The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-12-23

Z paa Rif AoAl ~ Nv NsA tAi hsAis Cbt
was de eonjurc oman. an' she live IN
de- mex plantation 10 we alls. IN "a
cabin all by 'erseif. ebba since could
member ontil dey foun' her dald II
de bald one day
But. honey, de meanes' thing unc
7 Nathun dun WAS de way he beat Aun
Judy Aun Judy ulster knecl down an
pray out loud In de daytime. an dat
allas aggefyate unc' Nathun. But ole
marsta was passin by one day, an be
heah Aun' Judy hollerin', an be sho'
did gin unc' Nathun bcatin' wiv bis
cane An be toi Unc' Nathun he
ain't gwinc TO low no man TO hit CT
oman on his place, an, mo en- dat, he
say ef Tine NathuD ebber strike lis
wife ergin he gwine to sen i'm up TO
de co'tbouse an gin him de strcme
penalty oh de law, Gaze. yo' know.
honey. In dem days ef er man beat his
wife, white or culud, dcy 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 iaigs wen he dance. Now.
Miss Llxy. yo' know ef yo' dance yo'
In danger oh hell fire, but ef yo' cross
yo' iaigs 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
gwlne let yo' hoah Unc' Nathun tell
de rest"
The next night carefully put on my
best Sunday finery, and felt that
even then | was hardly deserving Of
the words of approval from Ellen.
whose unguestioned social leadership
In colored circles would have put to
shame the pretensions OF an Astor or
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 II was an evidence Of the
prosperity and welfare Of the race that
was cheering 10 note after the pes
simistic stories of the degradation Of
the negro with which the northern
reader Is constantly fed.
The light skinned spectaced minis
ter sat on the platform. aud below
him, turned toward the people, stood
a large spllnt bottomed chair In which |
was hudded little weazened faced, |
old man, evidently fast
asleep.
This knew without being told was
''Unc' Nathun" even before Ellen's
knowing wink and nod indicated him.
He aud Aunt Ellen were about the only
ones present Of the ancient "befo' the
wah" type Of darky,
The meeting began IN a circumspect
with a hymn Of Wesley's, "Oh,
For a Thousand Tongues to Singw
clearly read chapter giving the story
Of the wise and foolish virgins and
then short prayer, the well chosen
words evincing the Hampton training
Of Its author; then pause, and the
preacher said, ''Slster Claybu'n. won't
you raise out one Of our old time tunes
that we don't need the book fur?" And
then In full rich tones the voice Of
buxom matron near the aisle started
up:
My bredren. don get weary;
Angels bring de blessin down.
Don get weary; we're boun' to see de
Lawd
The change was instantaneous. The
lignified, self conscious demeanor van
shed. and the congregation grew freer
Ind more natural In behavior. Arms
we're stretched. feet stamped. seats
moved. and here and there groan or
| half suppressed cry showed the be-
dining Of "de wu'kin OBJ de spirit"
nd soon the room seemed filed with
fervor Of religious excitement that
arried me back to the long gone days
4 my childhood.
The weird hymn ended only to be
olowed by other and wilder melodies
of the ancient days.
From my seat could just see the
rizzled head Of ''Unc' Nathun," but l
rould have known from the craning
ecks and eager faces Of the congre
alton that he was rousing from his
tupor. Voice after voice died down,
nd finally the singing ceased as the
Id man opened his eyes. raised him
ELI and leaned forward In his chair,
tretching wide the shrunken and
'ithered arms.
The time had evidently come for his
speriunce," and the room was hush
! in suppressed excitement. His
linking eyes gazed round about for
oment. and he began to speak In
ow and subdued tones.
''Li'l' chillun," said 'unc' Nathun"--
n chillnn, bit sho' pears to me dat
done tole 20 desc words 'nough times
10, but ef hit is yo' pleasure gwine
late de circumstances oh my comm
100 ergin.
"Yo' all done read fur yo'selves In
. Blbul how de Lawd 'peared TO de
rpostie Paul on de way. De same
ay de Lawd caught me up In de air
/ show me de way OBJ salvation.
ebbe some oh yo' ole peoples mem
RS dat | was monst'us wicked
an: also yo' kin call TO min dat |
I'd de bestes' ole oman In de worr.
at whut aggervate me 80 She spen'
mech time on 'er knees, an she git
,wn an pray out loud when csme
,me 10 dinnah, an she done de same
ing cbery night.
$50 one day she done ben doin' dat.
/ ] knowed dar was er 'yival goin'
up at de meetin' house. an, chillun.
mex up my min TO brek hit up. an :,
les' walk up TO de chu'ch, an LUX /. !.
at de winder. an see Judy up nj =
mo'ners bench zortin sinnehs to
penf. An Brudder Jones he war =
re. too. so den an dere 'cluded I'd .
er shotgun an XII one oh um :,
re-" :,
By thin time 'Unc' Nahum had go, u
oroughly warmed up to his subject q,
I leaned forward. resting q hand
an aarh knee Hna his nnxx kaaf.