Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-13

ability. They would walk the streets
singing their peculiar tune, which could
be heard two squares of. AS they were
two, one larger than the other it would
make two voices, one strong and one
weak, making coed music When called
upon by some one to sweep their CHM
neys, when big chimney the larger of
the two boys would be given the job,
the smaller chimneys falling to the lot
Of the smaller boy, and sometimes both
were employed at the same time.
Their manner of work was to scrape
the SCOT down, going up the chimney,
and when they arrived at the top, more
especially ii they were together they
would give the neiGhbors round about a
rousing song. AS they came down they
would sweep tho chimney In those
days of wood fires there were always
tireplaces which, while they were ut
work were covered with the blankets
worn by the sweeps IN the streets to
prevent the SCOT from blowing into the
room. When done the SCOT was swept
into the blankets and carried away.
About the time these boys had got their
trade thoroughly learned they would
become too large to climb the chimneys
and boys Of suitable size were taken as
substitutes. Saving wood and sweep
ing chimneys were honest businesses in
their day but, .
Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as dream
Ends with the coming day.
There was in Wilmington in by.
gone days colored local preacher
named Jacob Pendergrass, who used to
preach sometimes at the church called
the "Old Stone," at the corner of Ninth
and French streets, which was under
the care of Asbury Church.
Jacob was a man of no learning, but
never overrated himself. When called
on to preach the congregation mani
tested their disappointment at white
preacher not being sent to fill the pulpit.
No one regretted Il more SO than the
good old man himself, but he would
always rally on these words: "Wine is
wine, even drank out of an oyster
| SHE'LL"
In those days the members af Asbury
held campmeeting on the Jersey side
somewhere near the Alloway's creek,
where they spent their time doing what
| good they could, not in recreation, as II
is mostly spent now. When breaking
up day came, by means of the convey
ances 10 be had there they would go
| down to the river and there wait for the
steamboat New Jersey to come to carry
them back to the Delaware side. While
waiting the time would be passed in
singing and in Christian experience
The white folks, men and women, led
off.
On one of these occasions Jacob Pen.
dergrass was along and was called on by
some brother belonging to the Christian
Ad0ooate of New York, to relate his ex
perience. The gentleman seemed to be {
reporter and among other things tool
notes of what the old man said. The
story was afterward printed in tho
Christian AdO0edte. Having myself beer
subscriber to the paper mentioned fol
many years either read of the abov,
circumstance in the paper or was told
it by some one else, who had read 1T.
have no doubt all the good old preache
said was enjoyed by his hearers, con
cerning his religious experience. Jacol
referred also to his past life as slave,h
conversion and his masters name, VIII
eventually freed him.
| BURN Of a TREE
The story of Jacobs birth is inter
esting. There are many strange thing
which happen in this world. Jacob sal
that this event happened up tree. No
knowing exactly what Jacobs word
were, | have to suppose it to make
come right. Now the tree spoken of wa
no doubt large one, aad the fork wa
near the ground and had three branche;
Eagles generally make their nests i
forks of trees, but Jacob was not Dor
: in one of them, but in nest up in tina
tree-fork made by his mother, who wa
slave woman. We may suppose ful
ther tina. this woman would have n
other women with her at this time.
There was another birth long tim
ago somewhat similar to the above bu
in diiferedt place with no attendan
: except Joseph, until the shepherds, tol
by the angel of the Lord came from ii
fields where they were watching the
sheep and found Mary and the babe
manger. On the occasion of tn
birth the angels sang "Glory to God
(. the highest, and on earth, peace, goc
: will toward men,"
Jacob Pendergrass, when grown U
to be u useful man and preacher of Il
gospel was like many of his race, a goC
singer. A favorite hymn was:
How tedious and tasteless the hours,
y When Jesus no longer l see:
i Sweet prospects, sweet birds and swe
a flowers,
a Have all lost their sweetness to me.
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
IS The fields strive in vain to look gay;
i. But when am happy in Him,
h December is as happy as May.
e AS q closing thought our Lord al
g Jacob may have compared their brit
many times since in tho courts of Il
d Lord.
N