The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-11-11
CrOss-Cut Religion.

Little Rock Gasstte.
The meeting house Of the Lickskilit
district was crowded. The preacher,
old Noah, with his grizzly beard and
head half white, like q cotton field
when tho bolls are just opening, sat in
the pulpit surveying his congregation
in that peculiar way which has ever
characterized the colored preacher. A
spontaneous hymn arose, and when the
melody had ceased the preacher arose,
and said, Lot us ingage In prar."-
The congregation kneeled, even young
Ike, the preachers son, who had just
come from down to the spring, where
he had been trying to swap mules
with one of the deacon's, and had
succeeded in his opinion in getting
the better kicker, which caused him to
feel uncomnonly happy.
''Oh, Lord" began the preacher,
Eve 'sembles in dis house oh worship
to thank thee fur dc many blessin's OBJ
de past, an AK dat yer would sprinkle
our lam wild leetle noah rain. We
must hab q shower 'twixt dis an Sat-
urday night, ease, Lord, we's needing
OBJ hit. Amcn." just as the preacher
arose there was q stir at the rear end
of the house. A tall colored man, fol-
lowed by several parties as intensely
colored as himself, filed down the
aisle. "Come up ter de STAN, Brother
Robinson" said de preacher. for he
recognized the preacher of the Back
short district.
81 doan want to COME up ter yer
stan'," said Mr.. Robinson.
"What's dc. matter wild yer, sah?"
exclaimed old Noah. "What's ailin'
oh yer?"
'.ruther day 1 sent yer a note, AKIN
yer ter stop prayin' fur rain," remark
ed Robinson with emphasis. "Our
cotton is sufferin' fur sunshin. We'se
had more rain den we wants, an heah
yer goes AKIN fur moah.''
eve hain't had no rain, sab, an /
'tenster pray fur it until hit do come" !"
els yer tryin' ter drown US out?"
"Nu," but wants 'nough rain"
"I undertaPs yer game, Brudder
Noah. You sees dat rain is putin US
in de grass. Yer know dat it his fur
de worl'ly intrust OBJ dis section fur
ter keep lis dar. You wants der Lord
ter drown us out, SO dat your con're-
CATION will git de heels OBJ us in de
markit. De Lord, at dis season Of de
yeah, has got SO much business ter
'tenter, dat he ain't q noticin' how
much rain is q fallen. You keep a
sendin' up yer prars, and he keeps q
pullin' de string. wants yer to stop
hit. Does yer heah, Brudder Noah?"
81 heahs, but is mighty loft about
hark'nim'. We want rain, we doos.-
We prays, an eff de Lord grabs holt
OBJ dc wrong string it taint no fault OBJ
ohrs.".
"Well. I come heah prepared fur q
let up ur fight Sich foolishness IS
yer sends up is 'nugh ter git the Lord
SO tangled dat he can't git hisself
straight fur yeah. You'll putde sun
In de clips" ts'i
"Do what wild de sum-"
"Put hit in de clips.'
"Well, ef dat doan beat any mistake
I ever heared anigger make. No won-
der de Lord wun't pay no 'tention to
yer"
"What would you say7"
"Why, de reclipse."
"Dat's all right, but de fact want
settled is dis: Is yer gwine to stop2"
"No, isn't
"Den we mixes WOOL"
Mr.. Robinson sprang toward the
pulpit. Noah sprang to meet him.
The widest confusion prevailed. The
two men grapPled, and the deacons
gathered around.
"Gimmy de plantation grip" ex-
claimed Noah, while Mr.. Robinson
vociterated. "Cut yer capers, cut yer
capers!' Finally Robinson fell. Noah
mounted him, choked him into obedi-
ence, and raising himself up, exclaim-
ed: "Lct us pray again. Brudder
Robinson git down dar." The preach
ers have become friends.