West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-12-23


Gaze, Miss Lizy. Unc' Nathun
gwine TO conjure us. Unc' Nathun
couldn't erzackly conjure us 'isself. but
he buy de stun I'm ole Aun' Lucy or
pay ole Lucy to do hit fur him. Sho
was de conJure oman. an she live In
do mex plantation to we alls, In 'er
cabin all by 'erself. ebba since l could
member ontil dey foun' her daid In
de bald one day.
But. honey. de meanes' thing Unc'
Nathun dun was de way he beat Aun'
Judy Aun' Judy uster kneel down an
pray out loud In de daytime, an dat
allus aggeryate Unc' Nathun. But ole
marsta was passin' by one day, an he
heah Aun' Judy hollerin'. an he sho'
did gin Unc' Nathun a beatin' wiy his
cane. An be toll Unc' Nathun he
ain't gwine to low no man TO hit er
oman on his place. an, mo- en- dat, he
say ef Unc' Nathun ebber strike Is
wife ergin he gwine to sen Inn up TO
do co'thouse an gin him de streme
penalty OBJ de law, caze, yo' know,
honey. in dem days ef er man beat his
wife, white or cuilud, dey carry him
up dar an gin um what dey serve.
Dat dey did sho'.
''Nudder thing Unc' Nathun did dun.
he play de fiddle. an he dance, an he
cross his laigs wen he dance. Now,
Miss Lizy. yo' know ef yo' dance yo'
In danger OBJ hell fire, but ef yo' cross
yo' laigs wen yo' dance de debble
gwine get yo' sho'. Dat wat Brudder
Jones allus say. an he de ole time
cullud preacher. an he know all dem
ole time hell fire dangers. But now 1
gwine let yo' heah Unc' Nahum tell
de rest"
The next night carefully put on my
best Sunday nnery, and felt that
even then i was hardly deserving OF
the words of approval from Ellen,
whose unquestoned social leadership
In colored circles would have put to
shame the pretensions OF an Astor or
a Vanderbilt.
The neat white meeting house was
new to me and seemed out of keeping
TO one who remembered the old log
"chu'ch" which had given its name to
one of the minor battles OF the civil
war. but IL was an evidence OF tho
prosperity and welfare of the race that
was cheering to note after the pes.
simistic stories of the degradation Of
the negro with which the northern
reader is constantly fed.
The light skinned spectacled minis
ter sat on the platform, and below
him, turned toward the people, stood
a large splint bottomed chair in which
was huddled little weazened faced,
mummy-like old man. evidently fast
asleep.
This / knew without being told was
"Unc' Nathun" even before Ellen's
knowing wink and nod indicated him.
He and Aunt Ellen were about the only
ones present OF the ancient "befo' the
wah" type Of darlky.
The meeting began In a circumspect
manner with q hymn OF Wesley's, "Oh,
For a Thousand Tongues to Singw a
clearly read chapter giving the story
OF the wise and foolish virgins and
then n short prayer, the well chosen
words evincing the Hampton training
Of its author; then a pause, and the
preacher said, "Sister Claybu'n. won't
you raise out one OF our old time tunes
that we don't need the book fur7" And
then In full rich tones the voice OF n
buxom matron near the aisle started
up:
My bred'ren. dom get weary;
Angels bring dc blessin' down.
Don get weary; we're boun' TO see do
Lawd
The change was instantaneous. The
dignified. self conscious demeanor van
ished. and the congregation grew freer
and more natural in behavior. Arms
were stretched, feet stamped, seats
moved, and here and there a groan OF
half suppressed cry showed the be-
ginning of "de wu'kin' OBJ de spirit"
and soon the room seemed filed with
fervor OF religious excitement that
carried me back to the long gone days
OF my childhood.
The weird hymn ended only to be
followed by other and wilder melodies
characteristic Of the ancient days.
From my seat i could just see the
grizzled head OF "Unc' Nathun," but I
would have known from tho craning
necks and eager faces Of the congre-
cation that he was rouslng from his
stupor. Voice after voice died down,
and finally the singing ceased as the
old man opened his eyes. raised him
self and leaned forward in his chair,
stretching wide the shrunken and
withered arms.
The time had evidently come for his
"speriunce," and the room was hush
ed IN suppressed excitement. His
blinking eyes gazed round about for a
moment, and he began to speak In
slow and subdued tones.
"Li'r chillun," said "Unc' Nathun"--.
'1ff chillun, lift sho' pears to me dat
I done tole yo' desc words 'nough times
befo'. but Of hit is 20 pleasure I gwine
to Tate de circumstances OBJ my comm
thoo' ergin.
"Yo' all done read fur yo'selyes in
de Bibul how de Lawd 'peared to de
Brpostle Paul on de way. DE same
way de Lawd caught me up In do air
an show me de way OBJ salvation.
Mebbe some OBJ yo' ole peoples mem
bers dat was a monstus wicked
man; also 20 kin call 70 min dat
had de bestes' ole oman In de worP.
Dat wbut aggervate me so. She spen'
so much time on 'er knees, an she git
down an pray out loud when come
home 10 dlnnah, an she done de same
thing ebery night.
80 one day she done ben doin' dat,
an I knowed dar was or 'vival goin'
on up at de meetin' house, an, chillun,
mex up my min 10 brek hit up, an
I jes' walk up to de ohu'ch. an 1 lux
in at de winder. an ] see Judy up at
dc mo'ners' bench zortiD' sinnehs to
repent. An Brudder Jones he war
dore. too, so den an dere ! 'cluded I'd
gift er shotgun nm kill one OBJ um
sure"
By this time "Uuc' Nathun" had got
thoroughly warmed up 10 his subject