The National tribune., 1901-04-18

] ut.-Nup 10 DhEH lnEet 1eDTeW
| children in a kiln, heated seven times as
/ hot as usual? You tried to do that same
| thing with some Yankees, and, like the
| Hebrew children, there aint even the smell
of hre on our garments. l want you to
| come right down with me to where the
boys are, and see If it aint so Pick up
your coat and gun and your ak, and come
| right along. The boys are waiting for
| you"
Without yenturing a reply to the rail-
lery, the crushed Elder, whom Fate
seemed to delight in betraying took I'D his
\ things and did as hidden. Shorty consid-
erately helping him on with his coat, and
picking up the spectacles which had fallen
from his nervcless hand.
Here, boys" shouted Shorty. as he
worked the Elder through the opening into
the cavern, "is our old and favorite minis
| ter, the Elder Hornblower, who it has
been our privilege TO listen to so often in
the past few months. He's got a new SER
mon now, on modern edition of the Won
derful escape of the Hebrew children from
the fiery furnace. Walk back there, T. der,
TO that beautiful pulpit, and give US the
4 sermon"
| Before they could proceed further with
| the Elder, Sandy Baker called out:
! Say; Say. Just look over therer"
| The news that squad Of Yankees
were roasting to death in a cave on Rol ky
| Greek had gone through the country, and
| a great gathering of negroes, with somo
! whites, rushed over to see it. The smoke
| showed them the way, but the fire pre-
| vented their approach from that side, and
| they swarmed up on the rugged rocks
| directly opposite. These We're soon GOV
cred with them, gazing with horror-struck,
| open eyes and mouth upon the glowing
| hre IN front of the cavern. They worked
| themselves up into great emotional excite
4 mont q Gbr iat- nj IL,
thought they heard proceed from tho
| doomed men writhing in the flames.
| They walled and shouted:
| %, Lord, do hab marcyr'
soulsr'
Good Lord Jesus, come down an help
demr'
What in the world is the matter with
the people over there?' asked 81 in won
der. Are they holding a revival meeting
IN the brush, or have they come there
simply to go crazy?"
"Dey thinks we'uns is burnin' Z def"
Uncle Ephraim explained, with a wide
reaching grin, AN dey've come { see hit,
| a an pray oTeh hit. Desc Washington
county niggers s powerful prayin' lott
| loo bad that they should be feeling
SO sorry over u.s." said 81. Lets go out
and show ourselves, and relieve their
| minds"
The opening had now been ccnsidera-
bly widened, and they all, Steve Bigler
included, ran out onto a ledge at the
waters edge and shouted Justify:
''HOoray for the Union! Hooray for
Abe Lincoln! HOOray for Billy Shermani
Hooray for old lnJianny! Well hang jeff.
Davis on sour apple tree. Don't worry
about us, friends. Rebel fire can't hurt
u.s."
The apparitiOn seemed, if anything, to
| increase the excitement among the
negroes. 1t appeared to them wonderful
| miracle.
Great God Almighty. wonderful ara
thy ways" shouted a stentor-lunged negro.
See dem walking right froo de fire, lack
de Hebrew children"
"Dat's ole Kunnel Hanson's Simeop.D
explained Uncle Ephraim- Hes de
desc parts''
GLORY to Cod" shouted the other
negroes. Jes' lack de Hebrew children.
Not smell OBJ fire on DER garments"
DE Yankees is de Lawd's own people.
Dis shows hit" continued Simeon. .tDe
wicked an de powers OBJ darkness cannot
peryail agin dem. Bress God fer all His
mafcies''
20, jes' see dat man." exclaimed one OF
the more observing, pointing at Steve Big
Ter. He's bin wickeder dan de rest, an
de fire done burn all de meat off his
bones."
This was too much for the boys. who
exploded into laugh that was a severe
shock to the highly-wrought religious
feryor Of the gathering.
81 brought it down still nearer the
plane of every humanity by calling out:
Say, friends, have you brought along
anything to eat? We've got a good many
men here, and not much provisions, and
lrDnr -hn,, iii l.
travel out of here"
''Eh, what's dat?" repeated the stentor-
ian Simeon, stopping his praying, and re-
quirlng, as was usual with the Southern
negroes and whites, a question repeated
before he would comprehend or answer.
81 repeated his question, but before the
negro could answer a loud tumult was
heard approaching from the direction of
the road. 1t was a crashing, beating din,
and above it rose sound as Of commands
1t reached the negroes ears, who stopped
praying and shouting and turned their
eyes in that direction.
Better get back in the cave, boys, and
get your guns" said 81. Then he called
TO the negroes across the creek:
Can You see who's making that
What dat:"
Can you see who's making that
noise?"
Kin we'uns see who's dat maxim do
noise?"
Yes; yes said 81, impatiently. Can
you see them?'
Kin we'uns see dem? OF co'se we'uns
kim
We'll, who Is it?'
Who it it?"
Yes; yes. Who Is it? Answer at
once, without talking back"
How kin we'uns answer widdout
talkin' back?"
Tell me at once, you dumbed block
heads" said 81, savagely, who's that
coming over from the road?"
.'Ober f'om de big road dar?
Yes, over from the big road?"
why, deys a hull passed. OBJ critters
back soldiers. Dey's lef deir hOsses in
de road, an are trOmpin' froo de brush"
What kind of soldiers are they-Iank
or rebel?"
Which? Dem soljers ober dar?"
''Yes; them soldiers over there"
why dey's all got blue cloze on, an
days Ianks, bress de Lawd."
What are they making all that noise
about?"
What dey maxim all dat noise fer?'
Yes. Why are they kicking up such
a rumpus?"
why. deys cut down cedar brushes,
an beatin' out de fire as dey come along.'
81 understood now, and his heart
bounded. Without waiting for his gun he