The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-10-07
A Negro Camp-Me citing.

1t was bright, glowing morning OF
July in Southern Virginia, says q
writer in the Southern Bivouac. The
misty air hung in u soft haze over
wide fields OF ripening grain that bent
its golden head to the breeze. Green
pastures interspersed with clumps OF
persimmon trees, stretched far away
in an undulating swell, melting inn
perceptibly into a dim, distant blue
outline. "Down in the low grounds"
wagon loads OF ripe melons lay shin
ing in the sandy soil, buried in their
cool, green leaves, while higher up to-
bacco plants stretched their broad
leaves in the morning light. Occa-
sionaJy a negro driving a mule to
pillow could be seen through the long
rows of green corn, where yellow
pumpkins lay like huge balls OF
gold. An air OF peace and tram
quillity seemed to hover over the
scene. No harvester's song broke
the still morning air. In front
of the negro cabins were scattered
children. The youngest ones, baskins
in the sun. rolling in the dirt. sitting
propped up in boxes, or playing with
stick dolls, seemed a picture OF con-
tentment, while the larger children,
with a comicall look of dignity on their
shining brown faces, were surveying
their new dresses with evident salts
faction. Presently the scene grew
more animated, and the dusty high
road became lively boulevard, filled
with every species Of vehicle, groups
of men and women, struggling children,
and pacing horses.
Large farm wagons, Anticipated jer-
seys, delapidated buggies, weighed
down with men, women, and Children
in holiday attire, wound their way
down the highway, throwing up clouds
OF dust in the faces of the less fortu-
nate "foot-passengers." From every
wood and by-way, from over the hills
and through the forest lanes, came the
motley crowd, all Fastening toward
large hill that, covered with a thick
growth of oaks, stood out in bold re-
lief against the blue-sky background.
On one side large clearing had been
made by cutting down the trees,
whose stumps still decorated the
ground. A temporary church was
erected by the means of the branch
es of pine laid across long poles
placed horizontally on upright sup
ports. To the right were large tables
spread with fruites, bread, and fried
chicken, over which a tutelary deity,
in the shape of a fat negro woman,
presided; on the left were picketed
| the horses of the incommers. A surg
ing crowd OF negroes, laughing and
chatting, soon filled the clearing, and
| the women, tanning themselves affect.
| edly, smiled complacently when their
| dark-skinned admirers addressed
them as Miss" Presently q hush
fell on the assembled multitude, as q
tall, negro preacher, dressed in a suit
| Of brown trousers. with an old blue
army coat, assembled the platform
that answered the purpose OF a pulpit.
After short exhortation the shout.
ing begins, for a negro would scorn a
| Christian who did not shout his hat
| of his head The ceremony of shout
ing is terrifying to spectator. A
| sort of fury seems to seize the negroes,
especially women, who scream at the
| top of their voices, throw their arms
wildly about, jump up and down for
hours, and seem entirely out OF their
minds.
"Ths men don't have no time ter
pit 'ligion," an old man once told me,
"fur it takes dem ter hold the omen
folks ter keep EN- from a-killin, them
Selves" and this is true, for in an
hour or so numbers fall in a faint and
are apparently lifeless. In this state
they remain for hours, and on awak.
ening relate their wonderful adven-
lures known as their Experiences.
The preacher, noticing that the
straw, which had been spread on the
ground to deaden the fall OF any one
who tainted, was wanting beneath the
front benches, exclaimed: "Brudders
an sisters, dar's City soHls lost here
tn night fur want er straw" WHICH
was probably true, as the occupants
Of those benches remained compare
lively quiet, When the violent ebul-
lition of feeling had somewhat subsid-
ed short sermon ON tae Judgment
vas given.