Litchfield enquirer., 1879-05-22


 their number, and with many heathenish rites had proclaimed her their Lord and Savior, refusing to work except as she bade them, and ready at her bidding for any murderous work whatever. ,Iappeal to Mrs. Gourdin to state whether have at all exaggerated the facts in the case."9 .:aa5 .5 Io,. ;t
 'sWe did have very trying time here, Joe," replied the little lady. T never told you how bad it was, for knew you had troubles of your own, and 1 did not wish to annoy you with fears which, after all, might have had no l foundation. The servants were impudent, and when the overseer ran away I was posi- l lively alarmed. Mauma, too, acted SO strange l ly that F feared she was going insane. She I left the nursery aud took up her residence in l the overseer's house. woke one night from l sound sleep to find her standing beside my bed in the moonlight She looked very weird and strange but her words were re-assuring Don't be skeered, honey she said 'Mauma's going to take the niggers on a jiji hunt until | de bewitchment is passed ober.' The next l day saw her heading the procession of all the hands on their way to the pine woods. She fhad taken the rattlesnake's skin from the cabinet, had tied it to your gold-headed cane, and fourishing before them, singing as she l marched: t.t .... ... .....s.
 Moses reared up de serpent in de wilderness, In de wilderness, in de wilder ness. l wonder that she was called Voudou queen. They were gone for several days, but came back to their work in quiet orderly way after | their strange escapade."
 MT. Giderpill rose and bowed, saying, as he took his hat to depart, "You see, Colonel l Gourdin, what an influence it would have upon your people to have their ringleader extelled Colonel Gourdin bowed stiff1y, but did not reply After Mir. Gllderpill had taken his de- porture, the colonel remarked, '1 shall preach Mauna's funeral sermon myself"
 "Y0u preach sermon, Joe !" exclaimed Mrs. Gourdin, ill horror.
 q know Pm not fit to do it., said the colo nel, modestly; T never made but two public speeches in my life; one was at-Court House when explained my action when, as a member of the Charleston Convention, signed the ordinance of secession and the other was when proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom at Belle Legare's wedding dinner. The first was a redhot con Gno0re affair the second, about the toughest thing I ever did, for I was Belles first cousin, and that was before I met Mrs. Gourdin. No, Pm not much of an orator but if l can't find minis ter of the Gospel to do the handsome thing by Mauma I'll do the best I can m=sef."
 It was strange funeral. The grave was dug under the Cherokee rose-bush, green pine ! rested Maumas coffin, upon which were heap ed, with crosses and wreathes the camellias she loved 80 well, and each member of the family wore black ribbon upon the arm or breast.
 ''Ladies and gentlemen began the colonel, and then, as his eye fell upon his own family gathered at the head of the grave, and wan- dered over the heads of the negroes bowed reverentially at it's foot, and he realized that | hor fho Aplu yrhit r11ov hn hnr y9. ''Ladies and-felow- Christians, I am not a member of the Church, and know that some of you would not be willing to return the compliment and call me what 1 have just called you, but take it that Christian means good and I do claim to be good fellow. The Bible says somewhere, am sure it does, though have locked for it all the morning and couldn't find 1.-the Bible says, By their hearts you shall know them.' The good soul that lies there used to say to me, Massa Joe, you's de bes hearted ob all my chillen; you hasn't but one failin', dat's swearin which makes me sick at my stomach ebbery time hears it, an makes ebbery angel in hebben feel de same way too. Howebber, has hope for you, for de Bible doesn't say, by your words, but by your hearts, you shall know dem.' So, my people, count me in your ranks this day as a fellow-C Christian, though I have never been to your mourners' bench to get religion"
 As the colonel paused, many hearty "Dat we will, colonel" "Bress de Lord, colonel, , and "Dat's de troof, colonel" was heard in re- sponse.
 Dearly beloved bretheren," began the col onel again. Git is because l Of. all among you am best acquainted with the life and character of the deceased that have reserved for n.y. self the high honor ot setting it before you, nor in so doing shall 1 forget that we have of o,~s1 to extenuate.' Fellow citizens Mauma was raised in my grandmother's family and in all the long years of her life she has nursed twen- ty-fve of my grandmether's descendants. Her heart was large enough to hold us all I dare not think how heavy is our debt of gratitude to this kind soul When the news came that you were all free, she still clung to US. My friends, l believe to-day that I shall go to heaven some day, for know that there must be heaven for such souls as Mauma's and know too, that it would be no heaven to her unless all of her twenty-five white children were there. And now of her virtues and frail- ties no more on this occasion. In the words of the only religious society to which belong, the order of Masons, 1 commit her body to the grave, her memory to our hearts, and her soul to God"
 With an expressive sweep of the hands toward the coffin, to his heart and to the sky l Peters, colored Baptist minister, known as powerful "menber- -r0usin', sinner -convictin' preacher" lifted his hands with solemn 'Let us pray"
 70 deu nose merciful Marster p began the old man, in low, piteous accents, ''dou hast heard de words ob dy unWerdy serbent spo- kened accordin' to de bes' ob his ability from mine dull ob understandn' an short of re- memherance but dou Lord, who regardest not de big buzzard more dan de little sparrow hab mercy dis day on de sperritual sparrow bird before dee, and dough he thought have flowed wid a wider wing, take notice dat de l words spoken was spokened to de bes' Ob his ability. An now, good Lord, eff dar's a crunb of grace Jeff in hebben, scatter it out to us dis day. Dou hast laid de han ob aff1ic- tion upon us, an hast called from our number a mudder in Israel, May de action ob to-day 80 inoculate us all dat none oh de beloved fam fly in de midst ob us may fail to meet her at de welcome day. We know dat her soul is a shinin' now like star in it's silbery socket, a-spanglin' wid light in patch of cloud, an we beseech de Marster dat, when swiverin' like parched scroll de flanin' hebbens toged- der roll none in dis were company may la ment deir ondane case. May de words ob dy unwordy serbent pelt upon de soundin' posts ob deir heads while it is still de day-call, till dey shall catch hold de lettle end ob de cross an Jesus will bear de big end for lem. An now, O mereiful Marster, we tank dee dat dou didst spar dis mudder in Israel to us, an dat when de man ob violence was a-rearing and tearing in dis Ian, a-leadin' dy cullud chillen on to burnin' an destroyin' dy white chlllen's property, dis dy serbent did lead us a foah days journey into de wilnest i'll we foun' Jesus. And now, Marster. we beseech dee one mo time in particular manner to press each one ob dy serbents here 'sembled ob deirselbs togedder. Bress de boss, an change his swar words to hallelujah words Help de white ladies to reflect on deir case, so dat dey may not say at las, de prayer has prayed, an de mo'ner has mo'ned, but we is net saved. Help de members to keep a-waggin' up Mount Calvary's summit. Rouse de inner-man who sits on de seat ob do-nufin. Help Daddy Jack not to steal no mo chickens. Sabe Floridy from begrudgement ob de new-fash- ianed finerv dresses oh da winter holders