Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-12-05
APICKANINNY PREACHER
Wonderful Doings of a Little
Negro Girl Evangelist.
A South Carolina Squire's Story of thu
Child Who Is Preaching the Gospel
with Such Power to Black
and White.

About dozen prominent mem ber
of the southern colony in New Yorl
met in the lobby of downtown hote
the other evening to talk over OLE
times with genuine old South Caro-
lima squire" who is spending few
days in the city, says the New Yorl
Sun. This gentleman of the old schoo
acquired the title of squire in the ole
days, when it was little above thai
of Judge" and far above that O.
colonel" as a mark of popularity ane
dignity, and he wears it gracefully
still
Squire, suppose we all take some
thing" suggested the big colonel from
Kentucky.
II can't do it, boys" responded the
squire, and far-away look came into
hiskindly eyes. You see, I've stopped.
"Wh-e-w," whistled the colonel, with
a ng-drawn-out sound like a fall
wind. II can hardly believe you" And
every man in the party looked as if he
was thinking the same thing, but none
made any comment.
How did such misfortune come
upon you?" finally ventured Virgin
ian, after the first great wave OF sur
prise had subsidized. for they all knew
that for nearly forty years the squire
had taken his toddy three times daily
after meals to aid his digestion.
"Well, boys, it was this way" he
said THE little niger girl preacher
converted me, and I've dropped good
many of my old ways, such as cussin',
swearin', and drinkin'. reckon you
maybe all read that little editorial
about her in the Sundays Sun suggest
ing that she should come to New York
and preach in Madison Square garden.
Well, all I've got to say is, If she comes
you must all go to hear her, and if her
sermon don't touch your hearts more
than all the Parkhurstian bombs and
Talmagic Roman candles that you've
listened 10 sllce you moved to this dis
trict, then r.. go back to my wicked
ways"
Who'd ever have thought that what
n burned little pickaninny had to say
would influence man OF your com
mon sense, squire?" spoke up the old
est man in the crowd, testify. II
wouldn't have believed it of you. What
manner of child is she, anyway, and
where did she come from2"
II don't know great deal about her
past history, which is very short one,
as she is only nine years DID," COM
menced the squire, as he took long
draw at corn-cob pipe, "but she was
born near Washington, somewhere in
Virginia, think. in the fail of s5. Her
daddy was preacher, and died three
or four years ago. This child whose
full name is Claretta Nora Avery, has
always eagerly attended religious serv-
c,s and taken a great interest in the
spiritual welfare of her people She
says that the love Of God entered her
heart when she was year and half
old, and has never left it, but of course
you all won't believe that, for no
genuine darby has any idea of time.
I'd been hearing and reading good
deal about her, and not believing much,
and when business carried me to
small town in the lower part of the |
state, where she was holding meet
ing, decided to go around to the
church to hear her 1t was quite late,
and got there just in time to catch |
the last sentence of her sermon
I'm going to stay in the field here
until die, and when death comes,
some time, way over yonder, where
my Jesus is, I'll live there too, singing
always that new song with Him IN
glory
Her voice had mournful ring in it,
and the little creature made most
pathetic picture as her head bobbed up
from behind the pulpit and her great
eyes roved over the congregation in an
way. She looked about her
YEARLY and sadly for moment, but
soon radiant light fell upon her face,
Tor her sermon had struck home, and
she knew it; the entire congregation
began to sing, and the queer part of it
al was, they began to sing the same
hing Soon some began to chant,
while others cried aloud, moaning and
oewailing their SINS You talk about
your paid choirs There isn't enough
money in New York to buy such
music as ! heard that night. The
'oices were rich and full and sweet,
md minor chord that touched ones
'ery soul was the predominating
sound.
Sermons and music have a most
'lectrifying effect upon colored con-
srngatic., and this one was secn
wrought up to the highest pitch OF
'eligious excitement Some of the
noners FRUSTRATED themselves on their
aces, beating the bare floor with their
lands until they were worn out, when
hey would lie in what is termed a
rance. Others crawled on their knees
% the pulpit. Many of them sat in the
midst OF this uproar and appeared
neither to see nor hear, so intent were
hey in working out their own ea1ya.