New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-07-28
HARK,S PREACHING.

llAlLA-S ftEACnlNUs
Little Hark was colored boy and.
lived "way down South.'' / think they
called him Hark because the wool stood
right up on his head, and his round
eyes were open so wide that he had a
look as if he were always listening.
"See here, you Hark, y said his dad
dy on New Years Day, "Did yer done
hear what de preacher tole yer to-
day?''
ayes, daddy; I done hear" said
: Hank.
''Tcll yer mammy.'' Hank ground
his bare toe into the cabin floor, grinned
and said nothing.
''Gim me da5 switch! Didn't I pay
enough to get a Sunday-school lesson
into dat boy; didn't pay thirty cents
JUS to get mule and a carryall to tote
dat boy up to de Corners? And now
he can't tell his nanny what de
preacher say to himp'
"Look like I dunno nuflin," said
Hank, after he had rolled his eyes and
communed with himself for moment.
''pll smarter yer up wild dis yer
SWITCH" suggested the daddy.
''Dat won't help me mite, daddy"
said Hank, closing his shining eyes Sc
riously; "look like I tole yer to-mor-
rcr. Sure huff, I tole yer to-morrer."
cam yer get no dinner, chile, till
yer done tole yer nanny what de
preacher say to yer"
Little Hark heard the bacon sputter-
ing in the frying-pan, saw his nanny
thu b11rol ,lo fnhIn anI ,no}rn thu
pones.
When the small, cracked pitcher that
held the black molasses was placed be-
side his plate, it was more than Hank
could bear; he walked slowly out OF the
cabin. Not far away stood the smoke
house, and he saw young MI. Henry
just going away.
"Here, you, Hark," he said: "watch
this place while 60 to the house, and
don't you let any one carry off any,
thing"
Hark stepped inside the smokc-house.
A large piece of bacon and a knife be-
side it lay upon the great block. Poor
Hank! How large the piece looked!
There never seemed to be quite enough
in the little cabin. He went nearer the
block; beside the huge piece lay small
bit that Mr.. Henry must have cut of
and forgotten when he gave out the
rations. just enough for Hark's dim
ner. OF course they would eat up all
the bacon, and leave none for him; for
there were four of them-little Dandy,
and Caddy, and the twins.
"Powerful CATERS. dem twins u.s."
thought Hank; and his little black hand
went out and grasped the fat bacon and
put it in his pocket. At that moment
he remembered the words of the old
black preacher:
"Boys, what can yer do dis new year
dat comm, to help keep de debil out
of dis beautiful world? Let me tell yer,
boys (and little gals, too): ebcry time
yer lay yer hans on what belong to
somebody side you, jes' say, Go way
dar, Mr.. Debil! l done promise to help
keep yer out of de world dis year."
The small, greasy black hand went
Into the old pocket and drew out the
piece of bacon and put it upon the chop
ping block.
"Mr. Henry never know muffin bout
it; pears like nobody see me take it,
he murmured. Back into the dirty
pocket went the bacon, when again to
little Hark' S cars came the old preacher s
voice:
"Wherever you 60, de dear Lords
eye is on yer. You can chase de debi]
off, dear chillcn, but yer can't chase
away de Lord. He is alters near. Say
to Him dis New Year Day: Dear Lord.
| will do de work that is holy and
spectacle in de sight OBJ de Lord. !
will tell no lies; will nebbcr steal
not a crumb-if rs hungry.'''
Hank threw the meat back, and went
hastily out of the smoke-housc, closing
the heavy door after him.
ode Lord is heah," he whispered;
"put both of yer hans in yer pockets,
Hank, an don't yer done take dem out
till Mr.. Henry come back. Look like
den yer couldn't stealr'
"Tell me now, Hark, how much did
you steal?'' asked Hr. Henry, laughing,
as he came up to the smoke-house.
"Can't steal muffin dis year," said
Hank.
''Did you get religion up at the Cor
ners?' said Mr.. Henry.
''Dunno, sah," said Hank.
"What's the matter, then?" as Hank
hung his head; ''tell me what made
you turn good so suddenly, you ras-
cal?''
"Look like yer laugh at me, MI.
Henry; look like
s:Look like what? Speak out, Hark!''
"Pse gwine ter do like dc old preach
er tole me-
"What did he 'tole' you?''
"He tole me to help keep de debil
out of de world dis new year."
"Well, you have got yourself into
business, 'sure nuff,' Hank. Have you
begun to work yet?''
"What yer say, sah?''
"Have you begun work yet?''
81 didn't stole de bacon,' said Hank,
simply.
Mr.. Henry opened the heavy door.
"Are you hungry Hank? Have you
"Daddy done tole me 1 can't have
no dinner, cos l don't tell nanny what
de preacher tole me; look like now /
jes' member it; but dey eat de dinner
up now. Dem twins-dey is pow'ful
eaters, sah.''
Mr.. Henry cut two thick pieces Of
the bacon, and handed them to Hank.
"What dem for?'' cried the child,
his round eyes dilating with wonder,
and the little knots of wool standing as
straight on his head as if he had been
listening since the world began.
"For your dinner"
"What made you gimme all dat?"
said Hark, grinning. ...
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