The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-03-24

I'm black and poor aud old to de eyes Of
de world but I'm fair and rich and fresh in
His sight, 'kase I'm in Him. All dat He has
got is mine, and delc aiu't king on arth dat
old Harkless would change places wild. No,
no, no !!
But while you never doubt Gods power
to save, you sometimes have doubt Of your ac-
ceptancc with Him, haven't you 3" asked the
minister who was, by this time, seated meckly
| taking his lesson
No, never; why should I? Deere was 4
night once, long time ago, when my soul was
ceeding sorrowfal, like de Master when He
was in de garden. | felt like | was helpless
for dis life, and had no light on de world be-
! yound. hated my hard massa, and most
hated God too, for not giving me a better lot
was out in dc cane brake all alone, mile
away from any livin cretur.' I felt like /
wanted to kin myself 'kase my massa he done
gone and sold my wife and baby Dat ar
night | got hint in my soul what hell was
and as sat derc a thought come into me and
l spoke it out. Dere isn't no Cod says l.
And dem words skeart ME so't sprung right
of de ground whar was lynn was be-
wildcred, reckons for all of q suddent see
a great white hand sweep back de dark night,
and n light shined all 'roun bout me. /
didn't see nobody, but l felt strong arms
about me, and in a minute my poor achn'
head was leanin' on somebody's breast and
oh what places dat was to rest on! Den
voice said, Come unto Me, poor, tired, and
heavy-ladon SOUL and win give you rest.
Den | knowed dcre was a God, and dat it was
dc voice Of His Son in my SOUL I've been
new man since dat night but half de time l
been only a common sort of Christian, like
you, risin' and fallin', hopin and doubtin'
such Christian as puzzles de world to know
whether deere is any good in ligion or not
81 was a waiter in dem days. and was a
good deal wild de white folks. It was
f;.slinable mong dem for to doubt, and
mourn, and whine, when dey talked ligion
and / used to forget dat night in the cane
brake, and fell into de fashion of dc grand
folks. But it didn't work with me, and
got into darkness Den I'd try to fight my
own way out of dc swamp; but dc more
tried dc faster | stuck. Den | would try to
hire de Lord to lift me out of de horrible pit
and de miry clay, by good works, helpin dc
weak field hands, or givin' way my pocket
money. But we mover made a bargain--de
Lord and me He always brung me low till
| was glad to get peace free and to take away
all chance o Dragging from me. He generally
brought de peace when was asleep and dom
no good works. Den would wake wild glory
in my soal, and would run on mighty peart
for spell. uldffr Know What Christ was
den. lie was in me, but deere was plenty else
in me besides him."
'sCome here and sit in this large chair
brother; it is more comfortable than that
one said the minister in subducd voice, as
if addressing superior 81 want to hear
how you got clear Of the tempter, and filled
with Christ at last
''Oh well, 1t isn't no great story, but here
it is Dcre was an old cold sister dey used
to call Gimsey, d sort of preacher like 'mong
de field hands. WE'LL when she come down to
her death bed, she done call all massa's peo-
pie and the ncighborin' black folks round
her, skase she said she'd been in heaven q
whole hour and come back to give us word
of comfort. We gathered bout her, and she
lift up her two hands and pray dis way I: Lor'
Jesus, answer dis one pra er of mine, for dy
own sake. 1t is old Gimsey's last prayer: dc
next word wild me will be praise and hallelu-
jaIis Bring desc poor chin into de light,
like You bring me into de light fifty years
ago. Don't let Bruder Harkliss cast contempt
no longer on dy blessed name by doubtin OF
DIV word which is truth Humble proud Jenny
and in MASSEY (mercy) punish drunk Dose, and
comfort lone Polly, and cure sick Abe, and
bring all de rest to dy house up dere by-an'-
by = Den she open her eyes and begun for
to preach, and she gave each one separate
little sarmon al to hisself. She den call me.
Come here, Bruder Harkliss, and take my
cold hand in yourn.' i went, and she said,
Oh lIaiikliss, Harkliss you's worse den an
onprofitable sarvant Yous half de time
BARN false witness agin de Lord dat bought
you, and tellin' dc world dat His word amt
for to be trusted, dat He don't always speak
truth 7"
No, no, says |, 'auntie, ! never done
dat thrust Him wild all my heart
"Mebby you do right here ON de vargc o.
heaven; but quicks you get out you'll say
I;Dcro's no telln' whether I'll ever reach heaven
or not Harkliss, says she, do you believe
de Lord has writ yer name on de palms of
/ His hands, and his name on your forehead
~ bowed down my head in shame, for
see my sin And den the truth Of God shone
out like a great sun, as never see it afore.
Ny soul was full Of glory such like the de
world never Sees and says, Yes, auntie, He
has told me time and again lat He is mine
and dat am His Doyou believe lie speak
de truth, Harkliss? says shc Yes, auntic,
saws /, Il know now he does. see His word
like fire. Den you quit doubtin' afore de
world says SHE. 'Harkiss, if you'd been az
disrespectful to your owner as you've been to
de great Master, and If you'd gone round
sayin' he's promised me such and such, but
doubt he'll not keep his word-he'd sold you
into de rice swamps a hundred times in desc
years Better cut off yer right hand and
pluck out yer right eye dan to doubt de truth
nc His word You ig His for He bought you