The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-05-31
ANGELS CARRIED HIM HOME.
Old Uncle ELI Joins the Church Triumph
ant from Little Temple ON Earth.

It was one of those model July
mornings which come best on the east
ern slope Of the Alleghanies and pre-
ferably III Virginia. Anyone who has
grown in the climate will tell you the
same. 1t was Sunday, and the suns
rays touched and glorified the entire
surroundings, the growing grain and
the blosssoming tree alike took on new
beauty as the morning grew older. The
heat was made bearable by the breeze
from the hills and struggling knots of
humanity moving along the country
roads were taking life easy and get
ting all of the pleasure out of the
tramp to the church. They were ne
groes. As they drew nearer the
patches of color marked the kerchief
of the maid or matron and the linen
and tie of the youth or man. Family
there came from the little groups as
they threaded path across meadow
as short cut or wound about the
roadway snatches of the quaint mel
ody, those nearest approaches to folk
song the country has. Mingling with
the solemn or triumphant strains was
| the natural, whole-souled laugh of the
children. The scene was idyllic in
simplicity.
Amid the groups was nondesc ript
vehicle. The wheels and running
gear were of carriage adapted to an
open-box wagon, drawn by staid old
horse, its only occupant besides the
pickaninny who piloted the ramshackle
machine being the oldest negro in the
settlement-UncleE Eli Chambers, whose
years ran on uncounted and his state
ments of his age unchallenged. He
was there before any one now living.
And between the greetings to friends
who bowed their good-mornings and
| cheerfully called his name he hummed
brokenly the refrain:
Cummin' fob tn cahry me home.
The little frame church was crowded
and through its open windows prayer
preaching and praise were waited tc
those young and ungodly persons
many white and of more delicate
senses, who had come to hear hut
could not sit within. 1t was a grea
day. The even dozen converts wht
had been baptized the week before
were to receive the right hand of fel
lowship. There was enthusiasm il
the air and the singing was with tina
resonance impaired to the words ano
tune by the spirit. Elder Chanle
was to preach. and never had th
good brother been SO earnest or 81
eloquent.
"Foh l says unter you, bretherins
and sistering in the Lawd, eye has no
seen noh have it entehed into the un
dehstandings of men the glories o
that home prepared foh those who lul
the Lawd. But it am laid up fol
those who serves him heah on d
airth," and he paused not to interrup
the chorus of "Praise de Lawds,
, "Amens" and "Bless he's names" whic
came from all sides and went on Wig
orously.
"Prepah ye, prepah ye, fob ye kno'
not the day or the Duh or mint, prais
Gawd, when ye may be called"
"Cummin' fob to cahry me home"-
it was the piping voice of old Uncl
Eli which broke in on the sermon a
he chanted the refrain.
! "Yea brethering and sistering, / say
to ye, git ye all ready for the chahic
of the Lawd and the hohses therec
when they comes for you. Prepah ye
prepah ye," and the voice of the min
lister was lost in the "Amens" as b
summoned all to prayer.
"Cummin' fob to-" The feebl
.. piping strain was almost lost in til
chorus of praise. One form did nc
kneel and when the congregation ros
for the doxology it did not rist
!. The spirit of old Uncle Eli had bee
carried home on the wings of tha
chorus of praise to the Lord.