'"
The scene that followed baffles all description. Uncle Gabe struck
up--
"Oh, lebe de woods uv damnation;
Come out in de fields uv salvation;
Fur de Lord's gwine ter bu'n up creation,
Wen de day uv jedgment come.
"Oh, sinners, yer may stan' dar er laffin',
Wile de res' uv us er quaffin'
Uv de streams wich de win's is er waffin'
Right fresh fum de heb'nly sho'.
"But, min', der's er day is er comin',
Wen yer'll hyear a mighty pow'ful hummin';
Wen dem angels is er blowin' an' er drummin',
In de awful jedgment day.
"Oh, monahs, you may stan' dar er weepin',
Fur de brooms uv de Lord is er sweepin',
An' all de trash dey's er heapin'
Outside er de golden gate.
"So, sinners, yer'd better be er tu'nin',
Er climin' an' er scramblin' an' er runnin',
Fur ter 'scape dat drefful burnin'
In de awful jedgment day."
And while the hymn was being sung, Uncle Daniel had his wish of
"monahs 'pun top er monahs," for the benches and aisles immediately
around the altar were soon crowded with the weeping negroes. Some were
crying, some shouting Glory! some praying aloud, some exhorting the
sinners, some comforting the mourners, some shrieking and screaming,
and, above all the din and confusion, Uncle Daniel could be heard
halloing, at the top of his voice, "Dem s'ords an' dem famines!" After
nearly an hour of this intense excitement, the congregation was
dismissed, one of them, at least, more dead than alive; for "Aunt
Ceely," who had long been known as "er pow'ful sinful ooman," had
fallen into a trance, whether real or assumed must be determined by
wiser heads than mine; for it was no uncommon occurrence for those
"seekin' 'ligion" to lie in a state of unconsciousness for several
hours, and, on their return to consciousness, to relate the most
wonderful experiences of what had happened to them while in the
trance.
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