New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-11-30
CUAPTER-XXXVII.


The place selected for camp meeting was grove
of magnificent live oaks about seven miles out from
Ilanah. Hundreds of negroes were assembled.
Tho grove seemed min ature city with its myriads
of tents and the hundreds of people in constant
motion.
The night before the formal opening of the meet
ing Dinah passed between the of tents salutng
alike friend and stranger
"Yon is all one to me-. she said. Her eyes burned
with inward fire aud her face was blanchcd by in
tense excitement. @You is all one to me. Am we
not de chilen oh de Lord Am he not gwine to sabe
us Yes. dough 1t be by de fiery birthstone, dough
we walk trough de OBJ bitterness, eft you re-
penis you'll be sabed. See See! from de
Hebens shines de eternal light See Seel" And
raising her long thin arm she pointed afar, while
with fixed eyes shs seemed to see what was hidden
from her eager listeners. From tent to tent from
group to group. she went firing the imagination OF
these simple hearted creatures. until when raising
her clear. melodous voice she sang hymn familiar
to all hundreds of voices followed hers. Some
frightened souls shouted aloud their sins, some fell
face downward to the ground. and some jumped
high in the air and screamed In widest excitement.
Quiet old Nanny with the wondering baby in her
arms, felt herself on the strong tide OF rushing
river al feels do presence OBJ de Lord. she called
out "a loudly az she could, and her call Weakened
echong cries from numberlcss symppathetic hearts.
While tho cries at their loudest Dinah sprang
to her feet and extending her arms shouted.
IIushw Those near her were Immediately stilled.
so powerful her magnetism. The wave of
silence went until all in that excited crowd had
caught the whispered Hush. hushw of Dinah's
wonderful voice. Then in the stiffness in whisper
that thrilled her hearers the woman sang:,
"sleep sleep! dat de flesh be ready
Sleep sleep, that the sperrit may Ice strong
Sleep sleep! for de clarion oh GaDrel
Ia gwinc 10 call you. IN dc golden morn.
Sleep! sleep! sleep!"
Hushing her voice to the softest sound. with arms
outsproad and face lifted to the moonlight. she
slowly retreated from the sight of the awestruck
crowd and disappeared in her tent.
As the rising sun frightened with his glory the
beautiful grove. Dinahs voice, clear as Gabrel's
horn" wakensd tho sleeping multitude. She stood
on fallen tree with long arms extended before her
and tightly clasped hands thnt moved in regular
rhythm to her music. The sunlight falling on her
appraised face aud wide opened eyes, added to their
intensity Not far away on rude platform. with
head bent down and hands crossed on his breast
knelt man in prayer. Swiftly gently. fearing to
disturb his devOtions and unc0nsciOusly In their
movements keeping time to Dnahs song. the
negroes came from their tents and row after row
formed around the platform. Each heart felt the
influence Of that silent prayer that attitude OF alb
sOrbed devotion, and each negro took his place
beside his kneeng fellow Dinahs voice seemed
miles away; fainter and fainter camo tho sounds.
vet so wonderfully sustained, so artistic had boon
the effect that after she had ceased and was pros
trate on the ground in half trance OF religious
fervor the air seemed still vibrating with her
words
"Glorv. glory glory halleluiah De Lord hab re-
membcrcd do sinner ere he dies"
TIE very beating of their listening hearts werc
saving the words, when rising from his knees, his
face exalted by PRAYER. the man walked to the edge
of the platform and holding out his hands asked q
silent blessing for tie praying multitude. lilo was
young man of medium size, with the dark brownish
skin that is most common among his race. His
features were of the ordinary type. bat his fore
htfrl lut ra1 fHa MI al
ness of the face. that had moreover. an additional
gift in the extreme senstiveness that now made his
lips tremble. But the mouth full as 1t was DID not
show coarseness of nature, and his eyes. soft ana
black, were full of tears. Unuttercd were the words
Of prayer that moved his lips. and perfectly quiet
were the kneolIng hgares before him. Then III u
voice full and deep and with something OF the
vbratory power that made Dinahs so effective lie
cried 80
As if they had heard Gods voice. the negroes
started up, some with eyes rolled up until only the
whites shone i'll their dark faces, some with hands
casped aud gaze fixed on the preacher, some strik-
ing their breasts and grooming. Their faces were
filled with religious emotion. so true, 80 real, that
the sentiment exalted obliterated. nero accident OF
feature and skim There was moment OF silence.
then the preacher gazing at them broke into an mi
Eloqucnce. mighty eloqucnce wakens admiration.
bnt feeling thrills One sways the mind the other
moves the heart. This negro uttered only simple
words-words d child's intelligence could easily
grasp vet so intense his own feeling, SO thor
ough his truth, that had statesmen been his
auditors they might have felt their hearts quick
ened They too perforce would have glanced in
ward as conscience stirred from its lethargy: would
have called. Can you bear this test Can you
and this judgmentf Do you believed Or are you
a Pharisee a hypocritcf" Tears were rolling down
tho preachers face. but be did not notice them.
He fell upon his knees and then after some mo-
ments OF silent prayer gave out the hymn. Above
the weaker voices Dinahs thrilled and rs the music
rose the negroes became moro and more excited
until the moment came for entrance 60 the sinners
pen" many rushed mp that there was not room TO
groaning weeping. striking their breasts. their re-
gon was more demOnstratve than the fastldious
would admire, but it was sincere. However short
lived however exaggerated il might seem. IL was
earnest and callous must be that heart that could
laugh at this intense emotion.
To De continued.