The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-02-06


taking his lesson.
"No, never why should /? Der
was night once, long time ago, ,whel
my soul was 'ceeding sorrowiul, lik
lie Masters when He was in de gar
den. / felt like / Was helpless for di
life, and had no light on de worl,
beyont. l hstedmy hard massa, sn,
l most hated God too, for not giving
me better lot. l was out in d
canebrake all alone, a mile away irOn
any livin' cretur'. ] felt like l want
ed to kill myself, 'kase my msssa b,
done gone and sold my wife snC
baby! Dat ar night got : lint il
my soul what hell was and as l ga
dere thought come into me and
spoke it out. 'Dere isn't no God,
says /. And dem words skeart me
so sprung right off the ground
whar / was lyin'! l was bewildered
/ reckons; +; for all of a suddens l see
a great white hand sweep back &c
dark night, and q light shined all
ali roun' bout me. / jidu't see no,
body, but / ielt strong arms 'boui
me, and in minute my poor aching
head was leanin' on somebody's
breast; and oh, what place dat was
to rest on! Den a voice said, Come
unto Me poor tired snd heavy- laden
soul, and / viii give you rest.' Den
| knowed dere was God, and dat it
was de voice of His Son In my soul.
I've been new man since dat night
but balf de time l been only com
mon sort OF Christian, ike you, risin'
and fallin', hopin' and douOii1' such
a Christian 90 puzzles de world to
know whether dere is any good in
'hgion or noti
81 was 8 waiteri1 DEM DAYS, and
was q good deal wild dc white folks,
and 1t was fssh'nable 'mopg dem for
TO doubt, and mourn, and whine, when
dey talked 'ligIon and l used to
forget dat night IB de cane-brske, and
fell into de fashion of dc gram folks.
But it didn't work wild me, and / got
into darkness. Den I'd try to fight
my own wsy out Of de swamp; but
de more l tried, de faster l stick.
Der | would try 10 hire de Lord to
lift re out of de horrible pit and
de mirY clay, by good works, helpln'
de weak field hands, or givin' away
my pocket money. But we never
made bargsin-de Lord and me
He always brung me low till 1 was
glad to get peace free; and TO take
away all chance o brsgging from me.
He generally brought de peace when
| was asleep and doin' no good works.
Den l would wake wild glory in my
soul, and / would run on mighty
peGrt for a SPELL / didn't know
what Christ wss den. He was in me !;
but dere was else in me besides Him.
"Come here and sit in this large
chair, brother; tits more comfortable
than that one,' said the minister in a
subdued voice, rs if addressing a su-
perior. Il want to hear how you
got Gear of the tempter, and filed
with Christ az last''
Goa well, it isn't no great story,
but here it is :. Dere was an old cord
sister dey used to call Ginsey, a sort
of a prescher like 'mong de field
hands. Well, when she come down
to her death bed, she done call al
massa's people and de neigkborin'
black folks round her, 'ksse she said
she'd been in heaven q whole hour,
end come back to give US word Of
comfort. We gathered 'bOut her,
snd she lift her tW0 Ls1d5 and pray
dis way: Ior' Jesus answer dis ore
Drs'er of mine, for dy own name
cake. 1t is old GImsey's last prs'er;
de next gord with me will BE- praise
and hallelUjahs. Bring desc poor
chin into de light, like You bring
NE into Dc light fifty years ago.
DON'T let Bruder Ha:kliss csst con-
tempt no longer on dy blessed name
By doubtin' of dy word which is
truth! Humble proud Jenny, and in
massy@ punish drunk Dose, and com
tort loae Polly, and cure sick Ale,
sEd bring all de rest 70 dy feet here,
and to dy house up dere by-an' by .
Den she open her eyes and begun ior
10 preach. and che gave esch one
separate little sarmOn all 10 h;sself.
She den call me. Come here, BrUder
HaIkliss, and take my cold hand 10
yourn.' 1 went and said, COR, Hark
Iiss, Harkiiss : yOE's worse den 81
ouproftabIe saEvdn:. YOu's hslf de
time barin' islsc witness aain de
Lord dat bought you, and te!lin' de
world dat His Word amt for 70 be
trusted-dat He don't always speak
truth!
"'No, no. says /, 'zunt!e, / never
done dat trust Him wid all ny
heGIt.
" 'Mebby you DO, right here or
the vArge OF heaven bnt q1icS'
VOC ge. oat you'll say, "Dere'5 no
teIIin' whether I'll ever reach heaven
or not.' 'Hsrkliss, says she, 'do gOU
Beliere de Lord has writ yer nsme on
de pains OF His hans, and His name
on vcur forehead p
81 bowed down my head in shame,
for / see my sin. and den de truth
of God shoue out Ike = great sud SIS
| never zee It sforc. MY sOul was
fnII of glory, such like al dc world
never sees, and / says, Yes, sun:ie,
He h,ys told me time aud again dat
He is mine and dar I am His Do
YOU believe He speak de truto,
Hsrklis.s p says she. yes, aunfie,'
sAvsI. q. EnO1 now He does. sees
Hisword ike fire. Den you quit
GcUb in q fore the world. says she.
.E.rtlis, il you'd been az disrespect
;aI to your owner az you've been 70
De orea. NJ .ste-, and if you'd gone
rouod saving, he's promised ne such
and such, but / doubt he'll lot keep
his word-he',' sold you into de rice
swamos a hun, red times times n
jese years Be tier cut of yer IIg1t
band and pluck ont yer right eye
A., dorbs de truth Of His Worc.
Won ia His, for R'e bought yon VIC
His own precious blood and As
.nTe as He's in b. sayen you s1al 90
1ore m too! I'm .ir ed chin, ard N uSt
- IN sleep. G. lOd night (>he.
o'sj @pere, sir, dem was Gimsey's last
vords on earth ; d next one sne
spoke was 'GlOryn # re de tIono.
..WeTI there was great light All
through my soul der h dat ha1 never
90, = out senee. Pea rs ike de Loid IS
ga n1;dssof il, vbe. -e l can feel His
~ 80 and when d : ifs and 'msy
Pss' comes round to Tesk my peace
7 shouts out,no matter VINO heafs me-
DE Lord saJs dat L 9 n htI, sDL ~. %. /
yhar He an, dar 81 laii Dc also
sMercy.