Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-05-04
VINEY'S CONVERSION AND
corr TSHIP.


Nlney telt that life was hard Nlney was
maid Of sixteen, brown Of color, and as pret-
ty as one Of Stoddard's South sea Island girls
though for my part have never quite be-
lieved in the charms Of those winsome nymphs.
In her soul Niney was a frivolous little wretch,
who loved to feast firt, sing and dance, re-
gardless OF the fact that she might have to
pay the piper. Her tastes, indeed did not
stand III the way of her usefulness, for Viney
was 'as handy as the next one :" she worked
right royalty when she worked, and idled it
must be owned, after the same fashion Her
discomfort now was not owing to the mean
ness of opportunity, for plenty of gayety went
on about her. Fate in the shape of an elder
sister stood between her and the desires of her
heart. This sister, Mrs Ally Phil Hancock
by name, was shining light in the Happy
Hollow Baptist church, and she put her foot
down too hard for it to become entangled in
"de DEVILS snares, as she called junketings of
worldly nature. Her special duty was to
keep watch and ward over Viney, and train
her in the way she should go. This was no
easy task, for Niney was a born rebel. With
figure supple as that of the Discus-thrower,
strong statuesque arms, aud extraordinary
agility of motion, she would have been a ter
rlhc foe to meet in an AmAzonian fray But
fortunately she was very good natured, and
extremely susceptible to kind words. ISIS
in life when she followed her own ideas in the
matter, and did not allow herself to be too
much guided by Elder Simeon Buford who
had long regarded Viney as a brand"
DE trouble is, Sis Ally" complained Viney
one day, you aint Re5tr willn' for me to
have no fun"
What you call fun chile;' responded Ally
huworedly, resting one hand on her hips
Ally was ten years Nineys senior "an' ten
years ahead Of her in looks, her admirers de-
clared. The truth is, the sisters were exactly
alike, except that for the last ten years one
had been growing tall and the other broad
very broad
Well picnics, an parties, an barbecues
an dancin'"
"Dancn' Now see here, Yiney, dar's one
thing yo' kin purpose 20 min on, an dat is
dis When de devil sees a sinner a.dancin
he is glad on ii-pO,rerfW glad on tan he
keeps rattlin' in de light-wood knots to make
dc fire double-hetted for en-"
II dunno muffin bout dat, but does know
dat yo' amt willin fur me to hab any of de
joys of life"
You'll neber know dem joys, Viney, till
you is worker in de vineyard of de Lord
but if it's gaddng about you're hankerin' ar
ter, I'm sure We hab enough o dat to satisfy
a cormorus."
"Yes-baptizin's an funerals"
well, baptzn's is very joyous occasions,
an funerals is improvn' to de soul howeber
dey harries de feelin's. An den look at de
tea parties we is invited to attend wild our
presence an fur to eat chicken pie, an drink
coffee, an praise de Lord"
" Pears like yo' don't hab no interestin'
folks at 20 semblages. Now, eff you'd jest
sprinkle in few young ones, like-like-"
Like Jack Chaney, mebbe you're tryin' to
say" said Ally, severely.
Viney blushed and Ally knew she bushed
though no sign was visible through her dusky
skin. She hung her head too, and dug her
toes into the ground but finally, plucking up
heart of grace
"S'posin' l did mean Jack CLANCY? l
guess you kin cross many waggin track an
not meet anybody any fairer.spoken dan him.
Now, Sis Ally, dat gran quiltin' O. yourn, why
not give Jack a invite ?"
'He can't darken my do" said Ally SOL
emnly. eur what does de hymn say?
'Blest is de man
an Of co'se it means woman, too
'Blest is the who meier consents
By i'll advice to walk,
Nor stands in sinners, ways, nor sits
Whar men ungodly talk.
OATS de pint, Viney-men UHg0dly. OATS
what Jack CLANCY is-ungodly. An 1 can't
have him at my party; he would jest be de fly
Jack don't do nothin' wrong" muttered
his champion.
"Oh no He didn't fight chickens last
Sunday wild Tom Kinkle, in dGtile sight o. de
Monuments in de cemetry, did he p said Ally,
crushingly.
"What tattle-tale brought dat to yo'r ears?"
"Twarn't no tattle-tale it were dc godli-
est man in de church-Elder Buford"
81 mought a knowed it always did hate
dat ole coon"
Dem as hates is in danger O. hell-fre."
Take keer, den, dat you don't hate Jack
CLANCY" cried Yiney, as quick as a cat
81 Glars to goodness / don't, Viney i
owns Jack is a nice, outspoken chap as ever
seen, an ef he war only a child o. grace
could shout for joy. An to show you don't
bar no malice, I'll let yo' fix up a nice plate
@ goodies when has my quiltin', an SEN em
to him in frien'ly sperrit."
Viney laughed. "All right Sis Ally; an
I'll do all l kin to help you get ready TO- yo'r
quiltin', for knows yo' means to make greet
occasion of it,"
'De gre'test, said Ally, "dat has been seen
In desc parts sence slavery times"
When Ally said this, it meant something
She was in the habit of having companies" "
all extremely comfortable in plan and exeou-
tion, and the rumor that she was bent on out
doing herself at the coming quilting made the
mouths water Of those who were bdden to
the feast. Ally was, indeed, a hospiteble
soul and she had good right to be, for the
'Phil Hanoocks" were the most important
people in the colored community. Jolly tastes
went hand in hand with their pious conyio-
tions, and somehow, in spite of Elder Buford,