The evening times., 1896-05-25
THE BIG OMNIBUS.

1t was shortly before noon whe. Pastor
Masonput inlisappearance. i'll He wasgreeted
by Il cheer from his loyal subjects, but there
was no holding the people in check when
four-horse omnibus 90 yly decorated in bunt-
ing and painted the many colors Of the rain
bow dashed along the beach. 1t contained
a score of dusky females whose dark skin
shone out in striking contrast with their
pure white garments.
Not Il man was among them. Pastor
Mason's victory has made him first in the
hearts of the fair sex OF Hilsdale. He was
adding a dozen more Ia his flock. He had
labored hard TO catch them aud now lie
wasabout togive them Gle ansing for which
only the waters of the Anacostia River are
noted. 1t was here that their ancestors re-
ceved their washing Old men stood by and
remembered when they first came down
from the hills and were ducked under the
murky fluid. A that tine they did not
carry quinine i'll their hands with which 10
dose themselves wien they emerged from
the water to prevent the malarial germs OF
the river marsh from laying them low with
fever. These same old men remembered
heir children walking solemnly into the
water behind the gray-haired ''parson'' and
same step.
Pastor Mason barred his elbo and
shoulder joints for the work before him lie
gave out hymn, which the colored people
sang with their might and main, and there
by announced To- the residents of Anacostia
that the ceremony was soon to begin.
THE RIVER AT Low TIDE.
II was low tide in the Eastern Branch.
Anyone acquainted with the peculiarites of
that river knows what that means. To the
unfamiliar it might be stated that it con-
tanned about two and half thimblefuls
of water.
Pastor Mason made grimace as he sa W
this, but it would never do to disappoint
his audience, and incidentally his new con-
verts. If it would only rain, there might
be immersion without dipping, but not with
standing the damp atmosphere and the
storm signals in the heavens, the waters re-
fused to fall, and the river refused torise.
Come on, honey" said one fat lady of the
flock. Ise waitin' To- yo'. 1t am berry
coolup hyar, an Use got an ole man at hum
longin' 70 my COMM.
"Yas, indeed,y, chile au' dun fo'got to
rriz my bar, an in dis atmosphere it will
satainly look bad"
stop yo talking chillun," said Pastor
Mason, as he slowly walked to the omnibus
Cum down in straight line and follow
me''
Another hymn was started and like the
children sof Israel crossing the Red Sea,
;hese children OF HilIsiale walked To the
Potomac.
out in the water, which barely covered
shpir ankles pDSpr t,n
weighing 200 pounds, pronounced the sol
emn baptismal prayer, and, chucking her
ba ok ward, let her fall in the water
When she was brought to the surface
her white dress was n full copper hue
The back was streaked with mud, and the
other candidates, perceiving the destruc-
lion of the garment, flinched when Pas
5or Mason moved toward them. Hesawthe
mud on the rear of the garment and then
proceeded to scrubb it off.
ALL WERE EMUD-CovERED
Melinda turned herself round, and
wetting his hands the pastor tried his best
20 wash the back of the dress clean.
1t was not much better when he fin
isbed, but she walked to the shore while
Pastor Mason proceeded to do likewise
to the other sisters. The same kind of
mud adhered to their new white dresses,
and the same ceremony of washing it clean
was undergone. 1t was an amusing sight
20 see the pastor baptizing these colored
and then washing the back of their
dresses of the slmy black and yellow
Potomac mud. Every one of thd twelve
was dirtier when she came out than when
she went in. 1t may be that the water
Of the Potomac has peculiar cleansing |
upon the SOUL but it has, without |
any doubt, soiling quality to newly |
washed and ironed white dresses.
"Wali, 1se sartinly glad dat dis we're |
Daptising business do cum but once in a |
lifetime" said one woman, as they ma rchcd |
70 the 'buss and took their Seats They |
were driven to the little church in the hills. |
and made happy by an administration of |
The communion, and soon forgot about |
their muddy dresses.