Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-03

Mark Twain in his new book tells the
following humorous episode, as the ex
perience of Uncle Dan and the chill
lun, when they saw the Mississippi for
the first time, and caught their first
glance at a steamboat;
Uncle Dan'lp (colored), aged so;
his wife, ! Aunt Jimmy" aged 40;
"Young Miss " Emily Hawkins,
Z" Young Mars " Washington Hawkins
and Young Mars Clay, the new mem
bers of the family, ranged themselves on
log after supper, and contemplated
the marvellous river, and discussed it.
The moon rose and sailed aloft through
maze of shredded cloud wreaths, the
sombre river just perceptibly frightened
under the vail of light. A deep silence
pervaded the air, and was emphasized
at intervals, rather than broken, by the
hooting of an owl the baying Of dog,
or the mufled crash of a caving bank in
the distance. The little company as
sembled on the log we're all children lat
least in simplicity and broad and com
prehensive ignorance), and the remarks
they made about the river were in keep
ing with the character; and so awed
were they by the grandeur and the so.
lemnity Of the scene before them, and
by their belief that the air was filled
with invisible spirits, and that
the faint zephyrs were caused by their
passing wings, that all their talk took to
itself tinge OF the supernatural, and
their voices were subdued to a low and
reverent tone. Suddenly Uncle Dan'l
exclaimed:
"Chiren, dahs sumfn comm
All crowded close together and every
heart beat faster. Uncle Danl pointed
down the river with his bony finger.
A deep coughing sound troubled the
stiffness, way toward wooded cape that
jutted into the stream mile distant.
All in an instant fierce eye Of fire shot
out from behind the cape and sent long
brilliant pathway quivering athwart the
dusky water. The coughing grew louder
and louder, the glaring eye grew larger
and still larger, glared wilder and still
wilder. A huge shape developed itself
out of the gloon, and from its tall du-
plicate horns dense volumes of smoke,
starred and spangled with sparks,
poured out and went tumbling away
into the farther darkness. Nearer and
nearer the thing came, till its long sides
began to glow with spots Of light, which
mirrored themselves in the river and at
tended the monster like torchlight pro
cession.
What is i'll Oh, what is it, Uncle
Dan'l2
With deep solemnity the answer came:
Its de Almighty Git down on 20
kneesp
II was not necessary to say it twice.
They we're all kneeling in moment.
And then, while the mysterious coughing
rose stronger and the threatening glare
reached further and wider, the negro's
voice lifted up its supplications: !.
\, 20 Lord, we's been mighty wicked,
and we knows dat we 'zsrve to go to de
bad place, but good Lord, deah Lord,
we amt ready yit, we ain reasy-let
desc DO chin hab one mo chance. jes'
one mo chance. Take de ole niggah IL
you's got to hab somebody. Good
Lord, good, deah Lord, we don't know
whah yous q gWine to, we don't
know who you's got 20 eye on,
but we knows by de way you's a com
in, we knows by de way yous a
tiltin' along in 20 charyot o fab dat
some po' sinners gwyne to ketch 1t, But
good Lord, desc chilen don't b'long
heah, dey's from Obedston whah dey
don't know muffin, sn you knows, 20
own slf dat dey asr't spousible. An
deah Lord, good Lord, it amt like 20
pity, il amt like 20 long-sutferin' lovin
kindness for 10 take dis kind o vstsge
o sich little chllen as desc is when deys
so many emery grown folk chuck full o
cussednsss dat wants roastin' down dab.
Oh, Lord. spah de little lien, don't
tar de little ehilen away frum dey