The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-31
SWEPT THE SWAMP.
Wfy a Sinner Had an Interest in the Church and How He Handled
 Dark Calvin.

Dark Calvin was, during many years, known as the toughest deck. hand on the lower Mississippi river. He is the man who, during the great days of the" Robert E Lee," showed old bandy-legged Comus in the river at Vicksburg. Calvin was a valuable man on boat. The boat might stop, it would make no difference where, and within an hours time Calvin would bring in the finest chickens in the neigh borhood. He always sold his chickens at reduced rate, and this was doubtless the reason why nearly all the river cao. vices. We'll, Calvin abandoned the river several months ago. Some people were wicked enough to say that he quit on &C., count of han dful of buckshot which the owner Of a landing had prepared for him, but persons who have a strong belief in the efficacy of repentance, know that the motives which inspired Dark Calvin were the motives which prompt man to do good unto his fellow-creatures. At any rate, Dark CalviR became an evangelist He was wonderfully supplied with read mess of tongue, and, with an emotion which he can at any time summon, he naturally creates excitement among the devil-fearing and, sadly be it said, devil defying people of his race.
 Several weeks ago Dark Calvin began a revival meeting down at Gar Bayou Every negro in the neighborhood became deeply interested, and had it not been for an unfortunate occurrence, great good might have been accomplished. That unfortunate occurrence shall be truthfully and briefly related. The other night, just after the first hymn had been sung, Dark Calvin, in close imitation of white promoters of the hallelujah shout, arose and said:
 "I sees dat de folks O dis heah cur munity mus be grabbed and shuck ups De debil am CT sm mokin' CT straung pipe O nigger- wool terb aker all ober dis heah country, an wants dis sorter thing stopped. You niggers has got to do bet ter or UT trace chain stretched CT cross de road couldn' keep yer rum runnin' slap dab inter hell." Then, Dark Calvin seemed to catch glimpse of Sam Jones. "I hates ter say it, but de fog an' fire damp O hell is so thick in dis house dat yer ken cut it wid CT case knife. Dat fat sister ober dar is waddlin' her way inter torment an dat lean pusson ober wander is goin' inter hell by buck jumps. Oh, yer needn' shake dem woolly heads fur de debil hab dun got his hooks on yer. doan ax yer ter 'scuze me fer talkin' plain, fur Peter an Paul talked plain darselfs. Oar aim but one way ter keep outen torment an dat is ter slap ole Satan in de face an den knock him down fore he rekivers rum de s'prixe. Nov, ef dar is a siMner in dis house, 1 wants him ter stan up."
 Simon Leckford arose.
 "Dar is one sinner" said the preacher as he surveyed Simon. "Yas, dar is one sinner. Look heah, my fren', is yer a sinner sho' nufff"
 "Dat's whut I is::"
 "An' yer pears ter be sorter proud O dat fack."
 "Dats whut is.n
 "Ain' yer feerd dat suthin' gwine ter knock yer silly"
 "I aim skeered."
 "Doan' yer think dat one O desc heah days yer gwineter heah suthin' drap?"
 "Ain' CT hurtin' bout dat"
 "Does ger stan heah 'mungst all desc heah Christians an call yesse CT hones' mani"
 "Ain' got so much hones'ness dat it gives me pain an doan' see dat no uder pusson is 50 awful much 'ficted."
 "Whar does yer think yer1l go when yer dies 7''
 @Dat's de Lawd's business"
 4Doan yer think dat de'il will git yer7"
 "Not ef ken hep it."
 "I'se CT Seerd, sah, dat yer's CT mighty hard case. Please sot down."
 The old sinner sat down and the preacher added
 "Now, l wants eberybody dat is inter- ested in dis heah church ter stan' up."