The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-03-25
brother DlamOud's PersecutiOns.
HNTY NAMES de Rev. James Dia-

YOU, shn shiu mhn conspicuous Tor
bis black face aud gloves and his white
neckcloth, as he put down his hat and
cane and seated himself for a long
call.
The merchant who was writing at his
desk was well known and highly hon
ored In both business and religious cir
cles. He looked up from letter he was
writing, bowed civilly, and asked:
What can do for you 2"
Well, sab, rs heerd dat you's one
g dem faithful servants, dats alus
watchin' for work, and saying, Speak,
Lord, for dy servant heareth.'"
We'll, Pm waiting to her now," said
said the gentleman, with smile and a
glance that read the applicants very
heart.
Well, sab, 'se de pasture of a large
and flourishing church away down
South. WEES buildin' an edifice dat'll
be honor to de nomination. We's got
de whole frame up, but dere ISM no ruff
nor sidin' to keep out de storms so we
can't worship none, less our bredren
helps to finish it up"
Let me see your credentials" said
the benevolent man.
The reverend gentleman handed out
two greasy letters, badly written, hor-
ribly spelt, and dated eighteen months
back.
" Where is your church ?" asked the
merchant.
"All long de banks o. de great Pedee
4 mean the Tombighee-R River; 'scuse
me, sab, )" was the reply.
What's the name of the place ?'
Isn't no place in perticuler, sab it's
all bush, and de people rush from far
and near to hear me-day all says 1
breaches powerful
"Give me the name of the nearest
ministers to you, who know you.''
"Oh, sab, 'tain't no use you writin'
to dem. Dey's Presbyterians and 'Pisco-
palers, and hasn't no interest in my
views My bredren dat KIN ows me, root
and branch, and dat 'ceives de money
elect, is de best ones and here's dere
testimony
"Who knows you at the North g''
A" Rev. Mr.. X, and other clargy who
help me raise de money L got in Phel-
,delphy."
" will write to Mr.. X. and if he says
you are all right, we will give you a
lift here"
"Better not do dat, brudder, he's got
sorter prejudiced agin me, kase on ac-
count of what my enemies down home
has writ him. You know, sab, dat de
righteous will have prosecutions in dis
world, rs got 'em, sure" calculated
the sable brother, adding: " When I
was field hand 1 had disease what
dey calls 'chrony lethergy,' and 'peared
like couldn't work no how. But de
oversee was bound that / should work,
wheder or no.
{" SO he put on de lash powerful.
noticed dat he never troubled Sim, who
was one o. de deacons and think if rs
made deacon he wouldn t have de face
to lick me. You know, sab, he dat de-
sires good work so 1 put to, power
full, in de meetin's, SO 'sprised every
body dat know me. Dey said could be
heard shoutin' a whole mile off.
I" hadn't more'n been made deacon
when de prosecutors come long and
dey say
"' Here, you's fine deacon, a stealin'
o. turkeys and hins'
Now, sab, some o. desc feathered
individooals had walked some way into
my coop, dat I'd hid up out o. dey're
sight under heap of brush; and 1 con-
fess it did look rayther 'spicious for
deacon so, not wantin' to hurt de
cause, JUS TUX 'em, head and heels, and
push 'em into ole Tobey's coop-every-
body knowed he was hin-thief, and
catchin' a dozen more thar wouldn't
make him so -
Well, soon arter dat had a call to
de ministry. Fust it come in a dream
voice saying:
$50 preach, go preach = Den l
hear it in de wind and in the pine
boughs; nex,' when lay wake medi-
tatin' in my cabin, hears all de bull
frogs in de swamp hollerin':
$50 preach go preach go preach
go preach T."
To add force to the subject, the rev.
erend gentleman rose, leaned forward,
pulled out his cheeks and chest, and i'm
tated the attitude as well as the deep
cultural notes of the bullfrogs who were