have the Bible open, and therefore never omitted that part of the
ceremony.

"My bredren an' my sistren," he began, looking solemnly over his specs
at the congregation, "de tex' wat I'se gwine ter gib fur yer 'strucshun
dis ebenin' yer'll not fin' in de foremus' part er de Book, nur yit in
de hine part. Hit's swotuwated mo' in de middle like, 'boutn ez fur fum
one een ez 'tiz fum tudder, an' de wuds uv de tex' is dis:

"'Burhol', I'll punish um! dey young men shall die by de s'ord, an' dey
sons an' dey daughters by de famine.'

"My bredren, embracin' uv de sistren, I'se ben 'stressed in my min'
'boutn de wickedness I sees er gwine on. Eby night de Lord sen' dar's
dancin' an' loffin' an' fiddlin'; an' efn er man raises 'im er few
chickens an' watermillions, dey ain't safe no longer'n his back's turnt;
an', let erlone dat, dar's quarlin' 'longer one nudder, an' dar's
sassin' uv wite folks an' ole pussuns, an' dar's drinkin' uv whiskey,
an' dar's beatin' uv wives, an' dar's dev'lin' uv husban's, an' dar's
imperrence uv chil'en, an' dar's makin' fun uv 'ligion, an' dar's
singin' uv reel chunes, an' dar's slightin' uv wuck, an' dar's stayin'
fum meetin', an' dar's swearin' an' cussin', an' dar's eby kin' er
wickedness an' dev'lment loose in de land.

"An', my bredren, takin' in de sistren, I've talked ter yer, an' I've
tol' yer uv de goodness an' de long-suff'rin' uv de Lord. I tol' yer
outn his Book, whar he'd lead yer side de waters, an' be a Shepherd ter
yer; an' yer kep' straight on, an' neber paid no 'tenshun; so tudder
night, wile I wuz er layin' in de bed an' er steddin' wat ter preach
'bout, sumpin' kin' er speak in my ear; an' hit sez, 'Brer Dan'l, yer've