Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-13
nARK'S PREACHING.

nARK's PREACHING.
Little Hank was colored boy and
lived t.awaY down South I think they
called him :Hark because the wool stood
right up on his head, and his round ewes
were open so, wide that he had look as
if he were Away listening,
"See here, you Hark," said his. daddy
on New Years Day, Did yer. done hear
what de preacher tole yer to-day?"
eyes, daddy done hear" said Hank.
"Tell yer NANNY" Hark ground his
bare toe into the cabin floor. grinned
and said nothing.
. "Gim me a dat switch Didn't I paw
enough to get Snnday-schooE lesson
into that boy; didn't I pay thirty cents
JUS to get q mule and carryall to tote
dat boy up to the Cornerss And now he
can't tell his NANNY what de preacher
say to him!''s - -
''Look like dunno muffin" said Hark,
after he had rolled his eyes and com.
muned with himself for moment.
! ell smarter yer: up wild dis yer
switch" suggested the daddy.
"Dat won't help me mite, daddy
said Hark, closing his shining eyes seri-
ously; 'look'; like I tole yer to-morer.
Sure huff, l tole yer tc-morer.'
can yer get no dinner, chile, till yer
done tote yer nanny what de preacher
! say to yer.' v.. ; =.
Little Hank heard the bacon suffering
n the trylng-pan, saw his nanny set
ihe humble table aud make the pones.
When the small cracked pitcher that
held the black mslasses 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 Mr.: Henry just
gong away.
"Here, you, Hark,' he said: swatch
this place while I go to the house, and
don't you let any one ca Try off any thing"
Hark stepped inside thex smoke-house.
A large piece of bacon and knife beside
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 off and
forgotten when he gave out the rations.
just enough 1or Hark's dinner. 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 eaters, dem twins isl
thought Hark: and his little black hands
went out and grasped the fat bacon and
putt 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 keep dc debil out of dis
beautiful world! Let me tell yer, boys,
and little gals, too); cherry time yer lay
yer hans on what belong to somebody
side you, jes' say, Go way dar, Mr.. Deb
il! done promise to help keep yer out
of de world dis year.
The small, greasy black hand went in
to the old pocket and drew out the piece
OF bacon and put it upon the chopping-
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 ears came the old preachers voice ::
"Wherever you go, de dear Lord s eye
is on yer: You can chase de debil of,
dear chillen, but yer can't chase away de
Lord. He is alters near. Say to Him dis
| New Years Day: "Dear Lord, will do
de work that is hoy and spectacle in de
sight OBJ de Lord. I will tell no lies;
will nebber steal-not a crulnb-if is
hungry" -
Hank threw the meat back, and went
hastily out of the smoke house, closing
the heavy door after him.
"De Lord is heah," he whispered; "put
both of yer hans in yer pockets, Hark,
an don't yer done take dem out till Mr..
Henry come back. Look like den yer
couldn't steal!'' >' 49,,
"Tell me now, Hank, how. much did
you steal2" asked Mr.. Henry, laughing,
as he came up to the smoke house. -.
"Can't steal muffin dis yeah" said
Hark.
"Did you get religion up at the Cor
ners?' said Mr.. Henry
"Dunno, sah," said Hark
"What's the matter, then2" as Hark
hung his head; "tell me what made you
turn good so suddenly, you rascal2"
"Look like yer laugh at me, Massa
Henry; look like
"Look like what? Speak out, Hank p
"I'se gwine ter do what de ole preacl-
er tole me-" ss1-, ..>. .,..
t"What did he .tole' you2'
HE tolc mo to help keep de debil out
Of de world dis new yeah y
"Well, you've got yourself into busi-
ness, sure nuff,' Hark. Have you begun
work yet2"
."What yer say, sah9'
>"Have you begun work yet?"
II didn't stole dc Bacon" said Hark,
simply. --" ., :
Mr.. Henry, opened the heavy door.
"Are you hungry, Hark2 Have you
had no dlnner?'
"Daddy done tole me 4 can't have no
dinner, cos / don't tell nanny what de
preacher tole me; look like now I jes
member it; but dey cat de dinner up
fnow: Dem twins-dey is pow'ful eaters
| sah.">- 80. .-....--,-.. 49, .-..---. 81
Mr.. Henry cut two thick pieces of the
bacon, and handed them to Hark.r ;
~"What dem ferp' cried the child, his
round eyes dilating with wonder, and
the little knots Of wool standing al
straight on his head as if he had been
listening since! the world began
"For your dinner - -, q, =.
"What made you gimme all data" said
Hark, grinning. : - - i ,s,e@a'r} .. d.
+ ST thought I would try and keep the
i debit OUT Of my moke-house.' :. .:'.'
| "But yer can't keep de Lord out, ye1
know" said Hank as he darted away fol
4 his cabin .E'- rTn2i'I3 sAa. :. srs:s.
l Look a. datl" exclaimed one OF the
twins, as he rushed in the little door,
g! saved yer dat, Hark.'' She held ur
l a small tin plate full of molasscs, with q
tiny piece Of bacon floating about in it.
He wanted to hide the great slices he held
IN his hand, they made her little Offering
seem 30 meager., tis.s@ " ~. :. j'> >-+@z
4 Scan yer tole yer mammy what ide
preacher tole yerl'' said his daddy, before
he was fairly in the door. .s:ss.75( 80.
t. II can tole yer now" said Hark: anG
in his own way he told them all 1.-The
daddy and nanny, Dandy and Caddy
| the twins and Bncle Billy what he hac
heard that morning, with no thought ht
was addressing an audience. g.
+ Old Uncle Billy said, dat chiIe'l
make q handsome preacher some day
i NOW yer jes' mark my Words g
/ As Hark and the other children sal
down to enjoy one Of the slicessof bacon
| he took mp the small tin plate, and SAID
tsoftly to himself. 81 pc sorry now dat
tole dat dem twins was pow,tul eaters.