow,
down iu brown study.