Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-02-27
CHANGING PLACES.
BY MRS. J. CHAPLIN,

An aged negro, most OF whose life had
been spent in bondage, but who was now
rejoicing In liberty, appeared one day at the
study of an eminent minister introduced
himself as "Brother Harklss Jones, from
Sou Caliny."
The good minister shivered at the thought
- s.oiier clerical beggar for church money
to be spent, rs so much OF 1t usually is, in
the travelling expenses of the applicant
"Well, Brother Harkliss." he asked with
patient kindness, "what can do for youfn
"You can listen to me, bruder," replied
Harklss, with princely air.
"Ill do that If you'll be short but my
time is very precious, brother," answered
the pastor.
$50 is mine, lruder" exclaimed the
visitor with dignity which almost startled
the minister. "YOu and rs both sarvants
of de King and his business always 'quires
hasle.'
"Yes; and your church requires a little
help ! suppose after the war. Well, I'm
glad they sent sensible man for it,"
''No, sir. My church is de church uni.
versal, and dat has got de mighty one of
Jacob for her heln and needn't go beggin'
Of nobody | come to giUe and not TO az,
sir.'
"Then you've got some monev for my
church, ] suppose" said the minister smil-
ing.
''No sir; what I've got 10 give will come
closer home to you than TO your church"
"Well, what have you to give me then2"
"a little advice and heaD OF comfort;
come up from my old home cause my
chin and gran'chil'n was bound for to
come. / was as near de Lord on de banks of
the Great Pedee, as | ever 'specls TO be up
here; and dere was as many souls for 10
save down thele, as d0re is up here. But
young folks you know is songunery in deir
views, and mighty 'slrOb'lous Ia oariyin' on
'em out. DeY got a nolion-poOr things
that every foot o. land up North was
sanctified by Mr.. Liucoln's sperit; and that
the arlh yielded like ii did alore the cuss
lell on it-without labor or sweat Dey
thought de North was little heaven whar
no man had 10 say 10 bis neighbor Love ye
de Lord kase dey all loved Him Already.
told 'em there was work and poverty and
sin up here, like dere was down home; for
I've seen Northern folks plenty In my young
days, and mighty hard ones dey was tool
Bur my chin dey 'phOOd' Ht me and said
'mong demse's, Daddy, he's hind dc
times. II we goes he'll soon ioler.' Now
dey was tight dtre, for nex' 10 de Lord,
loves my chin and gran'chil'n. When l
see dey was comm, packed up my bundle
and come too. 1t 'peared like saw a great
shinin' finger in dc dark cloud one night
poinlin' due North. Den says |, 'dars my
pillar o. fire, and whore I'm sent Ill 60,
and de Lord will have my work all laid
out ready for me- So here be, sir"
sand you want me to set you TO work."
'Not a bit Of it, sir; on de con'try l wants
to set you 10 work. OATS what I'm coined
here for dis morning"
The cool composure OF the sable guest
fairly asionished The gentleman used 10 so
dpf QeKnU
in tone Of surprise, "What do you mean,
brother?"
"Well, I've been 10 hear you preach two
Sundays, aud I've made up my mind that
you're of de track You talks like it was a
chance anyhow, whether we saints gels Ia
heaven after ali. Dere was too many ifs 10
your sarmons. De Master hadn't no ifs in
His preachin' His gospel is, Him dat be
leves shall be saved, him dat comes viii
IN no wise cast out; come unto me you da
is tired and heavy laden and will give yot
rest Dere is no condemnation TO dem da
are in Christ Jesus. Whar l am, dere shal
my people be also; ! give eternal lite unt'
as many as my Father give me. aud mont
shall pluck dem out ol my hands. Isn't da
good gospel, STRIP
"Yes, and believe every word OF IT,
replied the minister
''Is dere any chance, think you, for SataI
TO slip in by trick and upset de great VOL
of redemplion?"
mo"
"Den why don't you tell people soy On
sarmon o. your'n was tellin' all bout d
doubts Satan pushes into de hearts Of d
Lords people. Why dat sermon wac mor'i
half devil all throughl and another wa
tellin' de saints dat dey must do dis and da
and 'tother to get peace and comfort her
aud heaven beyont. If you believes da
Christ died and rose again and dat kase h
lives we shall live also, why don't you CON
fort Gods people mid desc words9 Let
devil alone for a while in your preRchln
(you'l get 'nough o. him wldout maxim 8
much on HIND and Just preach Chris
Christ, Christi Pears like | don't wal
10 hear noihin' else but just only dat nam
while / stays here in de flesh. iises ever
morning in Christ, and l walks and tall
wild him all day. When night comes | lie
down aud sleeps wild Him, like it WI
NV last sleep, and ! mought wake mel
morning wild Him in glory I'm black an
poor and old to de eyes ol de world; but II
iair and rich and esh IN His sight, kase II
in Him. All dat be has got is mine an
dere ANITA king on arlh dat old Harkli
would change places wild. No, no, mop
"But while you never doubt Gods pow
10 save, you sometimes have doubts OF yol
acceptance with Him, havn't your" aske
the minister, VINO was Wy tuis llhc sehts
meekly taking his lesson.
'No, never: why should /? Dere was
night once, long time ago, when my so
was 'ceeding sorrowful like de Master
when lie was in de garden. felt like | W
helpless for dis life, ant | had no light
dc world heyont. | hated my hard mas
and 1 most Lated God, too, for not giv
me better lot. | was out in de cane bra
all alone, mile away from any liyin' C
tur'. | felt like wanted to kill myself kt
nv massa he done gone and sold my "
and baby Dat ar night got a hint III
soul what hell wasi and as l sol der
thought come into me and spoke it 0
'Dsre isn'l no God,' says l. And d
words scait me sO't ] sprung right of
ground where was lyiu'l was bewildel
/ reckons, for all of a student l see a gr
white hand sweep back the dark night, {
a hight shined ali roun' bout me. did
see nobody, but felt strong arms about
and in a minute my poor aching head
leanin' on somebody's breast; and, OH W
place dat was to rest on Den voice
'Come unto me poor, tired, and heavy la,
soul and | will give you rest De
knowsd there was God and dat it was