Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-08
HARk:S PREACHING.

called him Hank because the wool stood
right up en- his head, and his round eyes
were open so wide that he had a 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?"
"Yes, daddy; done hear" said Hank.
"Tell yer nanny" Hank ground his
bare toe into the cabin floor, grinned
and said nothing.
"Gim ME dat switch! Didn't pay
enough to get Sunday-school lesson
into that boy; didn't l pay thirty cents
JUS to get mule and carryall to tote
dat boy up to the Corners? And now he
can't tell his nanny what de preacher
say to him.''
''Look like I dunno nuf1in," said Hank,
after he had rolled his eyes and COM
muned with himself for moment.
"I'll 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 nutf, tole yer tc-morer.-'
can yer get no dinner, chile, till yer
done tote yer nanny what de preacher
say to yer.
Little Hank heard the bacon suffering
in the frying pan, saw his nanny set
tine 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 Rark
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: "~atch
this place while I go to the house, and
don't you let any one carry off anything"
Hark stepped inside the 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 caoin. He went nearer the block :;
beside the huge piece lay small bit
that Mr.. Henry must have cut oft and
forgotten when he gave out the rations.
Just enough TOR Hark's dinner. OF
course they would eat up all the bacon,
and leave none for him; tor there were
four of them-little Dandy, and Caddy,
and the twins.
"Powerful eaters, dem twins is"
thought Hank: and his little black hands
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 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! l 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
HarIl's ears came the old preachers voice ::
"Wherever you go, dedear Lords eye
is on yer. You can chase de debil off,
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 oh de Lord. will tell no lies; 1
will nebber steal-not crumb-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 stesi.'
''Tell me now, Hark, how much did
you steal!" asked MIR. Henry, laughing,
as he came up to the smoke house.
Cant 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 Har!,
hung his head; ''tell me what made you
turn good so suddenly, you rascal?'
"Look like yer laugh at me, Massa
Henry; look like"
"Look like what? Speak out, HarA!'
''I'se gwine ter do what de ole preach
er tole me-
"What did he 'tole' youi'
"He tote me to help keep de debil out
of de world dis new yeah "
"Well, you've got yourself into bust
ness, sure nuff,' Hark. Have you begun
work yet!'
"What yer say, sahs'
"Have you begun work yet?'
II didn't stole de bacon" said Hark
simply.
Mr.. Henry opened the heavy door.
''Are you hungry, Hark2 Have you
had no dinner"
Daddy done tole me 1 can't have nc
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 Hcnry cut two thick pieces of the
bacon, and handed them to Hark.
'.What dem for?'' cried the child, his
round eyes dilating with wonder, and
the little knots Of wool standing a:
stra iOhf on his head SS II he had hpnr