Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-04-02

doctor reappeared, bearing between
them pine table. On this table were
arranged about forty little pyramids Of
whitish-looking powder, and in their
midst stood a bottle containing some
clear liquid, like water. DIR. Rutherford
seated himself behind It, robed in the
black gown he had used in the dissect.
ing'room, and crowned by q ccnical head
piece about two feet high, manufactured
by Edward and himself, and which they
had completed by placing on the pima
Gle thereof a human skull. The effect of
this picturesque costume was heightened
by two large red circles around the
doctors cyes--whether obtained from
the juice of the pokebcrry or the ink
stand on Edwards desk need not be
determined.
In front of the table stood the negroes,
men, women and children. There was
the preacher, decked in the clerical liv-
cry of standing collar and white era
vat, but, perhaps in Difference to the day
of the week, these were modified by the
secular apparel of a yellow cotton shirt
and homespun pataloons attached to II
pair of old "9alluses" which had been
mended with twine, and pieced with
leather, and heightened with string, till,
If any of the original remained, noue
could tell the color thereof nor what
they had been in the day of their youth.
The effect was not harmonious. There
was Nanny, with her low, wrinkled
forehead and white turban, and toothless
gums, and skin of shining blackness,
which testified that her material wants
were not neglected. There was Wash, a
great, stalwart negro, who ordinarily
seemed able TO cope with any ten men
ffrl
and dispirited ana of complexion so
ashy that he really appeared old and
shrunken and weak There was William
Writ, the plow-boy, affected by "a chronic
| grin which not even the solemnity of
this occasion could dissipate, but the
character of which seemed changed by
the awe-struck eyes that rolled above
the heavy red lips and huge white teeth.
There was Apollo-in social and domes-
tic circles known as 'Poller-there was
| Apollo, his hair standing about his head
III black tufts or horns, wrapped with
J cotton cord to make it grow, one brawny
| black shoulder protruding from a rent in
| his yellow cotton shirt, his pantaloons
hanging loosely around his hips and bag.
| ging around that wonderful foot which
did not suggest his name, unless his
sponsors in baptism were of very satir.
ical turn. There were Martha, and Su.
san, and Minerva, and Cinderella, and
Chesterfield, and Pitt, and great many
other grown ones, besides crowd of
children, the smallest among the latter
being clad in the deshabille of single
garment which reached, perhaps, to the
knee, but had little to boast in the way
of latitude.
There they all stood in little groups
oh bn
reverence at the great DIR. Rutherford,
who sat behind the table with his black
gown and frightful eyes and skull-crowned
cap
"You see these little heaps of powder
and this bottle of water. You will come
forward one at time and pour few
drops of the water in this bottle on one
of these little heaps of powder. If the
powder turns black, the person who
pours on the water is 'witched. If the
powder remains white the person who
pours on the water is not 'witched. You
may all examine the powders and see for
yourselves whether there is any difference
between them, and you will each pour
from the same bottle"
During silence SO intense that nothing
was heard save the hum of two great
bumblebees" that darted in and out
among the trees and flew at erratlc an
giles above our heads the negroes came
forward and stretched their necks over
each others shoulders, peering curiously
mt the little mounds of powder that lay
before them, at the innocent looking bot
tie that stood in their midst, and the
great High Priest who sat behind. They
stretched their necks over each Others
shoulders and each endeavored to push
his. neighbor to the front; but those in
front, with due reverence for the uncan-
ny nature of the table, were determined
not to be forced too near it, and the re-
suit was quiet struggle, silent wrestle,
an undertone of wriggle, that was ire
sistibly funny.
Then arose the great High Priest:
Range yep
Not knowing the nature of this order
the negroes scattered instanter and then
collected en- mGSSe around Mr.. Smith.
Range ye! ranger repeated the doc
tor with dignity, and Edward proceeded
to arrange them in low, struggling
row, urging upon them that there was
no cause for alarm, as even if any of
them should prove 'witched the doctor
had charms with him by which to cast
off the spell.
Come, Martha" said Edward; but
Martha was dismayed, and, giving her
neighbor hasty shove, exclaimed:
" You go fus', Unk' Lumfrey; "yo's
de preacher"
Uncle Humphrey disengaged his elbow
with an angry hitch Z" don't keer if l is
go long yose'f."
"Well, dc Lord knows Pm 'feerd to
go" said Martha; "but eff l sot up for
preachin', pears TO me l wouldn't be
'ieered to sass witches nor goses, nor
muffin else"
" don't preach no time but SUNDAYS,
an dis amt Sunday" said Uncle Hum.
phrey.
"Hy, niggerl" exclaimed Martha, in
desperation, "is you gwine to go back
on dc Lord cos 'tain't Sunday? How
come you don't trus' on Him week-a-
days2"
" | does trus' on Him fur as enny sense
in doin' NV it; but ef l go to emmy my
foolishness, fus' thing / know de Lord
gWine leave me to take keer NV myself,
preacher or no preacher-same as eff He
was ter say;. OATS all right, Capn; eff
you gwine to bo-s dis job boss it, am
den whar be? Mas Ned tole you to
go; go on, an lemme lone"
Uncle Humphrey" said Edward,
there is nothing whatever to be afraid
of, and you must set the rest an example.
Conner
Uncle Humphrey obeyed, but as he did
so he turned his head and rolled-or, as
the negroes say lodtked-his eyes at
Martha in n manner which convicted
her, whatever her doubts in other mat.
ters pertaining to theology, that there is
such thing as future punishment. The
old fellow advanced, and under direction
of the great High Priest poured some of
the contents of the bottle on the powder
indicated to him and it remained white.
"Thang Cord" he exclaimed with
fervency which left no doubt of his sin
cerity, and hastened away.
Two or three others followed with a
similar result. Then came Mercy the
housemaid, and as her trembling fingers
poured the liquid forth behold the pow
der changed and turned to blackl The
commotion was indescribable, and Mercy
was about to have n nervous At when