Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-28
S0JOURNER TRUTH.
The African Sibyl Who Received
Her Name from On High.
A Centenarian Who Played Stirring
Part III American History
Enci1ents in Fer Remark
able Career.
GCor. Inter Ocean. I

known by the association with events in
fJhistory which she remembered. She had no
Nrecord of her birth, and popular report made
aer iOo years old at the time of her death:
LIT according to her own belief she was
much younger. She was born in Ulster
county, New York, and her own date of that
event was between the years 1877 and 1900
der original name was Isabella. but, as she
nersalf explained, when shs lsft the house Of
bondage, she left .verything connected with
that life behind. Che said she wanted TO
Keep nothing OF ! ypt about her. and 50
asked the lord to 6. . her new name. She
believed Ter prayer was answered and that
the l. I'd told her to take the name Of So
journer, because it should be her mission to
travel Up and down the land, showing the
people taeIf sins and being a sign" to
them.
she atterward wanted another name be-
cause everybody had two names, and the
LORD, she says, gave her that of Truth, be-
cause she was to declare the truth to the
people.
SOLD WITH THE SHEEP.
The notoriety and fame which this grand
old woman obtained were not of her own
seeking. She ever sought to work con-
scientiously and do her duty and not to seek
Of the first things which she remembered,
prominently connected with her early life,
was the time when she was years old, and
was sold on block at auction, together with
flock Of sheep She and the sheep together
brought the sum of S104. which, she remem-
bers, was a good price. Al her hardships,
she says date from the day of this sale She
was compelled to labor hard in the fields all
day, anc, upon returning to the house at
night, doing washing and ironing for the
masters house.
After obtaining her freedom, and sex
periencing religion" she attended camp
meetings, and at one of these near North
ampton, where only white people were in at
tendance, she hesitated at first, but de-
termined to go. A gang of roughs attacked
the camp, and raised a great disturbance
At first Sojourner was afraid, and hid her.
self for fear that the roughs would wreak
their mischief on her, she being the ONLY
colored person present. She afterward
reasoned that God would protect her, and
remembering the quotation,
ZONE SHALL CHASE A THOUSAND,
and two shall put ten thousand to flight
she offered 10 go out and quell the riot She
invited others to go with her, but they re-
fused, and told her she was a fool to 60 The
noise and confusion We're terrific but So
journer left the tent, and going to rise of
ground began to sing in her most fervid man
ner one of the camp-meeting songs begin
ming:
1t was early in the morning-it was early in
the morning,
Just at the break of day,
Vhen He rose-when He rose-when He rose,
And went up to heaven in q cloud.
All who ever heard her sing will remember
her peculiar tunes and style, which once
heard can hardly be forgotten. As she COM
menced to sing with the utmost strength Of
her powerful voice, the roughs made rush
for her, and she was Immediately surrounded
by dense body of rioters, many OF them
armed with sticks or clubs. Her singing still
continued and seemed to thrill the young
men, as they quoted down very much in
their demonstrations. After pause she in
quired, in her mildest tones, 'Why do you
come about me with clubs and sticks? 1 am
not doing harm to any onen ''We amt a
goin' to hurt you, old woman" they cried
simultaneously. Keep on singing and talk
ing!" The leaders of the crowd cried out for
her to mount an old wagon near by and preach
TO them. She declined, fearing they would
overthrow it. But they continued to clamor
for her to do so, promising not to touch her;
anu ~ 4dS0 SuS dCcc4eI 10 Uuelr request.
They assisted her to mount the wagon. from
which she spoke to them for an hour and hall.
THE WEEYIL IN THE WHEAT.
Once while at a religious meeting one of
the speakers alluded TO the government of the
United States, and spoke in warm terms of
the constitution. Sojourner heard, and in a
low voice said:
'lhilien, l talks to God, and God talks to
ne. goes out and talks to God in de fields
and de woods. THE weevil had DESTROYED
thousands Of acres of wheat in the west that
ycar.l Dis morning I was walking out, and
l got over de fence. saw de wheat a-hold-
ing up its head, looking very big. 1 goes I'D
and takes hold of it. You believe it. deere
was no wheat dar. I says, God speaking
the name in a voice of reverence peculiar to
herself, what is de matter wild dis wheatp
Su' He says to me, 'Sojourner, dere is little
weasel in it. Now 1 hears talking about de
constitution and de rights of man. comes
up and 1 takes hold Of dis constitution. It
looks mighty big, and 1 feels for my rights,
but dar amt any dar. Den 1 says, God,
what ais dis constitution And He says,
'Sojourner, dere is a little weasel in it, " The
effect of this comparison on the multitude
was irresistible
VISIT TO LINCOLN.
L, OoHor,a- Of 1894