St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-11-07
"Jack NaZarene."
A story of the New South.
BvH. A. Scomn.

y .,;oo,r RS got any soul ~ The speaker
,r9s Negro boy of about twelve years.
Tbe nerson addressed was his grand
mother, Aunt S1lvy," tall, venerable
,noman of near three score and ten win
j +ers-they had been winters rather than
The boy, called Jack" by everybody
else was always invested with the or
u thodox name of "Nazarene" by his
81 CONFERENCE.-The sole surviving rea i've
q otor Aunt Silvy was a pious church
Il woman who believed in "Scriptyur"
names for persons and places. Even
lacks dog answered to the Biblical
name of "Jonadab.
docs | b'lieve a nigger's got any
soul ?" slowly repeated Aunt Silvy, look
n inc up from the ironing board at which
she had long been working. "Of course
Il does. Why, don't de Bible say, Elhiopy
ii shall stretch out her hands unto God ?
I'd like to know how Ethopyd stretch
out her hands if de niger amt got any
soul"
Fl well" answered Jack, this book,
u Ariel says the Negro is just beast and
got no soul at ALL"
0"I tell you, Nazarene, 'Ethopy shall
stretch out her hands, ~" impatiently re-
plied Aunt SiIvy; and Jack, with an un-
satisfied expression on bis face, arose
and walked out to the low yard fence,
where he stopped and whisted. 1t was
very evidently signal, for presently a
oil about a year younger than himself
appsared at the door o the next cabin.
Come here, Phyllis" called Jack.
"Have you any soul?"
ITO be sure have. What do you ask
that tor, Jack p
Well" replied Jack, this book says
YOU amt, no more than Jonadab here. y
The two children sat down under the
shade OF a holly and read over many
pages of the disquieting volume.
But. Jack" broke in Phyllis would
Miss Northen pray every morning for the
Lord to save our souls if we didn't have
any,"
II mo. l reckon not" Jack answered
doubtfulIy; but l tell you, Phyllis,
mean to find out all about the Negro,
he added, determinedy.
Il He and Aunt Silvy still occupy then
Fl humble home III the fringe of Negro habl
tations near the trenches A little gar
den, carefully tended, contributes much
of their short bill OF are. Phyllis, now (
Young woman, recently graduated, is {
teacher in her alma mater. She, too
81 still lives in her former home.
n Aunt Slvy has aged more than tn
lapse of years would Indicate. To Sc
Nazarene graduate, to hold IN her owl
hands that long coveted diploma, t,
have her darling ready to lead "blacI
Israel" and she would be ready to go,
H she said. What aspirations i'll tina
lowly dwelling! Daily she admonishe
q lack that "Ethiopy must stretch out he
n hands'-the time was drawing nigh.
commencement Day, long expected
II dawned at last, but Aunt Stlvy wa
weaker. Only her indomitable Wi
seemed to hold to life's trembling threac
She insisted that Nazarene must stan
by her bed and deliver his valedictory az
n dress. Then, with proud smile, ST
II turned her face away, saying: Nov
II Nazarene, you must go. Phyllis'll sta
with me till you come"
With sad torebodiugs and achin
n heart Jack bade her good'bv, commen'
ing her TO Phvllis's care, "l'll watch he
lack, and send for you, 1t necessar'
Now do your best" Phyllis added.
The great auditorium was crowded
The governor and many other promner
white men had seats upon the rostrur
lack, being valedictorian, must spea
N last and at night. His reputation Il
oratory and his high standing made h
address to be anticipated as tie spee'
II of the occasion. The African Historic
Society OF which he was president, sat
N body before the stage. The Educate
II Negroes Mission" was his theme, al
from the opening sentence he held th
III great audience in the hollow OF bis han
With few words the diplomas we
awarded Then the multitude surg
b around lack to grasp his hand and OH
d congratulations. Did anyeye mark no
@ suddenly the young orator disappear
from the hall, or howrapidly be thread
his way through alleys and commo
towards his humble home
III Through the open window he Sc
Phyllis softly moving about the low
bed. Breathless he listens; it is
grandmothers voice, anXtousiy ask'n
ii Hasn't be come yet?' Eyes gran
mamma" answered Jack, rushing
land here it is" holding out the pare
ment. 1T" in that cabin home had 1
wears meant the much.coveted dipon
"Let me see it" and Aunt Silvy press
the red seal to her trembling M
Enough" she said presently. mo
Nazarene, after you lay me away, may
you'll go to the Niger and to DIVA
q where was born. A big baobab tt
stands deere close to de spring, where q
used to practice de great Obeah. Der
81 where de slavermen killed my mother.
want you to build church dere, a
teach de poor black sheep-your XII
and"-bur here consciousness tailed he
AS the red dawn began to light
east, Aunt Silyy reused tor nome
Obeyng her signs, they lifted her up
bed to face the rising day. Abstracte
she gazed, as if her vision reached
yond the wide ocean to the palm gro
of her childhood. Then, with dy
voice, she whispered, "Ethiopia-sha
ut-her-hands." 1t v
finished With her head on Jacks she
der she breathed out her spirit,
wild olive-grafted-had been transpla
81 ed to the gardens oil Paradise
From that hour Jack Nazarene's
work began, for Ethiopia must sire
out her hands to Cod" AS teac
and a writer he to-day is a power,
peer of any man of his race. AS pr
dent of a great institution, he IS Il
WI leod;ro +bo1,sopds of"black Israel"