Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-02-12
Biife Und the Durh;c :.

The nauhtiest thing Blitz evcrdd was
to disturb negro meeting some years
ago in Bciknap street, Boston. The
story is not generally known, as ii would
perhaps have caused some personal
trouble to him had it been represented to
tn : authorities
All Boston knows or has heard of the
negro preacher, Father Snowden, who
held forth to his cullered brcdderin'
in BelHnap street for many years. 1t was
Il quiet summers afternoon and the
house was pretty well filled-there be-
ing a revival ofreligion going on among
the "gcmmen of color" when Blitz with
some other persons although he is him.
self as dark Us u mulatto, and has curly
hair to boot entered the house. 1t
was pretty warm weather, and consc-
quently the hall was rot little often
sive to the senses polite; but things
went on nicely enough until the minis
ter got warmed up in his subject, and
was using words almost too long for a
common sized dictionary, when Bitz
thought it was about time to Ito some
thing.
"And the Lord said unto Mos as'--
"Bow-wow-wow, "came apparently
from behind the speaker
The congregation looked each other
in the face with countcnances darker
than ever, while Father Snowden, after
staring behind himself seemed to come
to the con clusion that the noise proceed
ed from the street, and 50 he commend.
cd agan.
"And the Lord said unto Moses"
"Stand from under" cried voice APP
parcntly at the top Of the house.
The startled congregation roll I'd up the
/ hi h tncn off hnt fn In inn
in amazement, while the ministerdrew
sudde My to one side, expecting some.
thing was coming down. But after 6
moments pause, all seemed quiet, anC
so Mr.. Snowden resumed,
" And the Lord said unto Moses
"Ain't you ashamed of yourself! talk.
your hands Off of me said q voice pro-
ceeding apparently from neat mulattc
girl, who sat in the front pew, and up
on whom all eyes were now turned
" didn't touch yer! said the man
next to her, in amazement.
Some smiled and said, "Sam John
son ought to be ashamed of himself t.
act so in meeting" and the ministe
frowned upon him in way that would
have thawed a snowfall outright aftel
: which Mr.. Snowden attempted one,
more to resume his remarks.
"And the Lord said unto Moses"
"Well, what did he say?' came sud
denly from the big lips OF an attentiv
listener in the side isle.
: The minister was astOnished. II
looked at the man as though his bold
ness had electrified him, while some O
the co lgregation began to think tina
under the circumstances, the inquir.
was very natural anu appropriate one
AS TO the minister himself, he was a lii
tie veXed now and repeated with EN-
: phasis,
: "And the Lord said unto Moses
"Fire! Fire!' roared voice, whicl
seemed to come from the entrance Of TIL
house with startling earnestness.
&, This was too much to bear tamely
Even the minister rushed to the door
and the affrighted women screame
like mad, as they huddled and pushe
l each other out of the pews and down tn
: aisle. Bonnets suffered some, on tn
occasion, and when they all got fairl
f out, they looked up to the top of tn
= meeting house patiently waiting to Sc
the flames burt out though the slate
roof.
e And Blitz left them standing, thei
g eyes rolled heavenward, and Parse
e Snowden in brO,Cn study.