Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1868-10-09

The naughtiest that Blitz 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 heard of
the negro preacher, Father Snowden,
who held forth to his "cullered bred
deren" in Belknap street for SO many
years. 1t was quiet summers after
neon, when the house was pretty
well tilled--there being a revival of
religion going on among the gem.
men ob color'-when Blitz with
some other persons (although he Is
himself as dark as mulatto, and has
curly hair" to boot entered the
house. 1t was pretty warm weather,
and consequently the hall was not n
little offensive to the senses polite I;
but things went on nicely enough
until the minister had got warmed
up in his subject, and was using
words almost to long for a colnmon-
sized dictionary, when Blity thought
1t was about time to do something.
And the Lord said unto Mosesv---
Bow. ow-wow,n came apparent
ly from behind the speaker.
The congregation looked each other
in the face with countenanccs dark
Ell than ever, while Father Suowden,
after staring behind himself, seemed
to come TO the conclusion that the
noise proceeded from the street, and
so he commenced again.
And the Lord said unto Moses
stand from under ~ cried voice
apparently at the top of the house.
The startled congregation rolled up
the big whites of their eyes to the
ceiling In amazement, while the min
lister drew suddenly to one side, ex-
pecting something was coming down.
But, after moments pause, all
seemed quiet, and so Mr.. Snowden
resumed. - ..-
And the Lord said unto Moses
"Ain't you ashamed of yourself?--
take your hands of of me!n said a
voice proceeding apparently from
very neat mulatto girl, who sat i'm
the front pew, and upon whom all
eyes were now turned.
II didn't touch yer.n said the man
next TO her, in amazement. s ........
Some smiled aud said, "Sam John
son ought IT, be ashamed of himself
to act 30 I'm meeting," and the minis
Ter ffowned upon him in a way that
would have thawed snowfall out
right, after which Mr.. Snowden ut
tempted once more to resume his re.
marks.
Aud the Lord said unto Noses
We'll, what did he say ?'' came
from the big lips of au at
tentive listener i'm the side aisle.
The minister was astonlslied. He
looked at the man as though his bold.
ness had electrified him, while some
or the congregation began to think
that, under the circumstances. the
inquiry was u very natural aud ap.
propriate one. As to the minister
himself, he was little vexed now,
and repeated with emphasis:
"And the Lord said unto Moses--n
FIRE! fireH' roared u voice, which
seemed to come from the entrance of
the house, with startling earnestness.
This was to much to bear tamely.
Even the minister rushed to the door,
and the ail'righted women screamed
like men, as they huddled and push.
ed 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, patient
ly awaiting To see the flames burst
through the stated roof.
And there Blitz left them standing,
there eyes rolled heavenward, and
Parson Snowden In u brown study.