Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-08-07
PREPARATORY BAPTISM.

his wife is corpulenti good hA'uIeu W.
man, but very deaf.
Some weeks ago Reuben began to pom
der. He had never been a bad niger,
but he had never embraced Christianity,
much TO the sorrow of Aunt Susan, his
wife, who had been prepared for heaven,
10 ! these many years. The more he pom
dered the more he become convinced
that be ought TO become a church mem
Der. He didn't relish the idea much,
but he at last informed his wife that he
would consent, and she clasped her hands
and replied
"Glory to Richmond de angels am
a COMM"
Uncle Reuben got the idea the other
day that he'd like to try the water alone
before being publicly baptized, and while
his wife was getting breakfast ready, he
slipped down to the river bank TO take
preparatory dip. lie removed his coat,
hat and pants, placed them on log, and
as he descended the bank, his broad feet
slipped and the convert came down on
the back of his neck.
"What he de debbn, >" he commenced,
as he picked himself up, but, suddenly re-
membering that be was soon to join tie
church, he picked himself up and re-
marked
"l'm '-hamed Of dat, and ] hope de
angels Will 'scuse me"
He put one foot into the water, drew it
back with n shiver, put in the other, and
looked longingly toward the house. At
that moment Aunt Sarah began singing
4" We's gwiue up to glory
Yves gwine ON dc cars"
And old Reuben braced up and enter
ed the water.
" Yes, we's gwine up to glory" he re-
marked, as he waded along" gwine Oh
dc fast express"
AT the next step his foot struck sunk
en- log, and he pitched over it and under
water head FIRST. As soon as he came to
the surface and blew the water from his
wouth, he yelled
"Woosh what in blazes is dis yei
performance ?'
In raising up his foot slid over the lol
and under limb ir such manner thai
she darkey was caught fast. lie could
hang to the stub Of a limb, but he could
not pull himself forward enough to slip
his foot out Of the trap.
Whar's de angels now ?" he yelled
out, at he kicked the water higher than
his head.
Aunt Susan answered with
De angels are a-comin:
hear dc music play ~
When the old man realized that he was
fast and must have help from the shore,
he yelled out:
llo dcre, old woman-hi ~
"She couldn't have heard cannon
fred on the bank Of the river, and went
Oh singing:
- Dero's a scat for me in Heaven
Use gWine " Join Dc band !"
ali dere-I'n jine yer old black head
off if you don't hear me !" screamed old
Reuben.
Ho struggled, kicked, got his head
clear ont Of water again and yelled
"Cuss dat ole woman-wby don't she
hear me 2''
"a L ncle Reubes a-gwine
10 be an angel, shO."
came the song.
= It's lie-a debble big lie !" pulling
his head from under water again.
% A nd he'll fly among de angels,
And play upon harp"
continued the old woman as she turned
over the bacon.
" Hi dere, woosh wboop !" yelled
Reuben, founderng around pulling at
his leg.
.. De Lawd has 20, his name,
And dero's place for hiu."
Howled the old woman.
Angels be cussed-whos, dere, you
old yillum !" yelled Uncle Reub.
''Dey'll dross him up in white
Id crown upon bis br0a :"
Walled Aunt Susan as she poured the
water of the potatos.
II eber git out o. dis ribber alive, III
breuk her old deaf head, / will" growed
the victim, and then raising bis voice ht
shouted
" You dere, old Satan -hilhi! A.
If in direct answer came the song,
- IL struggled wi1 de evil one.
But he gained dc Yict'ry shuah,"
Susan-ole cuss Susan-ifI had ye
by De wool I'd barry dat ole deaf head
agin dc cabin till We couldn't see !" he
screamed" and he made another tre-
Inendous effort TO get loose. 1t was sue
cessful, and just then she sang:
oh whar's de angel now,
send him long, send him long"
De angel am comm" growled Tn
Gle Reuben, as he waded ashore, land
he'll turn dat cabin inside out"
He limped up TO the house. She was
placing the meal upon the table and sing
ing:
He's gwinc 70 be baptized,
Hos gwine-"
When he entered tho house and gave her
cuff on the ear which nearly loosened
the roots of her hair
"Oh, yes-I'se an angel wild wings on,
] is, and Use goin' to glory, he yelled, as
he brought her another cuff, land III
knock her ole head of-and Use gwne
TO jine de band-and you deaf old alliga-
tor-and Use gwine up to heaven-and
blast yer ole deaf ears-and de glory am
o,srfnf