Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-12
l6Wn;Thd he began Hodd!

uOWn, 2nQ ne began AlONd.
| "Oh, Lord King cb Heab'n an erf,
Who sont de chile Jesus dat frs
Cnris'mus eve so menny thousan' yeah
ergo, look wifi pity erpon dis ole lone
sum cabin settin' out heah in de will
berness ter mite, whar dey amt so
much as er turkey feav'r to mind us
OBJ de blessed time. Dee knows how it
wuz in de ole time long ergo, wen
ChrisrluS wuz de happies' time OBJ all
de yeah, case Dee knows how much
| sto' ole marse sot to his surbants'
an nev'r stint we all no mo- an he
did hiss'ef. Dee knows how de cider
an appul toddy fow'd same as water
den, an chestnuts an appuls wuz er
poppin' in de fireplaces. Ebby sense
ole marse die it git wo'se an wo'se wifi
us. Pear like de fust blow cum wen
de mansion wuz sole; an den all our
people move way tell l an NANNY
onliest ones lief; den times git SO hard
we bleeg'd to lef too, an move down
heah in de mashes whar we is ter
mite. Las yeah our 'tatoes fros' bite.
an We wo'se an ebber. Sum white
folks is moved up into de manshun
lately, but dey is cum frum whar dey
amt no eullud folks, reck'n, an amt
know our people gwine suffer lessen
dey hep us; SO we is lef lonesum dis
Christmas wifout emmy one ter look to
scusin' Dee. Frum Dee only. kin we
spec he'p-oh, SEN down er angul frum
on high"
"Sen down er Christmas angul,
Lord" broke ina quavering voice from
the other side of the fireplace. "Sen'
er angul to We po' trimlin niggers."
the first voice went on-"an' let him
shine he bright beams in dis darksum
cabin ter-nite, like dey shine on dem
shepherds OBJ ole, and dey fell down
on DER faces an wuz too skeer'd to
speak,"
ooh. sem down er angul, Lord" the
two voices struck In together, on the
same key, the other leading off again:
SEN down er angul frum on high
an -"
Outside a gentle voice broke upon
the prayer, and like the shepherds OF
Old, the two darkeys fell forward upon
their faces, and waited with breath
suspended for another sound of the
angelic response.
"Dory to Dord in de highest, an on
err peace dood will to meni" Then,
10. the door opened and in came a
Tiny child. She was all in white, and
she had great blue eyes and hair like
a golden halo around her lovely face.
In one hand she carried a bunch of
holly, and the other was ladened with
sweetmeats, as she said:
Il am de little angel. an have tum
to 'ou tonight to tell 'ou all bout
Jesus, an how He tum dat frs Chris
mas:-an' see.-I've bought 'ou lots
Of doodies jes like de little durl in de
story mamma wead me fore she put
me to bed"
Two black faces rose slowly from
the floor and gazed awe-stricken upon
the angelic countenance beaming upon
them. They had prayed for a Christ
mas angel to come down into their
little cabin, but even their strong faith
was not prepared for the sudden .reve-
lation OF one In flesh and blood. They
gazed upon the heavenly apparition.
neither one daring to speak, till sud
denly q new light broke over the rapt
face OF nanny" Raising herself bolt
upright she gazed fearlessly upon the
celestial visitor and said:
Luke dis amt err angul after all:
it's er little chile frum up de man
shun. case seen her yesterd'y wifi Ter
ma pass dis cabin" Then going oyer