Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-07-19
PREACHING" IN SLAVE DAYS.
How the Young Folk Went and En-
joyed Themselves.

The above headlines will give all
necessary information as to the time
and place of which this veracious
chronicle is to treat; therefore l may
| at once tell how we went, which will
lead to an inference as to why we went,
that may be condemned by some lead
ers as being more for recreative than
religious purposes. Such will please
| allow something for the customs of
Dixie land so years ago, and more
for the affinitive propensity of youtn,
which still prevails. We could have
gone to the preaching in town decor
ously ON foot; but ride of several
miles to some rural meeting house
when the weather and roads were
good, suited us much better. Many of
the young people owned saddle horses,
and If not could easily borrow; conse-
quently convenience and inclination
both prompted to equestrianism, n
which exercise both sexes were adept.
Women in the saddle could be as indie.
pendent of masculine escort as when
walking to church, but the fact of our
travelling toward a common destin l.
ton in a common way, to say nothing
of attraction, led to our going in pairs
as the antediluvian animals went into
Noah's ark.
1t was fine to ride through the ''low
grounds" where the "creek" crept
slowly along, while frolicsome squir-
rels, playing on Sunday raced among
the branches of the "big woods" and
the summer sunbeams sifted down be-
tween the leaves. Then, coming to the
open, we could see affair off in an outly-
ing field flock of wild turkeys warily
passing a collection of buildings look
ing like village, but they are only the
big house, smoke-house, courthouse,
spring-house, kitchens (where slave
families live). and stables, of planta
ton. Here is legion of dogs, both
mongrel, puppy, whelp and hound, aud
ours of low degree" whose banks are
more warlike than welcome. The
fence has a top-dressing of small dark
les, bare-headed and each clad in a
Mother Hubbard" style of tow aud
cotton shirt, their easy and only gar
ments. Their bright eyes and open
mouths, as they gaze and grin, light I'D |
the dusky faces as does a candle in n |
pumpkin lantern. With them is an
other army of observation, consisting |
of a line of black 'mammies," each |
'toteing" one or more black babies.
We are not the only party going to |
the preaching, for there are numbers |
of colored folk marching on, with |
probably more devout thoughts than |
we of the ruling race. The tempera-
ture is high, even in the shade, yet |
there goes 'chattel." sweating under |
heavy coat made of blue broadcloth |
with high collar and a swallow
tail, adorned with many bright brass
buttons, donation from "ole marse's" |
discarded garments. He has a tall, |
bell-crowned hat, covering the "place |
where the wool ought to grow" Shoes
are carried, not worn, being for the
cming dress parade; and he may say
If asked for a reason, shoes belong to
me, feet belong to master" As we
pass he removes that hat and replies,
Right peart, thank'y sir" to our
greeting OF "How'dy, Unele?" Many
wheeled vehicles are on the road, vary
ing from the homemade carts of the
crackers" with no springs and sap
ling shafts, to the shining coaches OF
upperdom, where portly and pompous.
sable Jehus flourish long whips over
the motive power, which may be pair
of diminutive mules, hslf-hidden under
their highly ornamented harness. They
carry, besides passengers, sundry
boxes, baskets and bundles-whose ed
ible contens will be sandwiehed De-
tween the fore and afternoon services
in quasi-picnic style.
The church where we convent has
the Bethesda" and description is in
order. 1t is located in the most cen
trail or accessible place in the district.
and stands alone in the forest prime
val. with no other building in sight.
It is low. not painted. without any
steeple. and small, being only used in
inclement wgsther, when congregations 4