The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-25
pARsoN NATHAN
Arkansas Traveller

Cotton Boil church, situated few
miles below the city was crowded last
Sunday. Parson Nathan, the revivalist
was there in all the glory and prestige OF
colored divine, and supporting him in
the good work was Deacon John whose
hide is a few shades darker than the
black bat. An unsuccessful effort to
build a new church had been made, and
Parson Nathan showed by his manner
that the failure hsd nettled him. When
he arose in the pulpit, be struck the table
with his ponderous fist and exclaimed:
''Dis heah neighborhood's gwine ter
hell like wagon rollin down hill. Use
tried my bes' ter stop dis klamity, but de
people mocks me wild wide mouf an a
'ceitful eye. Now what mus | dor Stan
aside an see yer all go ter torment? Oh,
no, fur Use a gwine ter make one more
mighty effort. | see before me ter day
de faces OBJ many sinners Oh, sinner
man. fee from de wrath fur de debil is a
tarin' through dis community like boss
rushin' through cane-brake. Keep
yer flesh outen de way OBJ his hoofs an
don't let him snort de fires OBJ damnation
on yer garments. De Lawd wants every
man ter be ligious, an | tell yer, pO'
sinner man, yerd better take off dat ole
shirt OBJ niQuity an put on de clean
white robe OBJ pentence Fling away de
shoes SLED in de mud an mire OBJ cor
ruption an put on de slippers OBJ 'demp-
ton. Cast away de ole straw hat oh
damnation an put de crown OBJ righteous
ness on yer headp
Bless de Lawdl" shouted old sister
Silvy. Bless de Iawd, fur He's dun
washed me whittier den de drioen snowl
Amen" exclaimed old bow legged
Jake, arising and clspping his hands.
''We'se all gwineter walk in de narrow
path Amen
"0h, sinner man" continued the
preacher. blow out de tallow candle
ob sin an light de lamp OBJ goodness.
Doan try ter fight de debil single handed,
fur hell spirit bilin' water on yer through
his nostrils an kick the eternal bile from
yer immortal liver. Oh. doan give him
chance at yer, fur his horns is as hard
as de fire stones OBJ hell an his breath is
hotter den de blazes ob torment Doan
let him git holt in yer house, fur he II
pull up de foundation an burn up yeI
immortal soul wild de rafters Oh, if vel
see him comm fly ter de house OBJ de
Lawdf'
Bless de Lawd exclaimed old Silvy
Quit er kickin' me wild dat kidney
foot" howled old Daniel. don't vel
prance agin me, | amt no post"
What's dat Brudder Daniel?7 asked
the preacher.
II tells dis oman dat doin want hel
to prsnce sgin me, fur l amt no post
Yer Oughtenter talk dat way, sab
when de devil is tramping through de
Ian"
"oh, blame de debil Use been
hearin' dat sorter talk all my life, an Z
amt heard him snort yit, an sides dat
| had noticed dat when a preacher gifts
up an rars an pitches bout a,debil, he'.
jes tixin' to strike folks fur money"
Yer -oughter be shamed OBJ verse
sab"
''Mebbe | is, but de chances is dat
amt. Ole man, yer can git roun ne
wild dat sorter talk case Ise been heal
too long. Better quit hammerin' da
Bible an go off somewhat an split rails
sides dat you'd better pay dat dollar wLal
yer borrowed from me.
Il dosn't owe yer no dollar,
"Yer's liar, sahl"
De debil'll git yer, an I'll be glad oil
1t, angryly replied the preacher.
AN sides OWN me dat dollar, Ps
got anuder little account wild yer | owe!
yer whuppin case yer CONS ter M
house when | want at home an tole my
dat Id run away wild oman an wanted
her ter run away wild yersef. Git outer
dat pulpit, ole man, case Use gwintei
whale yer"
4 doan' wanter fight YER, said til
preacher.
Il didn't ak yer ter fight me. Take
keer OBJ yersef," and he rushed forward
and seized the preacher, who in turf
seized him and slammed him against th
floor with a force that Jared the house
Daniel struggled, freed himself retreatet
and exclaimed
Great Lawd! Neber got SIGH a diff il
my life. Knows now whut folks mean
by a cyclone Go ahead an preach, oil
hurricane, cause amt got huff VIM
ter 'sociate wild yer"