The citizen., 1906-08-31

ne was telllnR Jncm something
which his mother overheard, aud
told him that it had happened be
foIe he was born. Young Nat
however stuck to his story, and
also related several other occur
rences which went in his mothers
opinion to confirm them. Others
were called in to hear him relate
his tales and were greatly aston
ished at his revelations, causing
them to remark in his hearing
THAT some day he would be II
great prophet, and the Lord had
shown him things that had hap
pened before his BIRTH.
His father and mother also im
agined that he was intended for
"some great purpose" from his
having certain marks on his head
and heart-a parcel OF eXcreScen
ces which are common among the
negro race. His grandmother was
very religious and to her he was
much attached. His master was
also a church mem ber, and as the
members of his church often visit
ed him, and also noticed the singu-
larity of Mats manners, his un-
common intelligence, and often
remarked that he had too much
sense to be raised, and if he did
live to reach manhood, he would
be of no service to any one as a
slave. To a mind like his, inquisi-
tive, restless, and Observant of
every thing that was passing, 1t
is easy to suppose that religion
would be the subject to which it
would be directed. There was
nothing to which his attention
was not directed-the manner i'll
which he learned 10 read and
write was curious. One day when
a book was shown to him to keep
him from crying, he began spell
ing the names of the different
objects (such is his own narrative), J.,
this was source of wonder
to the people in the neighhOrhoOd,
particularly the negroes, and this
learning was constantly improved
on all opportunities. He was
never addicted to stealing during
any time of his life, yet such was
their confidence in his superior
judgment, that the negroes of
his neighborhOod would often
take him with them when they
were going on a marauding expe-
dition.
Growing up among them, with
this confidence in his superior
knowledge, and when this in their
opinion, was perfected by divine
inspiration, from circumstances
already related from his childhood
days, and which belief was ever
atterward inCultated 10y his au-
sterity of life and manners which
became the subject of remark by
both white and black. Finding
that he was regarded 10y his race
as a being of superior intelligence,
an innate cunning soon induced
him to assume prophetic powers
and to pretend to his capability OF
interpletating, dreams, signs, etc.
The first great subject which en-
crossed his attention was the sla
very of his race, and what means
he could procure or exert to re
lieve this condition.
HIS BLOODY PLoTTINGS.
About this time he pretended
to have had vision which por.
tended that the great day of
judgement was at hand, and that
he must free his race from the
bond of servitude. How was this
to be accomplished! Here another
one OF his pretended visions reveal
ed the means. He was to raise an
insurrection of his enthral d
countrymen and slay their oppres-
sors, until they granted them their
freedom!
He Immediately communicated
the news of this warning from
Heaven, as he termed it to sew
eral of his fellow slaves in his
neigbOrhOod. On the 10Th of Nav,
1928, he pretended to hear a loud
noise in the Heavens, and a spirit
appeared to him and said 'that
the serpent was loose and Christ
had laid down the yoke he had
borne for the sins of man, and
that he should take it up and fight
against the serpent. for the time
was approaching when the first
should be last and the last should
be tirstn. By signs i'll the Heav-
ems he would also be notified when
to commence the great work, and
that until the first sign appeared
he was to conceal himself from the
knowledge ofmen. He now spent
weeks in the woods, engaged in
fasting and prayer. He also be-
gan holding secret meetings with
the slaves to prepare them for the
contemplated uprising.
He told them the eclipse of the
sun which Would occur in Fehrn.