Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-06-18
A HOUSE-TOP SAINT.


Noble of the Detroit Training School OF
English Literature and Elocution:
''Yo' hopes Is a christian, do you. said
the sable Sibyl Nc Ivor TO a young teacher
from the north. "Why was spectacle sort
oh a christian afore yo' nanny was born, l
reckon. But TO- desc las twenty-five years
rs done bin mighty powerful one. rs one
oh dc housc-top saints, sonny"
"House-top saints! What kind OF saints are
those, auntyY
"Humph! thought likes not yo' nebber
hearn tell o dem kin up yo' way. Dey's
mighty sca'se in desc days. But dars one
on 'em on dis here plantation 'tany rate"
"And is that one you, Aunt Sibbyg
eyes, sonny hits me"
But what do you mean by calling your
self house-top saintg"
~ mean dat Is done been tru all de stories
o. my Fathers house on earth, frun dc cell
lah up. Now, Is fairly on dc rolf. Yes, rs
on dc berry ridge-pole, an dar i sits and sees
glory like you nebber see it frum down dar
below"
"But how did you get there, aunty"
"Iow does anybody get frum dc cellah to
de pahlah, an frum de pahlah to dc chamber,
an frum de chamber to dc roffg Why de
builder las put stairs dar an yo sees 'em an
puts yo' feet on 'cn, an walks up"
"Well are there not the same stairs in our
Fathers house for all his children? Yet ac-
cording to your story, house.top saints are
scarce"
"Sartan, sonny, sarten. Stars won't get
folks up unless dey mounts EN-. If dab
wah a millyun O. stairs leadia up to glory, it
wouldn't help dem dat sets away down to de
bottom an bowls an means bout how help
less dey is. It's unwordy of n blood bought
soul for to stick TO de col dark cellah, sitting
down 'mong de pork barls an trash, when he
mought be livin' in de light an sunshine an
warmf away upon de house-top."
That's very true Aunt Sibby; few of us
do reach the house-top."
"Well de house-top's dar, an de stars dar,
an dc great glorious Massa's dar up above
all, CALM calin,' day an night, friend come
up higher an he reaches down his bright
shnin' han an offers to draw yo up; but
yo' pulls back an shakes yo' head, an says
NO, no, Lord, can't 60 l isn't nothin' Is
dat de way to treat him who has bought yo'
wild price? o shame on yo', all yo' down
cellar, pork bar'l christians Shame on yo'!
Is had sorrows huff to break down a dozen
hearts dat hadn't no Jesus to share dcrc
trial wild EN-; but all Oh 'en hez only sarved
TO fotch me nearer to Him, till now nothin'
hez de power TO separate US. Oh!
Nobody knows de trubble ! see,
Nobody knows like Jesus;
Nobody knows de trubble | see,
Glory Hallelujah!
Sometimes Is up, sometimes is down,
Oh, yes Lord
Sometimes Is almos' 10 dc groun'
Oh, yes Lord"
"But is there no place for christians, aunty,
between the cellar and the roofY
"Oh yes, honey. Oars pahlah christians
an Oars chamber christians. Now de pahlah
christians am de ones dat cit JUS out oh de
cellar, an den goes off an forgets what kin
oh crctures dey was down dar Dey = gro
proud an dress up fine like worl's .olks, a
dances All SINS ~orf. ""es, an got onl
legion huff to make show wild on Sunda
Pahlah's mighty fine thing, honey, but d,
! amt made for folks to spend der whole tin
r in"
} But what is chamber saint, auntyT'
Il well, now chamber saint is one d
done scape de scare an dark Of dc cellah al
pride an high -falutins of de pahlah, an
is glad to take kin o rest. Dey says
derself ives had - right smart o trials a
< troubles, an Yves got along mighty well
2 CESS now VIC can see dc way clear up
glory De poor critters TO gifts dat dey's on
half way up, an dat dey Amt come off co
q gorous yet. Dey set down in der easy chair
o. an dey smooths out der soft pillah an folC
der hands fer nap, an de work OBJ
kingdom don get mighty little help fro
dem. Den satan he tries 10 make dem b
4 lievc dey had better stay whar doy DC, al
b. mos always generally succeeds. O,
g chamber nice sort ob place for rest Al
d comfort, but nobody don't ought to use
{, for a roostin' place"
y, But aunty, DO you lind it possible alway
y to keep in this joyful and wakeful frame
mind? Doesn't satan tempt you sometime
and try to coax you down from the hous
topY
"Well now tell you, honey, keeps {
:. ole sarpant's head mashed under my he
, pretty gen raj Sometimes he rises upon IN
II an rolls up his eyes an thrusts out II
fangs, but mos always have power 'nu
give me to stamp on him. He don't like M
i dc debbl don't. He mos Civ me up for los
q But he peer 'casionally Sometimes whe
4. get up in dc mawnin an sees work 'nu
.. ahead for two women, an my head dor
ache, an my narves all rampant like,
comes an whispers Ia my ear. 'Sistah (di
;. satan do often hab de impotence to call n
sistah).' Sistah you's sick an tired a
:, ready. Yo' lots might hard one, Sista
Il Sibby! Jcs' look at dat pile o. shirts to ro
r. an all dat house work to do, an dinnah [
Y cook for Adam an Tom an Abram Linkur
!. an Wilyum Henry Harrison an Judd
/, an Cleopatra. You might hab a good de.
easier time ef yo's min to, Sistah Sibb,
Well, den, | face right round, an says
D, clear out, you satan an git Anime my bach
Dat pile o shirts amt high huff to hide hir
dat is my strength, nor no homework nue.
der.
"a 4.