The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27
BLACK BOY EVANGELISTS.
Preaching Pickininnies Condemn Craps and
Talk About He'll Fire.
From the Atlanta Constitution.

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Near the corner OF Pryor and Decatur streets
two diminutiye negro boys, one IL and the
other IL years Of age, attracted and held
spellbound for the space of a half hour yester-
dav afternoon a gathering Of fully roo people
with a torrid discourse on the damnation that
awaits those who do not repent and turn from
the evil of their ways.
The boys Henry Spalding and Abner Reynolds.
are iull-fledged Hedelings, one might say
evangell,ts. Abner Reynolds is /? years old.
bu, according to his statement he has been
preaching for three years. He is.a tiny little
chap of the ginger-Cake style of complexion
with a mass of klnky hair, the color of which
indicates all intimacy with ash barrels and an
absolute unfamiliari,y with comb and brush.
Henry Spa!ding is black-as black as the hinges
Of that hot place that he warns his hearers 10
avoid His eyes are as white as his face is black
and his tEurei il squat nthe extreme.
Abner Reynolds was the pioneer infant evan
gelist among his race in this city. For some
time he held forth solitary and alone and had
a monopoly Of things in his line, About q year
ago lieny S~paldins got religion and decided
that he was called 70 preach, lie also entered
eyangeIists had not heard of each other, and
for a time they ran opposition services. Each
quickly saw that as long a. two boy evangelisls
preached separately the novelty Of the bust
ness was destined 10 be short lived so the spirit
of the times prevailing. a combine was formed
and Abner and Henry Joined hands over the
fiery furnace.
The partnership proved advantageous in
more ways than one. Yesterday afternoon
the,two boys preached for fully half an hour
and il was n dull moment that a nickel or q
dime wasn't rafting on the pavement. Abner
had the first say. He began in a low, unctuous
tone of voice and gradually ran the scale Of
dolOrouS chanting until he reached the top
key, when he'd take n tumble and descend t.
the sad monotone of the signing wind. His
talk was Of hell the red-hot hell Of our grand
fathers and according 10 his statement the
entire negro reputation stood an excellent
chance Of visiting that resort unless they turned
their footsteps. He enumerated The crimes
that his race was supposed to be- guilty of, COM
plctely running the gainu of wrong-doing
from poultry appropriation to murder. Crap
paid strict attention to and on this subject
he waved eloquent
The day was As hot as the spirit and theme OF
deterioration. and asAbnpr spoke beads of per
SEPARATION broke ont on his forehead and trick ed
down his face. And here's where the prac-
tlcal usefulness Of the partnership proved itself.
Henry was Watching the physical aspect Of
his partner as carefully as he was giving at
tention to the spiritual. lie waited until Abner
had fallen from "A fiery climax TO the calm Of
the situation rs an opportune time, dug out a
grimy handkerchief from his pocket and said
Brother Abner, femme wipe of de sweat"
And suiting the action To the word, he mopped
his follow evangelists brow with tho soiled
rag that passed for a handkerchief.
There was q certain elpment OF the pathetic
strangely mixed with humor of the net that
appealed TO the crowd They didn't laugh,
but lowered nickels on The boys instead.