Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-06-11
A Wonderful Negro.

Inc Ke7. Nathan Smith, primitive Bap
tist preacher, is tall and slim, and at tn
first glance would not be taken ior any NOR
than an average negro but the Rev. Natha,
Smith is in some respects very remarkable
man. He claims to be fifty two ears old
though he does not look it, and enjoys
in his declining years the reptation o
being an honest, as we'll as sensible man
The manner in which he first learned tc
read, how he was struck with the "sperrit,;
and how be began preaching. seems like 9
chapter from hoodooism, and yet the story
is told in the most straightforward manner, iu
all earnestness, and with an air that defies
denial.
At an early age, while ploughing as q slave
in Mississippi cotton field, he says he was
suddenly felled to the ground by something
like dull thud that changed the whole
course of his life. 1t was the "sperrit" that
struck him, he says, and Immediately he saw
scenes brighter than the sun had ever shone
on before; there was all brightness above
him, and below was an awful gulf. The
trees around in the woods bowed to him as he
looked at them, and everything was greatly
changed. For several weeks he remained
under the spell, and during that time his
master thought he had lost his mind. $50
had, )" said Smith, $50 far as temporal things
were concerned" Finally he came out from
under the spell, and one Dight he had a
dream. or rather vision. He saw something
like pot boiling over, and out of the steam
came a little man with an open book
in his hand. Placing it before the dreamer,
the little man pointed 10 the book of John
and told him to read Smith was conscious
of the fact that he did not know one letter
from another, and in an instant remembered
how he had pored over the little black Tes-
lament given bin by his uncle, and which
he kept locked up in his trunk. But he
could not resist, as much as he tried, from
looking at the book, and then to his great
amaZement he read the book of John as
readily as anybody could have done. He
read the book through to the end and then
read other books They were as easily read
as the first. Thus, in single night, he had
learned to read. The little man then vana
ished es he had appeared, and the balance OF
the night was spent in finding himself
preaching to crowds of people, of walking
up and down among the congregation and
saving souls.
The next morning when he awcke nc
went to his trunk, and taking out the little
black Testament, opened it, and the first
word to meet his eye was John. He tried
to read, and found that he could read as
we'll as he did the night before when told tc
do so by the little man. Then he went tc
an old negro on the place, who was preach
ing around, and told him he could read the
Bible The old man told him he did moi
know letter in the book. Smith opened
his Testamsnt and read aloud The old ne.
gro was astonshed, and told him be mus
be a preacher, that he had been ordained tt
preach. That was thirty. five years ago las
Sunday night, and in that time he has reai
the Bible, newspapers or anything in the
shape of reading, and yet was never taught
letter.
When his master refugeed from Mississip
pi and settled in Americus Smith was one
of the party. In 1867, when the Fedora
government had work done at Anderson.
Vile, Smith was one of the hands, and i
was while there that he was induced to at
tend general meeting of Primitive Bap'
tiste The text for that morning was verse
Smith had read when the little man showed
him the way to read. This impressed bin
very much and that night he was taken IN
to the church. In short while afterward;
he went to preaching and has kept it up
He has church in Laurens county, sixty
FIVE miles from Macon. and one in Houston
county. When he has no money he walks
the distance, believing that he must not in
cur debt.
Smith has memorized the entire Bible
from Genesis to Revelation. He can tell The
verse, chapter and book of any extract ask
ed of him, and without the least hesitation
Not only can he repeat any passage, but he
can give bis idea of the meaning of it. BE
visits the store of Davis & Balkcom occasion
ally, and often some one tries to trip bin
with his Bible knowledge, but it is always {
| failure.-Afacon lGal TeLeQraph.