The Volcano lubricator. (Volcano, W. Va.) 1871-1879, 1874-01-13
An Answered Prayer.

ing picture
"Uncle DAMP (colored), aged 40;
his wife, "Aunt jimmy" aged so;
"young Miss" Emily Hawkins;
young Mars" Washington Hawkins,
and young Mars" Clay, the new
member Of the fa.lily, ranged them
selves on log after supper, and con-
templated the marvellous river, and
discussed it. The moon rose and sailed
aloft through maze of shredded cloud
wreaths, the sombre river just percep-
tibly frightened under the veil Of light.
y deer oilence prevailed the air, and
was emphasized at intervals, rather
than broken, by the hooting Of an owl,
the baying OF dog, or the muffled
crash ola caving bank in the distance.
The company assembled on the log
were all children Cat least in simplici-
ty and broad and comprehensive ig-
norance,) and the remarks they made
about the river were in keeping with
their character; AND so awed were
they BY the grandeur and solemnity OF
the scene before them. and by their be-
lief that the air was filled with invisi-
bic spirits, and that the faint zephyrs
were caused BY the passing wind, that
all their ak took to itself tint of the
supernatural, and their voices were
subdued to a low and reverent tone.
Suddenly Uncle Dan'l exclaimed:
"Chil'en, dah's sumfn a comm ~
All crowded close together and ev
cry heart beat faster, Uncle Dan'l
pointed down the river with his bony
finger.
A deep coughing sound troubled the
stiffness, way toward the wooded cape
that jutted into the stream mile dis
tant. All in an instant fierce eye OF
fire shot out from behind the cape and
sent long brilliant pathway athwart
the dusky water. The coughing grew
louder and louder, the glaring eye
grew larger, and still larger, glared
wilder ahd wilder. A huge shape de-
veloped itself out OF the gloom, and
from its tall duplicate horns; dense
volumes of smoke, starred and spang-
led with sparks, poured out and went
tumbling away in the darkness. Near
err the thing came, till its long sides
began to glow with spots Of light,
which mirrored themselves in the rive,
and attended the monster like torch
light procession.
"What is it Oh, what is it, Uncle
DanT?"
With deep solemnity the answer
came:
ats de Almighty Git down on
yo' knees :"
It was not necessary to say it twice.
They were all kneeling in a moment
And then, while the mysterious cough
ing grew stronger and stronger and
the threatening glare reached farther
and wider, the negro's voice lifted up
its applications
90 Lord, ives ben mighty wicked,
as we knows dat we 'zerve to go to de
bad place. but good Lord, deah Lord,
we amt ready yit, we amt ready, let
desc POI chil'en hab one mo- chance,
jes' one mo- chance. Take de old mig
sah, if you's got to hab somebody.
Good Lord good deah Lord, we don't
know whah you's a gwyne to, we
don't know who you's got yo' eye on,
but we knows by the way you's COM
in, we knows by the way you'e tiltin
long in yo' charyot O. fab dat some
po' sinners gwyrg to ketch it. But
good Lord, desc chil'en don't b'long
heah, dey's I'm Obedstown whah dey
don't know muffin, an you knows, We
own sef, dat dey amt 'sponslble. An
deah Lord, good Lord, it amt like 20
mercy, it amt like yo' pity, it amt
like yo' long-suf1erin', lovin' kindness
for to take dis kind o vantage O. slch
little chii'en as desc is, when dey's so
raany ornery grown folks chuck full O.
cussedness dat wants rostin' down
dab. o Lord, spah de little chil'en,
don't tar de little chil'en away I'm dey
frens, jes' let 'em Off jes' dis once, and
take it out'n dis ole niggah. Heb is,
Lord, heah I is De ole niggah's
ready, Lord, de ole
The flaming and churning steamer
was right abreast the party, and not
twenty steps away. The awful thun-
der of mud valve suddenly burst
forth, drowning the prayer, and as
suddenly Uncle Dan'l snatchcd child
under each arm and secured into the
woods with the rest Of the pack at his
heels, and then, ashamed Of himself,
he halted in the deep darkness and
shouted, but rather feebly:
"Heah is, Lord, heah I is"