The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-06-24
A RICH OLD SERMON,
A COMPANION PIECE TO THE HARP OF A
THOUSAND STRINGS.

iipi t'hNii buptiSt ptVdNH'l, dDtut
forty years ago, and lived in South
west Mississippi. Owing to his
peculiarities and eccentricilies he
was often invited TO preach at the
neighboring towns where vast con-
gregations assembled to hear him.
Now, in orderte give our readers
better idea of this quaint charac-
Ter We will attempt a description
of his appearance at Lawrence
Couit House when invited there TO
preach. He was about foriy.five
years of age, six feet high, stoop.
shouldered, lean, lank and swarlhy,
long irons gray hair hanging un-
kempt around his neck and shoul-
ers, wearing an old stooe.pipe hat,
mashed in on one side, a swallow
tailed striped coat reaching down
TO his knees, but two sizes TOO
small for him, a double. breasted
old black vest, copperas breeches
with legs having the appearance OF
being sewed to the skin and stuck
into his boot legs, no cravat; and
when he took the stand, and after
depositing his saddle bags under
his seat, unbutloned his collar,
pulled off his coat, spit IN his hands,
and then began this wonderfully
characteristic sermon:
Ny BRkTHERING-Accordlng to
the records | came into these low
grounds Of sorrow nigh unto forty
years ago, or thereabouls, within
about seven and three.fourlhs
miles of this locality, but passing
strange TO say never had the ma.
jestic pleasure of preaching a Cos.
pei sarmOn to my brethering OF
this locality since this locality was
was located here-ah.
Why this should have been thus
and overcome me like a autumn
shower bath | can hardly tell ; but
my brelhering for 10 these many
years my heart has been yearning
and painting like a water brook
pants for young hart to come un.
to you and TO talk to you and TO
wrestle with you Oh Mount AIRY.
rat as old Sampson the young He
brew inlidel wrastled with The
young wolfe in big Spring Swamp,
about The things which daily and
hourly consarn your final damna.
ton and eternal resurrection be-
yond the tomb-ah.
When | was little fair-haired
buxum boy, with golden locks
streaming in The winter breezes,
playing stlck.it-lo him with com.
panlons Of my early youth, in The
twilight of the midday sun and
hunting the wlld.eyed possum at
dawn Of day amid the blue hills OF
old Lawrence, around the family
altar my hearts daily yarning was
to preach he gospel in furious tri.
umph and knock he eagles eye
from The craggy peak on old noun:
tain's base and preach everlaslin'
sin and final damna,ion to the peo.
pie of this ere town as did my old
glass-eyed father in the long days
gone by of the far away dist ant
future -ah.
Them times, my brethering, was
grand old times.ah. The wild
cat roamed with fearful pomposily y
amid The huckleberry bushes OF
beaver.dam creek-ah; the little
dog with fleece as white as snow
ran through the tater patch and
chased the chicken cock with bat
ed breath and smoking nostrils
while the catfish and the sunny
trout played hide and seek with
the wild gazelle in The muddy
brook Just behind The old smoke
house where daddy's gold lay in
hidden piles deep beneath the old
lard barrel.ah.
Yes, my brethering, them times
were grand old times, and often at
the close of day l sit and sing and
laugh and cry and smile away
with fearful eye the long winter
days that glide adown the stream
Of time with horse-race speed and
endless fury-ah.
Yes, my brethering, them was
grand old times, and if l had the
patience and you The time and the
shrlll wlslle of the dinner horn
was not so soon expected 10 wake
the citizens OF this ere town from
Dan even unto Bethesheba, l would
tell you all about them-ah. Yes
would tell you how Joseph and
Samuel and John and james, my
four eldest brethern, the other
twelve were little tow.headed fel.
lows then, how used to preach 10
the wild hea,hens Of Chickasaw
Mountain, where flows the ripping
and seelhing and smoking waters
OF the gentle hepsldam just be-
yond the Alps.ah. And how The
poor sinners fell around Will
heavy thugs and deep groaning'
and bolstrous laughter that coull
not be heard for miles around up
on the ground was kivered will
their blood, until not a single MAJ
was left 10 tell The story in lh'
cave of Askelon or to publish 1t il
The streets OF Gath.ah.
But, my brethren, time is pass
ing-every hour are golden and
must not redeem the precious mo
ment in talking to you about lh'
tleetins glories Of the past.ah. Blu