River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-13

Parish / said to hir, after another
pause, 'sdld you aver experience rehgionsf
mo, massa. he said, shut my sister,
Rosa, she 'sperienced it. Ours is very
'ligious family. Dey is known all over
old Virginny."
Parish, you known / have spent all
my life studying these things
''Ies, massa, you very wise, | know"
''Can you read2'
mo, massa."
Parish, said, fixing my gaze upon
him, edo you know what happens TO
man who does nothing but drink whisky
and smoke tobacco, when he dies.'
Don't look at me SO, massa,p said the
negro, trembling.
Parrish said to him lowering my
voice, ''how would you enjoy a play like
this Suppose yourself in a room SO cold
that whisky freezes. Your hair turns
into icicles. Your fingers break like
sticks of candy. Touch your ears and
nose with straw, they break off Your
frozen words rattle on the ground like
shot
The negro began to shiver.
ION one side of you stands demon
with q lash that bites to the bone; anoth-
er opposite with a he's y club smites
your shins."
The negro placed both MS hands where
the blows were falling.
Lord mercy.p he muttered.
behind yeu the fangs of bloodhound
m eet in your flesh,
Parish rolled up his eyes and changed
the position OF his hands.
Parish" / said in a tone of deep pathos,
lido you know that Mr.. Hoag has sold
you to the evil one? He told me so him
self. 1t is in writing. l have seen the
paper"
The negro gave deep groan.
"You are to have all the tobacco and
whisky you want in this world, contin-
ued, "and theD---h
ooh massa, what shall DOB" said the
negro. "Sold to the debbler'
II alone can save YOU" replied. "Do
what tell you, and l will save you.
When your master comes home tonight,
he will have been drinking; that will
make him sleep soundly. When he IS
sleep, steal into his room, take his pa
ers from his pocket bring them to me
will doctor the writing. l will cheat
he evil spirit Here are five silver dol
airs: You shall have fifteen more when
YOU bring me the papers. That will
make you start fair in life again. l love
the negro. / have always been an abo-
litionist. l am a nephew OF Horace
Greeley, a son of Charles Sumner, grand
son of John Brown"
"De Lord bless de abolitionist and old
John Brown said the negro, looking ct
me with reverence.
AT two o'clock that night | heard a
stealthy step, and Parish with naked feet
pushed open the door and crept into the
room.
oHere they are, massa," said he, hand
ny me half dozen letters.
"This is it," | said, and selecting one
| replaced it by an envelope and paper
of equal size, and then put the borrowed
document in my pocket. "Put these let
tiers back, Parish" l said. you are
saved l have hoodwinked the evil one. y
The negro stole softly away. / locked
my door and went to sleep.
As was standing on Broadway that
pleasant Lenten afternoon, these shadows,
seperated from their substance by only a
few hours, rose before me. / was look
ing at them with kindly eye, when |
saw Mr.. Hoag issuing from neighbor-
ing sample room, followed by his man
Friday. AS he drew near me, my friend,
the rector came out of Stewards, escort
ing a richly dressed lady.
.sThat was beautiful sermon Of yours
last Sunday, Mr.. Godkind," she said,
turning with her foot on carriage step.
"Do call and see me soon about our
society for the prevention of evil.n
As she spoke stage rolled passed,
whose wheel, striking hole in the pave
ment, splashed some mud on her velvet
dress. The rector gave a pious exclama-
ton of horror, and, with his dainty
handkerchief, tried to wipe away the
stain. The brave policeman who had
witnessed the catastrophe shook his club
at the driver.
Mr. Godkind placed the lady IN her
carriage. She leaned from the door after
she had taken her seat.
'IfI only knew where he was" she
said to the rector, who bent forward TO
catch her words. ats two years since
the woman to whom / intrusted him
stole him away. / do not dare TO make
INQUIRIES. She was afraid | would place
him in other hands. Every month she
GENES to me for money. But how can l
tell if he is well treated9 | am so
wrctchedr'
The lady withdrew into the carriages
Mr.. Godkind shut the door, and turned
sadly to where we were standing. As
he did so. Mr.. Hoag stepped forward
" How de do2" he said, stretching out
his land.
" You have the advantage of me, sir, y
said tie rector, looking pale but firm, and
not noticing the others hand
"Come, come, no nonsense" said Mr..
Hoag, his correct manner somewhat UNI
hinged by the number of cocktails he was
carving. No nonsense, Mr.. Godkind.
How are you. and how's your wife and
all your cnildren2'
The rector's face grew l1vid. g don
know to whom have the honor of speak
ing" he replied hoarsly.
Mr.. Hoag grew sober with rage. Just
then the little musician began playing
on his fiddle, and singing snatches of
song.
Mr.. Hoag looked fixedly at the rector;
the rector calmly returned his stare. At
ter a few moments Mr.. Hoag placed his
hands in his pocket and drew out num-
Der of letters. He picked out one OF
them and slowly opened it. As he did
so / myself glanced over his shoulder
and read its contents. The letter was
short, and held only these soothing words (:
!" Possess your soul in patience"
The effect of this gentle advice upon
Mr.. Hoag was strange ard unaccountable.
1t transformed that most patient of men
into contensed tiger. His eyes shot
hire; his teeth ground themselves together;
his hand seemed TO hunger for knife.
Do you know who that boy isl" he
passed in Mr.. Godkind's ear, and pointed
t the little fiddler.
The boy was standing now on one foot
and now on the other, singing Justify.
His cracked fiddle had forgot his wounds;
~