Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-10
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IWPRESSIONABLE NEGROES.

weird and remarkable scene was wit
messed in one of the schools for colored
children In this city one dav last week.
The school is situated in the immediate
vicinity o. church in which great re-
sival has been in progress for weeks, and
i deep religious feeling permeates the
colored community thereabout. Many OF
the pupils have become converts, and they
devote themselves to the cause with the
fervid enthusiasm OF their race, never
pausing to consider time or place. The
converts concentrated their efforts upon a
boy who had remained imperious to all
solicitations and stiff-backed in his deter
mination to travel the downward path ii
he wanted to. Suddenly one recess. the
teacher was astonished and irighte ned by
the sound of groaning coming from the
direction of the unregenerate boys desk.
She went over to his side and inquired the
nature of the attack that was giving him
such acute pain The poor fellow only
rocked himself harder and groaned with
increased vigor, and said nothing, when a
girl, volunteering the information, wills
pered in an awe-struck tone
misses. he's mourniu.
The teacher endeavored 10 quiet the
boy, but he would not be quoted. The
pious epidemic spread, and soon the chr
dren began 10 cluster around the mourn
in, enc. The excitement iZltgx Ass'4- 49,
the pupils commenced 5 series 81 ssGtes,~
tons accompanied br gessscsss2fgasa.s At
groans Then VITA oae 2eeUgd 'las Assam
blase burs; out singing one 81 sEse2- i2gt--
lite hymns Headed by $ big sigi. they
began perambulaiing the aisles IN single
file, keeping time 10 melodious walk
around chant, and swaying their bodies
with that peculiar undulating motion IA
miliar in plantation life in the sunny
The teacher was at loss what step to
take, whether it would be best to call in
assistance or 10 let matters take their
course. a. She was joined in few moments
by the teacher who presided over a school
in an adjoining room. Her children, too,
had caught the contagion, and from
indications it seemed more than like
Nv that she was fated to witness anoth-
er scene similar to the one just des-
cribed. A hurried consultation ensued,
and it was decided that since the children
were determined to have prayer-meet-
ing then and there, they should have one
in proper from. Accordingly minister,
living block or two away, was called iii,
and he took charge OF the revival. The
excitement began at II O'Clock in the
morning and was not snbdued until
o'clock in the afternoon.
Among the students in one of the rooms
was man some twenty-five or thirty
wears old, who was taking advantage OF
dull times to acquire the rudiments of an
education. This man affected to sheer at
the spiritual manifestations. and even ven
nred to chide his teacher for the passive
part she HAD taken. When the rooms were
emptied one into the other, he loftily de-
clared his intention OF pursuing his studies
in the room vacated. a privilege that was
willing granted. Ere many minutes the
devotees in the next room were thrown
into state of great CONSERVATION by a
trightful noise, succeeded by heavy fall
which Jared the whole building. On
opening the door the studious scoffer
was seen groyeling about on the floor, ut
tering the most abject prayers and gener-
ally conducting himself like one dement,
ed. He, too. was "a mournin'," and
speedily joined the throng in the other
apartment, and is now regarded as most
promising convert by his colored brethren.
To prevent repetition of the scene,
the teachers have found it necessary to
: make and rigidly enforce rule forbidding
the children TO sing during recess or at
any time about the building .-Ldianap-
0lis Journal