The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-09-01
AN AFRICAN BAPTISM.

lOpie r. Read. ia the New York AeresTy. Several day ago l attended negro baptizing. The social and political con- ditions of the negro have undergone many changes since the war, but his religion, reg gardless of scientific research and the grea; sweep of doubt that has gone like wave over the country, re- mains as steadfast as his love for the 'possunE Nothing can change his belief in divine intervention, and among the tatfered folds of his ghostly traditions he wraps the ancient child of his wool gathered fancy.
 The baptizing took place at a bayou whose banks were thickly peopled with ardent worshippers. After ringing hallelujah from several hundred able voices, old Parson Kinchin, who for years has preached the gospel 10 every living black creature within reach, mounted a stump and said:
 |" Bredrn, we has come heah ter day fur de pupus ob showin' dat we ain't dun forgot de bible 'struc,ions. Seberel ob dis goodly number hab showed by dar actions dat da wanster be sabed when de great horn is blowed-quit CT paradin round in dat water, boys-an' ter hep 'em on wid de good work we has 'sembled heah ter bap,ize 'em-ain't yer boys go, no raisin'-in de name ob de command We won't further kill time in ;alkin bout dis matter, fur every mini; wha, sinner loses Is pin; fur de debii.
 Dismoun:ing, he look hold of sister who approached and leu her into he water. while the congregation sang the following stirring hymn:
 Come T !cag an r-cei.e !. grace.
 Come q long. o5iIe er long.
 ili !e A.t,fs ,h ,.an ooer ser lace
 An :e t.ehi'@ highly rad
 Case my soal's eo glad.
 Bat he Saaat put L. r. not hooks or me
 II F.. sl4Ne ! m migAiy sick,
 An he !. .easr nic shiy quick,
 When .aaess han. haA. a, ae burnin The minister conducted his eonver, to the middle of ,he sluggish stream, stopped. turned the sister around, and raising his right hand, said
 Dis casion causes much Joy Tn hea5en ,erday. bat in hell dars a mighty 's,urbances. Bredren. Jes' fur de furder courasemen, ob de sister, soun' de praises. and the son reg sation Tn mourn iul strain, sang
 Alrlos' z!sr
 l4sseH tts V fT4r
 lie,- ac fa; Jn l S5 len sa0es.
 alses a.t aan'
 Al = ataas han,
 An shoats Hflei;, load ir glorioas aeWs. Jus, IS the minister was in the act of :" sousins the sister. an excited negro made his way through the crowd, stopped at the waters edge and exclaimed
 = Am dat yersef, Liza = "las, Tony, i,s me.
 What yer doin dar = :. l'se in search ob de grace
 :" In search ob de deb,. Come ou,en dar or I'll make dis neighborhood 50 hot de water'll bile"
 "What's the matter ?" demanded the preacher.
 "Dat 'oman's my wife, sah, an she runned away from home 'tother day"
 "Come outen dat water now or I'll come in dar wid pole an lam yer til yer wouldn't know Mars Paul from Capn Adam. knows how yer's been lookin fur de grace. Tux all my shirts when yer lef home. Reckon yer wanted 'eni fur de Lawd. Come ouien dar.
 .Yer'li halter go, speck,' said the preacher. :" fur II ain't bes' ter hab 's,urbance. Keep yer eye on de lamb "Dai's de trouble wid her," exclaimed the husband. She's al'ers got her eye en suth n what doan long ter her, makes no difference whedder il am lam UT goat, and reaching out and seikins his approaching wife. he conducted her away. while the congregation burst into a song as another candidate for grace stepped