The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1883-05-12
CROSs-CUT RELIGION.

~s~~''
The meeting house of the LichskiIlt
district was crowded. The preacher,
old Noah, with his grizzly beard and
head half white, like cotton field
when the bolls are just opening, sat in
the pulpit surveying his congregation
. in that peculiar way which has ever
characterized the colored preacher. "A,
spontaneous hymn arose, and when the
melody had ceased the preacher arose
and said, "Let us engage in prar,"
The congregation kneeled, even young
Ike. the preachers son, who had just
come from down to the spring, where
he had been trying to swap mules
with one of the deacons.
& knOh, sIlord,' began the preacher,
eve 'semble in dis house oh worship
to thank thee fur the many blessin's
OBJ de past, an AK dat yer would sprin-
kle our lam with leetle NOAH rain.
We must hab shower 'twixt dis an
Saturday night, cease, Lord, we'se
needin' OBJ hit. Amen"
Just as the preacher arose there was II
stir at the rear end of the house. A
tall coiored man, followed by several
parties as intensely colored as himself,
flied down the aisle. "Come up ter de
STAN. Brother Robinson said the
preacher, for he recognized the preach
er of tho Blacksnort district.
II doan want ter come up ter yer
stan'," said Mr.. Robinson.
"Whut's de matter wild yer, sab !"
exclaimed old Noah. "What's a
ailin' oh yer 2"
ssTuther day sent yer note, akin
yer ter stop prayin' fur rain," remark.
ed Robinson, with emphasis. "Our
cotton sufferin' fur sunshine. We'se
had noah rain den we wants, ans heah
yer goes AKIN fur NOAH"
awe hain't had no rain, shah, an l
stems ter pray fur it until hit do come"
els yer tryin' ter drown us out ??''
mo, but wants 'nough rain"
ssI understands yor game, Brudder
Noah. You sees dat rain is putin us
in de grass. You know dat hit is to de
WORTHY intrust OBJ dis section fur ter
keep us dar. Yer wants de Lord ter
drown us out, so dat your congregation
will git de heels OBJ us id de market.
De Lord at dis season OBJ de yeah, has
got so much business ter tend ter dat
: heain't a noticin' how much rain is a
"a faliin'. You keep sendin' up your
prars, an he keeps a pu1Iin' de string.
wants yer to stop hit. Does yer
heah, Brudder Noah:'
81 heah, but is mighty loft about
hark'nin. We wants rain, we does.
We prays, and eff de Lord grabs u hold
OBJ de wrong string it faint no fault of
ours.'
"Well, I came heah prepared for Il
let up or q fight Sfch fOOlisilneSs as
you send up is 'nough ter git de Lord
80 tangled dat he can't sit himself
straight for yeah. You'll put de sun
in dc clips.''
edo what Wild do SUM-"
ssg"Put hit in de clips"
"We1i, eff dat doan beat any mistake
I ever a niger make. No wonder de
Lord won't pay no 'ten1ion to YER"
"What would you say?'
"Why, dc reclipse.'
"Dat's all right, but dc fact 1 want
settled is dis Is yer gwine tor stop:'
"No, 1 isn't"
"Den we mixes WOOL"
Mr.. Robinson sprang toward the pull
pit. Noah sprang to meet him. The
widest confusion prevailed. The two
men grappled, and tho deacons gather
ed around. "
"Gimmy de plantation grip" eX-
claimed Noah, while Mr.. Robinson vo
ciferated "cut yer capers, cut yer
capers ~ Finally Robinson fell, Noah
mounted him, choked him into ODE
dience and raising himself up, eX-
claimed .'I.et us pray again. Brud
der johnson, git down dar." The
preachers havo become friends LiHle
Rock Gazette.