The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-17

greatly eXciteu over lbe ocPoate'o
The local ~coloreu minister, who re-
Gently started down the river on
board q large and sirongiy-bnilt col
ored sister. and who has not since
heen heard from. The circumstsn-
ces attending the minister's depart
ure were peculiar, and their puoilca-
lion NAV, perhaps, aid the recovery
of the intrepid. though u~nintenuonai
yoyager.
The minister in question was OF
the colored Baptist persuasion, and
was famed throughout the Tomoig-
bee valley for bis skill as a baptlzer'
as well as for bis ability as q preach
or. There is no doubt that be was
fearless aud conscientious man. 10
stead of maintaining that polite 81.
lence on the subject of chickens
which many colcred ministers insist
is absolutely necessary in order to
avoid chilling the fervor OF their
hearers. this minister never hesitsted
TO declare that a right Of property
in chickens existed, aud thstit should
he respected 10 certain cases. and to
a greater or less extent by all honest
men. especially during the season
when hams are readily accessible.
This bold doctrine. instead OF in-
turing his popularity, actually IN
creased the respect in which be
was held by his congregation, and
gave him much promise among bis
ministerial brethren.
Among the cOlored ladies OF Clay
vile was one who had long desired
10 submit TO The rite of baptism, but
who was deferred by a strong re-
to the inevitable wetting
which il inseDarable from the rite.
Scores Of times this estimable lady
had determined to be baptized at the
next available opportunity, but at the
last moment her courage always
failed her. Ia lbe days prior to
emancipation, she lad been the slave
Of a Ciayvllle planter, and she still
retained a warm affection for the
young master whom she had nursed
10 his infancy. Not very long ago
this young man called to see her,
and 10 him she lamented The lack Of
courage which shut her out from
baptism. Whether be was ~inlueD-
tial by genuine kindness, or by q
wicked spiri, Of irreverence, will,
perhaps, never be known but the
advice which he gave his conhding
nurse was the cause Of the painful
tragedy which followed.
The young man professed to be
surprised that the new safety baptis-
NAL robe invented, as be alleged by
Rev. Dr. Bcynton. OF New York,
had not yet been adopted by the
cclored Baptists Of the south. He
said thai he had one of these robes
in his possession, and that the wear
er would not only be safe against
any possibility Of drowning, but also
against the possibility of getting
wet. Moreover, it could be worn
underneath be usual white cotton
robe, without any danger of detec-
ton. The oyerjoyed candidate for
baptism enthusiastically accepted the
young mans advice and bis offer of
the robe, aud she Immediately sent
word TO the minister that she GER
iainly would be ready for baptism
the very next Sunday.
There was such q general distrust
Of the sisters courage that the col
ored people all assembled on the
bank of the Tsmbigbee on the next
day, confident that her courage
would fail, and that she would Gu
deavor to escape from the hands of
the minister. The particular part
Of the river selected for the ceremo-
Nv was comparatively shallow. but
the current was swift, and a little
lower down the depth was at least
ten feet In fact, the minister in
spite Of bis skill, had once lost a con-
vert, who was carried away by the
current, and who, on being rescued,
promptly went over TO the Metho-
dists. The timid candidate was an
unusually large woman, and was GER
tain 20 tax the minister's strength Sc
yerely; 50 that there could be but
little doubt that the ceremony would
be one Of unusual interest.
The sister arrived at the appointed
time, looking even larger than usual,
aud walked with much difficulty
The minister took her by the hand,
and she fe~sriessly descended into the
water. All went well until she
reached the depth of about four feet,
when she suddenly fell upon her
back, and, to the establishment of the
spectators, aoated on the surface of
the water. The excitement al this
unprecedented event was tremen-
dous. and the air was filed with en-
thusiastic shouts. The minister's
face, however, wore a troubled ex-
preston. lie towel the %unaecouut-
ably buoyant sister N into deeper
water, and attempted to place her
on her feet. The attempt proved
impracticable, and be then tried to
immense her without changing her
position. In spite of all his efforts,
be could not force her under, and the
spectators who Witnessed the strug.
gle soon became convinced that she
was begitehed. They eounseled the
minister to exercise the evil one, by
whom she was evidently possessed,
with an ak, and volunteered to sup
ply him heavy weights wherewith to
securely sink her. That devoted
man, however, refused their counsel.
and persisted 10 his effort to immerse
the sister without the aid of weights.
Finally be threw his whole weight
upon her, and in o moment the cur
rent swept the pair beyond their
depth.
In spite OF the danger Of his situa-
ton, the minister's cheek did not
blanch. With great presence Of
mind be seated himself comfortably
upon his floating sister, and, waving
a farewell TO his congregation, began
to sing a cheerful hymn. The cur
rent steadily carried him on at the
rate Of at least six miles an hour, and
in a short time his weeping congre-
CATION was left out of sight and hear