The Republican journal., 1870-06-23

unhappy pony draw Humanity to animals
is sadly lacking in the African character, and
his dogs, horses and cattle all show the
marks Of neglect or active cruelty.
Every shade Of black and yellow met that
day at the church door. There was con-
stant hustle Of dismounting, shaking Of
dresses, brushing of coats and Shoes and
loud greetings of friends and acquaintances
One fat negress made herself particularly
busy as selt-constituted mistress of cere-
monies In virtue of having been the first
arrival she did the honors of the church
with exuberant zeal.
Light off, light off, she would cry at each
fresh arrival. ''You're bound for Zion dis
time, shurc. De great vessel, Brudder Pot
ter, is gwne to paddle you right through de
stormy waves to de golden city. Come in
and squeeze up tight in our place to git room !
We is gwine to count souls dis dav, by de
tousand. Oh glory, glory!
by de tousand we will count EN-:
Halleoojah.
Dough de debbil hold de coat tails:
Halleooiah
Satan loose my brudder Eddy,
IIalleOojah.
Satan loose my sister Neelie
Ilaleloojah.
And SO on, through the whole circle of her
friends who were supposed toiack godliness
They seemed to bear it good-naturedly
enough or giggled hysterically. Some few
pouted and murmured among themselves,
but the old woman was evidently Il power in
last Il tail, iine-looking mulatto woman rode
up. The old negrcss waddled out and lifted
up her hands in amazement!
is that you, sister Hennie? Is You turn
ed to grace what has bin a cavortin, and Il
dancin', and scoflin' at us9 Has you COM
ed to de hypocricks, as you call us? Is de
black drop out oh you heart dat you 90 for to
sit down wild de Lords nointed?n
"Iou Just dry up" answered the other
suliously. "Perhaps grace has coined to me
without a lying, and scoldin', and 4 scan
dalzn' for it like YOU Here is, and here
is goin' to stay AKIN no odds Of YOU Is
You master and mistress here ma'am Is
you going to preach to souls? Case if you
il, take my foot in my hand and go. What
you done wild Bills hog you stole? Where's
de money for dem turkey eggs you got from
me last Summer ?"
$50 it, Hennie'' "Go it Aunt Ninv.'
sounded on every side. Aunt Niny, buckl4d
herself up for 4 furious retort, but Il glimpse
of Brudder Lishe Potter dismounino
quoted hcr instantly. She turned from her
antagonist with a Scornfu! sniff. boxed the
ears of an intrusive urchin, and with q loud
git out, you little vagabone-git out oh de
way oh de Lords minister" followed meeklv
in the wake of the great man.
"Brudder Potter" a tall, raw -boned, grizzly
headed negro entered the temporary pulpit,
blew his nose, and then seemed employed in
counting his flock.
'.Whar is Jem Davs?" he asked sharply
Nobody seemed to know where the missing
lamb could be.
"And whar is Selma, and Jacob Mills, and
Brudder Sam Little?'
A voice from the crowd cried out, They 5
comm; | seed em hitchn up old Bali to de
cart as I com'd by"
The sharp tones of Brudder Potter" now
that he had finished business, changed into
something between Il nasal twann and !,
quaver.
1--WE Will sing to de Lord, breddren and
u> togeder dis Sabba-day" Then with II re-
turn to the sharp note You Sam Runkle,
if you rises your voice so screechy a~ YOU did
last night, | begs you to walk out OBJ dis here
congregation.
''Brudder Potter cried female voice
from the crowd, 'My Sans got de quinchy
(quinsy) is how he screeches so.'
''Well," he answered, turning fierce eyes
to the corner whence the voice issued, is de
quinchy q fit thing to be offering up to de
Lord, axes YOU Let him keep de quinchv
to hissef till he can sing clar.'N
50 the hymn began. 1t was THE Good
Old Ship of Zionn and sung with nerve
and passion which shook every plank and
rafter of the loosly built barn. Some of the
voices We're magnificent, volume OF har-
mony pouring out into the soft Spring air,
and rising far above the restless rhythm of
the forest trees.
A prayer followed, with the general wants
of the soul and special wants of the flesh
mixed up in sore confusion. 1t was evident
that 'Brudder Potter had a strong practical
side to his character, and lost no opportunity
of bringing divine authority to back his
views.
'Ef it seems thy will,' he added to his
prayer, "Oh, Lord, let those OBJ us who shuck
off this mortal flesh afore Autumn 90 to de
Holy City from wavin corn fields and iust
rate cane craps. Those who stay behind
mournin' will say, he crapped his best and
worked his earthly fields so well dat de Lord
will say-Well done good and faithful ser
want But de lazy Of dis flock who can't
hoe a row widout sighin' and groanin', On
Lord, open their eyes and let 'em see dat
dere's no loaters in Heaven"
The text of the sermon was the favoritc
one amongst the freedmen, Of the feast where
the guests were gathered from highways
and byways to sit down at the Lords table.
The discourse was not without Il certain
rude eloquence, and u vigor and warmth
which would have its effect, if translated into
certain chilly pulpits we wot of There was
of course much of the ludicrous, as there
must always be when the orator is ignorant
and imaginative. His Interpretation of one
portion or the parable was novel to us.
"Yes," he cried, yves gathered up, vile
and needy as we are into de told Black
men and women from dirty cabins, raggedy
and tattery, Scared wild de lash and full oh
fleas de Lord has sot down at dc highest
table De white men hadn't no weadin
garment and dey was given to de tormen-
tors in de outer darkness Fore we was
freed dat Parable wasn't rightly read Now
we know we is de guests, and our masters
de cast-outs. My breddren, don't be greedy
at de Lords table but hab your quality