The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-05-27
GALL DAY DINNER AN PREACHIN' ON DE
GROUNDS"

ity gathering in all the glad array of Sundaygo-
ter meetin" clothes There be "all day preach
ing, and dinner the grounds" But the faceous
of the younger element termed it call day dinner an
preachin' de grounds"
The old church, nesting in the lowands of Silver
Creek scrubbed and swept and garnshed. 1t gls-
tened in fresh coat of white paint which had been
Enthusiastically applied by every ablebodied and boy
in the community 1t didn't matter that the paint
of varying shades of white and that it badly
ed in places For the job had been done by flowing hands
at home in "paintin' bee" when the members brought
their paint and ladders, applying their brushes with
energy that made up for SKILL
Doc Bloom had been secured for the special SER
of the day He there early, respondent in his
preacher cloes patent leather Shoes pnsrped trous
ers cutaway coat and white vest And each vehicle
pulled up into the church yard he advanced with a
ordly greeting of voice face wrinkled in
smiles.
"Wel, WE'LL effen faint Brudder Elkins! How is
yo' Brudder Elkns? An Sis Elkns WE'LL WE'LL well!
Hows all de chllun? Amt hit gran day fer de meet
in? De Lawd suttiny is smin' is chun dis day!
An whut yo got in dat basket Sis Ekins? Fried
chicken All bet" And friendly wink accompanied this
reference what the negroes called preacher grub
Ford roadster of rakish lines drew up with a
of brakes The noise of its engine sounded like
threshng machine but the inky-black negro driving
it showed by his posture that he was proud OF his
equipage 1t "cut-down" car with home made
racing body of gaudly painted tin. Lee Powers, its
driver was arrayed like the lilies of the field and he
ogled the ggglng young wenches grouped near the
church with the air of who knows he pick and
choose Lee was "house boy" for Mrs. Eta Powers,
and his the same because it had been handed
down from slavery days from the Powers plantation
As "close retainer" of the Powers household, the
richest in that section he commanded enviable posi-
ton among the other negros of the community Mrs.
Powers, his mistress, had hobby of white Leghorne
chickens The beautiful fowls in her the envy
of the entire country and Lee, as their pussonal
muse" was looked upon with by the other negroes
who knew hat
ulous prizes at chicken shows
When Doc Bloom Lee he made his way to the
gaudy roadster "Howdy, Lee! How is yo' spondulix
prognostcatn' dis spiferous day." And he winked in
an overly friendly way he extended his hand.
Lee sat like a king his throne, sprawled back in
the low seat, thumb in the hole of his vest,
while with the other hand he flourshed very large
and very black cigar He turned at Docs greeting and
eyed him from under the brim of exceedingly white
imitation Panama hat that sat at rakish angle
the side his buetshaped head The contrast of the
hat with his ebony countenance created the impression
of blackberry in bowl of milk
Without changing his position he stuck the big
cigar into the of his mouth and extended the
free hand "Knder wxt an tween" he replied to Docs
greeting, indicating that he just In all
th@ assemblage Lee was perhaps the only one who
didn't to Doc Bloom. Instead Doc catered to him.
Doc knew like the other negroes, that Lees white
folks is got lots O money! and he needs must treat
him with respect.
'Lee" he began after the greetings, "s yo jined
de chech YETI"
Lee indoenty blew cloud of smoke into the air
before answering Finally, he drawled "Nawsuh! Dey
amt no call fer me ter be nin de chech. Abs settin
purity, All isl"
Docs plainly showed itself his face
"How yos ettin purify" he demanded "Jes cause
yos workin fer rich folks amt fer yo gttn
hit inter yo had dat yo amt gotta flee de wrath ter
come es' lax any 9th nigger"
"WelP yo' see, Doc, hits lax dis: Yo knows Abs
de house boy fer Miss Eta Powers, doan yo'?" Doc
admitted that he did know it.
can yo' knows dat Abs de pussonal nurse fer Miss
Ettas high price fancy chickens, too, doan yo? Doc
also admitted the truth of this.
"Wel, All fggers dis way: Miss Eta is de bes
lady in de worl an een dey's anybody gwine ter heb
ben, hits gwine be Miss Eta An Miss Eta love den
chickens O. hers much dat she's sho ter take 'en
ter hebben wild er wen OF Gabriel SCUM lis trumpet An
dat ben true, Miss Eta jes nachurly got ter take
ter hebben wild er fer ter take kere o dem chick
ems! So dey amt fer ter be tyin masef ur
ter chech wen Abs gwine git ter hebben anyway"
Gggles and cackles from the young wenches hover
ing by greeted this argument of Lees. Doc was
completely taken aback The old fellow dumbly CROPPED
in his mind for fitting to such falacious ar
gument His reputation depended it. crowd had
gathered, those who had not laughed outright
all set to do if Doc didn't stage comeback.
But he was saved from ignominy by diversion
that heaven-sent One of the bystanders tiny
pickaninny black the of spades. He had beer
peerng around his mothers skirts, watching Lees nky
countenance with pop-eyed amazement. And in the
hull that succeeded the laugh at Lees argument he sud
denly piped in shri voice that carried all over
the church yard "Say, Lee, how yo' face is SC
black?"
A roar of laughter from the crowd greeted this
naive question, and under its Doc sided away
ostensibly to greet arrivals.
ITO be continued)