The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-05-25
The DsriSiVe Snort of Satan.

O1ce, while travelling horseback
through a rough section of Tennessee
Cell in with a nomadic preacher,
It -was one OF the courageous evan.
.eiist vino fight down every physical
Disadvantage that they may spread
spiritual consolation and neither cold
winds nor the greasiest and most dys-
peptic fare could turn him from un
apostolic course which he had mapped
out. In lie course OF two days trav,
Z, together we became somewhat CON
identjaI. told him l was travelling
in the interest OF a great newspaper,
writing up the peculiarities OF the PEG.
( pie; he told me he had with him five
hundred dollars, which a former con.
gregation had Just paid him for one
years service.
"Don't you think" said l, that
you acted unwiseIy in bringing the
money with you?"
"No, for l had no place to leave it,
he replied. 81 an but little acquainted
with the ways Of business, but l know
enough OF banks not to have any con-
fdence in Them
One night we stopped at a wayside
house. We occupied the same room.
Don't you think" said I, as we
were preparing to 20 to bed, "that it
would be better to put your money
under your pillow"
mo, don't think So" he replied.
81 am but little acquainted with the
ways of the world. but I know that
under a mans pillows about the first
place a rObOer searches"
He placed a candle and some match.
es near the bed. 1t must have been
about midnight when the pop and
flash OF a match startled me into
wakefulness. A negro stood in the
center OF the room, holding the
preachers pantaloons in his hand.
My friend sprang out OF bed, but be.
fore he could say anything, the negro
sank upon his knees, held up his hands
and said:
"Marster, lissun ter me one mint.
l knows dat l oughter be sent ter iall,
but TO- you sends me jes' let m cur.
munerCate er little. Shortly after you
genermen went ter bed, ole Satan got
inter my heart he did. He tole me dat
dar must be money in dis we're room.
Says l,Mr. Satan, git right straight
behind me now, cas- what is it ter me
Ell dar is money in dat room? 1t
doan long to me, Mr.. Satan, an you
oughter know dat TACK. Go on erway
an let me erlone.'. 'Silas,' saws he,
you'se er fool; you'se been workIn'
fur white folks all yo' life an you
amt got nothin' yit. How long you
gwine go on dis way? Gwine let de
folks grind you un'er da feet?' Mr..
Satan s. ], 'wush you would go on
erbout yo' bizness, fur l amt got no
conversation wild you, but he KEEP er.
giCtin' closer ter me, an at las. not
bein' able ter stan him, | slipped up
we're, tuck yo' money an went down.
Satan waz gone, an / gunter think,
an den / gunter pray. Sunthin'
peared ter say, 'Whut's de use'n
prayin' long ez you got dat stolen
money in yo' pocket an den de tears
o. sorrow gunter gush outen my eyes.
Oh, l felt that my POI soul waz dun
los, and it peared to me dat I hearn
OLD Satan er-standin' at de corner o.
de house err snickerin'fit ter kill hisse'f.
Marster, | couldn't stan it no longer
an | creeped back up stars an wild er
prar in my Heart, wuz putin de
money back in yo' britches wen you
woke up an lit dat can'le. Now, sab,
you may me take ter jail. Jes take me
er way an | won't say er word, fur Use
lessened ter de voice o. old Satan, an
hab described it all. Put err rope roun'
my naik, marster,aa lead me err way
He bowed his head and tears gush.
ed from his eyes. The preacher was
deeply moved. Poor creature
said he, you yielded to a tenn
temption, but your determination 70
replace the money proves that you
have an impressive and generous soul.
| will not have you sent to prison-I
will forgive you, will pray for you
"Oh, marster. marster. may de Lawd
bless you fur dis, ! will go back ter
my cabin, sab, an pray"
I was also deeply moved, for Icould
see that the old negro was sincere. He
shook our hands just before leaving
the room, and in his own peculiar
way, begged us never to forget that
we had seen q man whose soul had
been stricken. When he had gone my
friend said:
lido not believe in a personal devil
and yet there is almost enough proof
to convince me there is. That poor
old negro suffered just as much as
though he really heard the derisive
snort Of Satan"
Next morning. as we were dressing,
the preacher remarked: II hops that
negro slept well after his agonized re-
pentance. Ihave done so much at the
nourner's bench that-mercitul heay-
ems, | have been robbed my money is
gone
F WA rTT4lV70H SUFf a. q fWo5 os,I *&<o-~.