Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-02-27

Iibeen only a common sort OF a Christian
like you, risn' and fallin', hopin' ant
doubtin', such Christian as puzzles d.
world TO know whether dere is any good Id
'ligion or notl
81 was a waiter in dem days, and was
good deal wild de white folks, and It wa
iash'nable 'mong dem Tor 10 doubt, an(
mourn, and whine, when dey talked 'ligion
and used TO forget that night in de cant
brake and fell into de fashion OF de gran
folks. But it didn't work with me and
got into darkness. Den I'd Try 10 fight my
own way out of de swamp; but de more
tried de faster stuck Den l would try tC
hire de Lord 10 lift me out Of the horrible
pit and de mirY clay, by good works, helpin
de weak field hands, or giyin's away my
pocket money. But we never made bar
gain-de Lord and mel He always brung
me low till was glad TO get peace free; and
take away all chance o. b.aggin' from me
lie ginerally brought de peace when wa:
asleep and dOin' no good works. Den
would wake wild glory in my soul, ana
would tun on mighty peart for spell.
didn't know what Christ was den. lie was
IN mt; but dere was plenty else in me sides
| Him."
"Come here and sit in this large chair.
brother, II is more comfortable than that
one, sald the minister in subdued voice,
/
how you got clear oil the tempter, and flled
with Christ at last"
| ''Oh well, it isn't no great story, but here
It Is dere was and old col'e sister dey used
| 10 call GimseY, sort OF preacher like
1 'mong de field hands. Well, when she
come down 10 her death bed, she done call
all massa's people and dc neighborin' black
folks round her, kase she said she'd been
in Heaven whole hour, and come back to
give us word Of comfort. We gathered
bout her, and she Lift up her two hands
and pray dis way, 'Lor' Jesus. answer, dis
one pra'er Of mine, for dy own sake. II is
old Glmsey's last pra'er, de next word wild
me will be praise and ballelujahs. Bring
desc poor chil'n into de light like You bring
me into the light fifly years agoi Don't
let Brudder Harkless cast contempt no lon
ger on dy blessed name by doublin' OBJ by
word which is truth Humble proud Jen.
ny, and in massa punish drunk Dose, and
comfort lone Polly, and cure sick Abe, and
bring all de rest TO dy feet here, and TO dy
house up dere bam by = Den she open her
eyes and hegun for TO preach, and she give
each one separate little sermon to his-elf.
She den call me. Come here Brudder
HarklOss anG take my cold hand in yonrn.'
| went, and she said. 'Oh Harkliss, Hark-
liss you's worse den an onprOfitable sar-
want ! You's half de time BARN false wit
ness gin de Lord dat bought you, and tillin'
de world dat His Work ain Tor 10 be trusted
dat He don't always speak truth +
'Nn, no." says l, auntie, 81 never done
dat trust him wild all my heart"
g. Mebby you do, right here on de varge
o'Heaven but qulck's you gets ou, you'll
say 'dere's no telin' whether III ever reach
Heaven or not. Harkliss, says she, do
you belieOe de lord has writ yer name on de
PALMS OF his hand, and His name on your
torehCadr
81 bowed down my head in shame, for
see my sin. And den the truth of God
shone out like great son as | never see II
afore My soul was full OF glory, such like
as dc world never secs, and says. Yes
aunlie, he has told me time and agin dat He
is mine and dat am His. DO you believe
be speaks the truth IIarkliss, says she.
Yes auntie,' says l, Il know now He does
| sees his word like fire. Den you quit
doubtin' afore de world says sue. 'Hark-
liss, If you'd been as misrespe3tlul 10 your
owners as yo've been 10 de great Master,
and II you'd Eone round saying, he's prom
lsed me such and such, but doubt he'll
keep his wOrd-he'd sold you into de rice
swamps hundred times in desc years
Better cut OF yer right hand aud pluck ont
yer right eye den to doubt The iInih ai he
word. You lie His for He be ught you with
in Heaven you shall go dere too I'm tered
chiln, aud must go to sleep. Good night
"Dere, sir, dem was old Gimsey's last
words on earth de next one she spoke was
glory lore de throne.
"Well, dere was great light all through
my soul den, dat has never gave out sense
Pears like de Lord is in de midst Of il,
where l can feel His presence, and when de
IT'S and may be's' comes round trying TO
break my peace, shouts out, no matter v hO
hears me, 'De Lord says sdat | am His, and
dat where He am dar shall | be also and
His word endurth forever Den de ifs
all fly off as IL they were unclean birds, and
leaves me in de light why sir, rs got de
world so under my feet dat nothing in il
can worry me only de sin ] sees and dat
will be cleared of some day, for de Lord is
comm down hore mighty soon to make
all things right. De Lords ohil'n got good
right to glory, and nobody-no not de dev-
II, dat you make so much count dn--clu't
take it way from 'em Now my Grants
done here, You stop dat preacher bout book
larnin,' and "doubtin,'n and de "devil. -
and stick TO the Gospel-Chrisl, Chiist-
aud you'll see de glory come down on your
people and you'll see them trampln' on
de world, like do | Don't think this yer
is spiritual pride in me, for I'm as humble
as kitten, in myself but Oh, | am proud
Of my king, and my country, whar am 60.
in mighty quick Good bye, SIR
The minister rose and took the hand of
his guest quietly saying, "Let me write
your name down, brother for want Ia
see you again and know you better. How
How do you spell uarkliss
"Her c.hell.-I don't guess can member
il; for It's nigh onte forty years since l larni
how 10 spell it from my young master lie
said was named for one Of them heather
goddishes that they used TO make believe
dey had in old times. He's 'mong dat non.
sense they teaches in college. He's de fell
low that killed lions and monsters anu sucl
like with his club, and stole queens and
clean out stables, and de dear knows what
all nonsense iou's been TO college sc
you must know bout him, de strongest
, goldfish of all-Harklis'.
II know Lim:" replied the minister
,, "Well, brother Hercules, come and see me
again very soon. Good Bye"
When the old negro had closed tue doc
behind him, the minister read over the few
pages he had already written OF his mex
I Sundays sermon. Ii was cold and liieles
/, and worthless, was no Christ In it,
l He tore the sheets into atoms which b.
! threw into the waste basket and sat dowl
/ before his fire 10 mediate on the words o
1 his poor visitor. He never thought so lltt
, of himself before. He felt that he coull
4 write nothing to instruct or edily bis peopl
. then and taking up his hat he went out
visit some OF the poor hidden ones OF hl
r fold whom he knew 10 be great in th
r Kingdom OF Heaven.
i Never had TWO men changed places 6
a suddenly as when he who looked like a
old black beggar brought the learned ger
n tleman to bis feet for lesson on the lrui
II of Gods word and of his duty TO uphol
q that Truth before his people.
N Disappearance OfR School Girl
"a