The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1875-07-09
P0E 1-RY
THE POWER OF PRAYER; OR, THE
FIRST STEAMBOAT UP THE
ALABAMA.

FIRST TSEEAm89AT UP TIE
ALABAMA.
You, Dinah come and set me whar de rihber road
does meet.
De Lord He made desc black Jack roots to twis' into
seat.
Umph. DART De Lord have massy on dis bin ole
niger feet.
1t pears 10 me dis mornin' | kin smer de fust G
clar. blieve dat mockin' bird could play de fddl,
Dem yonder town bells sounds like dey was ringin ii
de moon.
Well, il dis Niger is been blind for forty year
mo-,
Desc cars deg sees de world like thu de cracks dats
in de do,
For de Lord has bnalt dis body wild de windows hind
-- and TO.
know my front ones is stopped up and things ID
sort o. dim,
Put den, thru dem, temptations rain won't leak
on ole jim.
De black ones shows me earth enough, aldo dey'.
monst'Ous slim.
And ~ for hebben--bless de Lord and praise His ho
name
nat shines in all de corners of dis cabin jes d.
same
As ef dat cabin hadn't mar plank upon de frame!
Who call me? Listen down de ribber, Dinah! Dom
you hyar
Somebody holl'id .'hoo Jim, hoos" My Sarah died
las var;
Is dat black angel done come back to call ole jim
f'om hyar!
My stars, dat can't be Sarah, shuh? Jes' listen
Dinah. noac!
What Kin be comm up dat bend a-makin' such a
Fus' bellerin' like PAWN bull den squealin like
SOW ?
De Lord IA massey saKes alive, jes' hear-ker sroof
ker-moof-
De DebbIe's comm round dat bend, he's comm ahut
enuff
A-splashin' up de water wild his tail and wild hi
hoof
Use pow'ful sSeered but neversomeless amt gwins
tor away;
FIN gwne to stand egg ed for de Lord dis blessed
day.
You screech and howl and swish de water, Satan
Let as pray
jes' so.
And eff Thou hast bespoke de word, some nigger'-
bound to 90.
Den Lord please take ole Ji and leave 70 Dinah
hyar below!
Scuse Hinah her, Mahsr; for she's such little
chile,
he hardly es' begin to scramble up de home-yard
still,
mile.
se wufless as de rotten pole of i.s' years fodde.
stack.
DE rheum tiz done bit my bones yoa hear EN- crack
and crack:
can't sit down dout gruntin' like twas breakin O.
my back.
What de WHEEL when oe hnb and spokes is warped
and split and rotten
hat dis dried-up cotton-stalk. when Life done
Use like word dat somebody dore said, and den for
gotten.
But. Dnah! shuh dat gal Jes like dis little hickry
tree.
De sap's jes rsin' in her she do grow owdacious-
Lord ef you's elarin' de underbrush, don't cut her
down, cut me
would not proud peraume-but yet I'll boldly make
reques':
Sence Jacob had da twarstn match, l. too, gwine do
my bes;
When Jacob got all underholt, de Lord He answer
Yes!
And what for vase de vittles now, and throw away
de bread;
Jes for strength desc Idle hands to scratch dis ole
bald head2
rink of de economy, Mah'sr, eff dis old Jim was
dead!
stop :--cf don't believe de Debbles gone on up de
stream!
Jes' now he squealed down dar hush dats mighty
weakly scream!
Yas, sir he's gone, he's gone-he snort way off. like
in dream!
De Debbles fatty skeered to def he's done gone fyn
by;
l knowd he couldn't stand dat prar felt my Mahsr
nigh!
you Dinah, amt you 'shamed, now dat you didn'
trust to grace2
heered you thrashin thu de bushes when he showed
his face!
Ton fool you think dc Debble couldn't beat you in a
racer
tell you. Dinah, jes you is standin' dar.
Whep folks starts prayin' answerangels drops down
Thru de ar.
Yea, Dinat. acAGr 'ouid you be nose, erceptin' fur
dat prG'rs
---Scribner for June.