Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-09-15
A Colorsd Camp Meeting.

One night had my first view Of col
ored camp meeting. The camp is on the
grounds of Gov. Reed, and nearly opposite
Jacksonville. As we approached the camp
the horn was blowing TO call the people to
evening service, and soon the pine woods IN
front Of us seemed to be 10 a blaze, while a
wild, discordant sound-for singing It could
not be called-roso and swelled out upon the
night air
Another turn Of the road brought us in
view Of the camp building, large shed ca
pable of holding some one thousand people,
and Illuminated by large piles OF lightwood
burning on raised platforms, the red glow OF
which, shining on the black sea OF faces,
gave them weird, unearthly look.
The hymn was deaconed out, and each one
seemed to sing it to their own tune, or rather
to no tune at all, but made up for melody in
fervor and strength of lungs. AT the con-
clusiou of the hymn tall, powerful-looking
colored man arose and said he wished to
read the rules Of the grounds.
cat dore meeting las year, some rowdles
had come ober to 'sturb de meeting, and he
wanted to make them understand now
dat dis yeah dey was gwine to hab
peace. The statutes contained clause CUB
erning do camp groun. He did not know
whedder dat article was traducol dare by q
carpet Dagger or no, but it was good law.
1t Glib them de control Of the grounds within
mile Of the camp, and if any one went to
making noises or playing cards or drinking
dey should try de whole strength of de law.
Den some Of you young gals, you cum
here dressed up, in yer 6ue close, wild yer
bonuets and ribbons and yer get on de
back seat with some young fellah dressed 10
white shirt and his broadcloth, and yer take
dc house of de Lord to do yer counting in
Now yer must do yer courtin at home. W.
come here to worship the Lord Jesus, anC
by de help of God we're going to do it
Some Of us brudders find il easy to talk tC
people dats ugly and haint got no fine close
but when it comes To de dandy and dc younl
l gals dats prinked up SO fine, dey cant sa
!, word to dem, dey look so nice dat 1t almos
. seems as IL dey had no soul to save but
l tell dem dey've got to 90 before dere Make
!, and answer for dere sins as much as the ug
n liest old pussou here, and when dey die dey'
T end it so and now we want all sinners t
r come to de Lord Jesus and Tess their sin
!, and to ub him and serb him as dey ough
6 We made de same call lass year, and som
Q dat wouldn't come, but hardened dere har
: hearts, and trew salvation away are now
de presence Of wrathiul God" Here b
voice rose to almost shrek, while ii
e black faces in front Of him seemed to glo
with excitement, the bodies Of the wome
d swayed to and fro, while EXPLANATIONS
IS "Dat's SOL" Lord forgib DEM" rose frol
the crowd.
m 81 hab one in my mind now" continue
ct the preacher, "who VIC prayed wild, an
g 'zortod wild, an he turned his stubborn hea
IN agin de Lord-and he died drunk--he W
buried druuk-he went before his Mast,
s., drunk-and at de last day he'll rise befo,
de destroying angel drunk, and go down
C, in de depths OF hell and lay drunk foreber
n, "Dat's so :" ale will for sho!" "Glory
l. God !" with sobs and shrieks, came from Il
excited throng, raised to the highe
E. pitch of excitement by tho words, mann
N and voice of the speaker. Sudden
he stopped, and in moment burst forth o
or of the familiar shouts, which, being simp
in and known by all, has much more Of ha
lis mony in it than thOir regular hymns, but st
he is nothing like what is given us as snmpl
of plantation melodies. The words we
as follows