San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-07-26

ging along the main road IN ~ was jog.
ton OF the congregation, T Hre dlrec'
before him stout little negro I6U "a.
peculiarly active step and na IAN oOy Of
carried in his hand a small t;r Who
meals. p''pie 10 their
The custom among many in tbo ..,
(previous to the war; was to allow south
ried men to go to their wives, on mar
and children to visit their naro mVuses,
Saturday evening, to STAY with t ths, on
Sunday; and as. the negroes we Snen on
sically inclined, they carried e en- au'
horn, or banjo, to give notice of 4 n,a
approach and to beguile the M 'uelf
while in other cases they would wh; way;
sing or shout. Dow, accord;nc .aIe
usual manner, entered into convers ~ als
with the boy, and found he was ; ntsna
ing to visit the congregation L s mo
about to meet. If the truth m mv was ~
told, Lorenzo had an idea that tbs oIa oe
acter Of the flock was that of q raa ar
less, frolicsome, kind, careless na aevh'
upon whom it was necessary to mar maIa
a very decided impression, or I;
time would be thrown away amo nls
them. "''0ns
"What is your name, my lad ?D asked
Dow. ''Aeu
Gabriel, sir" replied the bow liftinr
new straw hat and showing his ivory
while he actively stepped along to keen'
pace with the preachers horse.
"Can you blow upon that hornpn
"Oh, yes, mister, can foot q littlap
"Well, let me hear you"
So the negro inflated his cheeks and
made the woods resound.
"Do you know tall pine tree near
the stand at Sharon ?" said Dow.
eyes, that I do, very well, mister
Lorenzo then put his hand into his
pocket, and pulling out a silver dollar
showed it to the negro, and told him
that if he would climb into the pine
tree before the people met at the meet.
ing, and keep there quiet until he call.
ed out his name, and then blow on his
horn as he had just done, he would
give him the silver dollar if he did not
tell anybody about it.
The negro expressed himself highly
delighted at such an offer, and promised
punctuality and secrecy.
On Sunday large congregation as.
sembled at Sharon to hear the famous
Lorenzo Dow. Serious old men and
their wives, wild boys and their sweet.
hearts, almost all on horseback, some.
times by twos and threes, besides ne.
groes from great distance on foot, be.
ing readily captivated by the natural
eccentric, for they love anything that
has laugh attached to it, and they
knew that Lorenzo was good for ajoke,
even if it did hit hard.
Dow selected rather of a birthstone
text, and made the application as strong
as possible, but he forced his way
slowly among the mercurial, healthy,
honest-hearted people, who are hard
to brighten. He enumerated the enor-
nifty Of the vices he thought to prevail,
but they were so used to them that the
words slid like water over ducks
back.
At length he boldly described, in the
plainest language, the appearance and
character of the ''last great day." and
what would be their condition when
that day came.
"Suppose," exclaimed the preacher
suddenly, and then he paused, "that
this were the day|
He saw that some of the women be-
came little figity, and that they
nudged the fellows into silence and
attention.
:'Suppose," repeated he, elevating his
voice, "that Gabriel should sound his
trumpet" ,,
At this moment the little negro
showed he was trump" and from
the top of the lofty pine loud anu
clamerous blast overwhelmed the au-
dience. The women shriekei, the men
rose III the greatest surprise, the horses
tied around the camp, neighed, reared
and kicked, while the terrified negroes
changed their complexion to dull
purple color. never WIS "i"l
prise and astonishment more prompVF
exhibited.
Lorenzo Dow looked with grave out
pleased, attention upon the successlu
result of his experiment, until 'he nlS'
clamor had subsidized, and some Oegsn
TO estimate the character OF the ar.ln,
cioI ANGEL. and were about to applya
little hickory after the pine
But this suggestion was arrested !.
the loud and solemn tones OF the Pre"thh an
er, who. looking very firmly into the
faces of his disturbed audience le@I I;s.
grandly over them to finish his his, a''
Course, and impressiyely remarked ;i.s
And now if little negro boy, WIN
a in horn, or the top ola pine; OT Ta1
can make You feel so, how W Will 'O1
feel when that day does come!