The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-09-26

for the time being they were the most
religious set of darkies to be met with
in that part of the country. Long and
loud were the lamentations to the Lord
for their past iniquities and earnest
were they now in singing His praises.
Some were almost historical in their
fervor, crying and moaning to the
good Lord to make them better.
Others looked solemn and holding
their books before them, which were
in many cases upside down, they de-
youtly Joined in the chorus.
Brother Harris gave out the first
verse in deep, impressive voice, as
follows:
Dab wah man, he name wah Lot,
OATS jes what de Good Book say,
An he hab wife, an daughter got,
OATS jis what de Good Book say,
His wife she balk, an make halt,
An de Lawd he turn her into salt,
o, OATS what de Good Book say,
Then came the hearty chorus:
OATS jis what de Good Book say, itam.
Yes, OATS what de Good Book say,
Jis read it froO, you'll find it true,
Fo' OATS what de Good Book say.
With scarcely a moment for breath
ing time Brother Harris gave out the
next verse:
OATS what de Good Book say,
An Ebe came next, den sin Logan;
OATS lis what de Good Book say.
Ebe bit de apple right in two,
A berry wicked thing fur Ebe to do,
But dat's what de GOD Book say, it am,
OATS what de Good Book say.
Then, with an energy almost amount
ing to frenzy they all Joined in the
chorus.
Without any intermission Brother
Harris began another favorite song.
accompanied by various high treble
voices, with ringing variations:
O. 1 long fob to reach dat heabenly sho',
To meet ole Peter stan'in at de do;
He say to me, o, how you do?
Come set right yondeh in de golden pew.
Dat de good solid people do go clean froo
To dip in de gofen sea.
Waving their arms and bodies the
brethren joined in the chorus:
Den dip me, have me,
SiStahs, yO' an me-
Come git de boat, Gaze ives all gwine to float
Fo' to dip in the golen sea,
Repeating these quaint words over
and over again, they fingered longing
ly on the last word, 'sea," ere they
sang another verse, which was as fol-
lows:
Good Mr.. Jesus a-sittin' in de prov.
Come all yo' niggahs, make yo' bow,
An watch dem white trash shublin snow,
While angels fishes nip my toe
When l dip in de golen sea.
Then followed the sermon, by Br'er
Harris. Poor old man, as he stood
there in their midst, shaking as if with
the palsy, his eyes rolled up heaven
ward. so that on y the whites were to
be seen, his long white hair showing
his great age and his frame feeble and
bent, one could not help thinking that
his days were all but spent.
For few moments. he stood silent
before the crowd, violently swaying
his body and waving his arms frantic
ally in the air. Then, in loud, pene-
trating voice, he drew fearful but
vivid picture of the rich man in hell,
whilst Lazarus smiled complacentlv at
his misery from 'de foot oh de great
white frome." There, in the depths of
hell, was the fallen, sinful brother,
sitting on Kissing gridiron. the flames
leaping and darling around him. As
they stretch out their long forked
tongues to devour him he groans and
wrIthes In his agony, whilst long
tailed devil grins sardonically at
his misery and adds new fuel to the
flame. AS the poor victim tries in vain
to escape the devil roughly pushes him
back again. His throat is parched
with thirst, and to add to his torments
he hears the sound of rushing water
near by, yet he cannot have a drop to
cool his tongue. The gentle breeze
which fans the flames around him to
tiercer intensity does not cool his heat
ed brow. Then there is ever the tan
talizing sight of Lazarus looking cool
and comfortable, enjoying all the COM
forts of eternal life, whilst for him
there is naught but eternal misery.
AS the preacher depicted the thrill
ing scene in his own peculiar words
the darkies broke into a low, monoton-
Gus chant, which gradually became
louder and louder, until at last the
whole assembly were writhing and
shouting overcome with frenzy caused
by the fear of a like punishment.
Beating their hands violently together,
they entreated the Good Lawd to come
down right now and save poor sin.
nahs."
Some were crouching on the ground,
whilst others were waving themselves
backwards and forwards until they fell
exhausted to the ground. Suddenly
the minister, as if inspired, rushed
through the throng, calling on lost
souls to escape the snares of the devil.
..Fuh he's right arter yo,' po' sinnah!
He's ready fun to take yo' old black
soul"
At this some shrieked out, Right
heah. good Lawd; come higher dis
poo sinnah, Jesus" whilst others
moaned pitifully as they groveled on
the ground at the minister's feet. After
a while the enthusiasm passed away
and only few low cries of "Heah,
Lawd.' or mere groan were to be
heard, and then all was over.
As the last sound died away a wo.
mans voices. clear and sweet as a birds.
broke the stiffness with the following
chant:
Roll on. sweet chariot,
Come fun to carry me home.
All joined in the chorus, filling the
big hut with the melody of their deep,
rich voice, and the air reSeunded with
the sweet and soulful sounds.
New York AmazpuS