The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-10-06

fhe older women came, mothers In
Israel whose counsel was to be regard
ed. For a space all We're silent. then
a woman spoke. Hit seem lax de
Lord don keer." she remarked defect
edly. He shOly don't keer any mo-"
Amos Cummins shook his head and
grOaned.
DE Lord done sOt his face ag'in Sod
Om,' he replied. IAN dat bekase OF sin
an bekase of much OnrighteousmeSsr
There was pause. y field sparrow
few up from the ground and Derched
on nearby twig. but partly closing
its extended wings and with its mouth
open and painting. Amos Cummins
glanced at it and pointed
You see dat" he asked. You see
dat burd? Elm de beastesSes an de
flynn towels of de air suffers fer de
sins of man He hesitlted and look
ed around him. "Of one man" he add
ed almost fiercely.
"A-a-h-h-h!" The crowd knew now
Of whom he spoke-the preacher whose
wrists We're SCARED. Yes. they knew
their Jonah, but they waited
1--WE got ter pu'ge ourse'vesr' the old
man went on impressively. 1--WE got
ter cas- ont dis man, We got ter mex
dis yer chu'ch clean an walk 'um'ly fore
our God. Den de hebben gwineter open.
open ter de drappin' OF de rain
''Who gwinter move dat. Amos?" they
queried "Who gwinter fetch hit ter de
notice Of de chu CHI
81 isl he answered firmly 81 is. dis
vey day"
Down behind the church where the pine
straw lies deep in sheltering hollow the
preacher was down on his knees He
knew nothing of the plot up yonder nor
of the sullen anger against him. but he
felt that heaven had cast him off, and he
wrestlcd manfully with himself and with
God In this his hidden place tae last
rays Of yesterdays sun had hidden him
good night; here in the long dark watches
the little stars had lighted his upturned
face, and here the gray dawn had found
him. Now, even though the day was
passing. still he was here agonizing and
praying, for it seemed to him that a great
sin encompassed him. that his guilt was
written large upon him and that of a
verify he was the Achan within whose
tent the damning wedge was hid. Know
ing this. he knew his duty. But it was
hard-so hard! For others he did not
care, but for Talithy TO know, she whom
he loved Blindly he sought some easier
way. Almost he was resolved to slip away
in the night and to see Sodom no more.
Very slowly the man arose and took his
way toward the church. With tense mus
cles and hard set Jaw he went down the
aisle straight to the rude old chancel As
he turned he saw but one face Of all the
throng. and that was Talithy's.
Brethren" he began (the assembly
stilled-what had the man to say?). dis
congregation is a-sufferin' bekase of sim
an dat sin is mine" The woman in the
choir seat started and clasped her hands,
then sank back and sat very still. The
congregation stared. Who could have told
the man Of their resolve? us took my
trouble ter de Lord" the preacher con-
tinued. IAN l hopes he is p'intin' de way
but l don know. Hit seems like he is fur
from me now. Anyhow, Is come ter re-
sign dis church. fer l amt a-gwine ter
preach any more. 1 oughtn't ter have
started, | reckn, an de reason of hit all
is dis:
zone time, away back yonder, I TUX
some Of a white mans cotton. 1 was
hongry. an my ole nanny was hongry,
too, but dat don matter now. l stole de
cotton. an l was cotched Dey tracked
me wild dogs. de white folks did, an all
day long 1 run. a-dodgin of the dogs an
a-backtraCkin an a-wadin'. but long
bout night l TUX ter de ribber. De ribber
was a-risn' dat night. an de swift water
was a-lappin' at de banks. but a black
man clumb out on tree jes de same ter
try ter stop me. an de tree broke, an he
fell right in de swftes' water" The
speaker paused. 81 always thought dat
was a mighty fool man." he added re-
fectively
Amos Cummins squirmed in his seat
"He was he now calculated crisply
HE was plumb fool"
But the other went on unheeding
HE couldn' swim, dat black man
couldn', an l had ter stop an git him
out'n dar. OATS how come l got cotch
Men''-his voice almost sank to a whisper
-'dey sent me ter Jail bekase Of dat steal
in, an after l got out L come here ter