Table of

ts that were used in the cotton-picking season, and had learned to mend shoes; besides that, he was the great horse-doctor of the neighborhood, and not only cured his master's horses and mules, but was sent for for miles around to see the sick stock; and then, too, he could re-bottom chairs, and make buckets and tubs and brooms; and all of the money he made was his own: so the old man had quite a little store of gold and silver sewed up in an old bag and buried somewh

wuz de piuses man dar wuz on de place;" and he had for y

Daniel, who was a preacher, they began to speak of th

tell you what I ben er stud'n, Brer Dan'l. I ben er stud'n dat what's de matter wid deze niggers is, dat de chil'en ain't riz right. Yer know de Book hit sez ef yer raise de chil'en, like yer

ittle faces were among those of his pupils. "Now, you all sot down," said Uncle Bob, "an' 'have yerse'fs till I fix yer in er line." Having arranged them to his satisfaction, he delivered to them a short address, setting forth the object of the meeting, and his intentions concerning them. "Chil'en," he began, "I fotch yer hyear dis ebenin fur ter raise yer like yer ought ter be riz. De folks deze days is er gwine ter strucshun er dancin' an' er pickin' uv banjers an' er

at the top of the line, and asked "Gus,"

, very untruthfully, for Aunt

aid Uncle Bob. "N

answe

ceeded to "Jim," the next in order. "What

im, with as little regard

said Uncle Bob. "Now, w

omptly, and the old man

he make

r scratching his head and reflecting a moment, said, "Fur t

"Marse Cain kilt his brudder;" that "Marse Abel wuz de fus man slewed;" that "Marse Noah built de ark;" that "Marse Thuselum wuz de oldes' man," and so on, until he reached the end

made

ered the li

d Uncle Bob, i

eplied t

God made yer?" a

boy; "dat'n wat God mad

ed, Gus, who had wearied of the Sunday-school, slip

swered, "Marse Adum." "Eve wuz de fus man." "Marse Cain wuz de fus 'oman." "Marse Abel kilt his brudder." "Marse Noah wuz de fus one slewed." "Marse Thuse

I ain't nuber hyeard nobody say. But dat's neder hyear nor dar; he wuz er good man, and he pray tree times eby day. At de fus peepin' uv de day, Brer Dan'l he usen fur ter hop outn his bed and git down on his knees; and soon's

t de thing fur ter stop;' but Brer Dan'l, he nuber studid 'im; he jes prayed right on, tell by

an' tuck 'im right erlong tell dey come ter de lions' den; an' wen dey wuz yit er fur ways fum dar dey hyeard de lions er ro'in an' er sayin', 'Ar-ooorrrrar! aroooorrrrrar!' an' all dey hearts 'gun ter quake sept'n

ions wid dey mouf open an' dey eyes er shinin', jes er trompin' backerds an' forerds; an' dar in de corner sot an angel smoovin' uv 'is wings; an' right in de middle uv de den was Dan'l, jes er sot'n back dar!

er live an' die on my knees er prayin' an' er sarvin' de Lord.' Sezee, 'De Lord ain't gwine let de lions meddle long o' me,' sezee; 'I ain't fyeard o' nufn,' sezee. 'De Lord is my strengt an' my rocks, an' I ain't er

uz er pra

tree tim

he hist

ear po' Da

white folks dey went up; an' de niggers dey went up; an' de pater-rollers dey went up; an' de king

' put yer pen'ence in de Lord, yer needn be er fyeard uv no lions; d

hymn, an' den yer kin all go. I'll give de hymn out, so's dar needn't

h great solemnity, gave out the following hymn, whi

Lord! O ble

us mo'

l come an' b

not le

Lord; my ma

he does

savin' sin

wid all

Lord! O bl

us in y

l come an' b

e ter hol'

Lord; my m

my mis

hard ter se

she du

Lord! O bl

us now,

l come an' b

leave hye

, Lord; deze

dey lit

raight ter

lk dat gol

Lord! O bl

n all ye

l come an' b

tle hyear

, Lord; deze

is black,

souls is whi

yer bless

Lord! O bl

us mo'

l come an' b

p yer hye

, Lord; all

bless al

good, an' b

lory uv

Lord! now bl

'long o'

own de bles

we'll le