 | 'Weh Down Souf and other Poems : |  |
72
SKEETIN' ON DE ICE.
At a little country meeting, in a log house near the road,
The saints had duly gathered “fur de wushup ub de Lord,”
When “Bru Levi 'sen' de pulpit,” cleared his throat, and then began:
“De 'spoundin' ub de scripshur, fur to cheer de speretu'l man.”
The saints had duly gathered “fur de wushup ub de Lord,”
When “Bru Levi 'sen' de pulpit,” cleared his throat, and then began:
“De 'spoundin' ub de scripshur, fur to cheer de speretu'l man.”
I was teacher in the county, and was in duty bound
In attendance on the services, to help the brethren 'long.
Brother Levi was the pastor, and dispensed the gospel here,
As he misunderstood it at twenty-five a year.
In attendance on the services, to help the brethren 'long.
Brother Levi was the pastor, and dispensed the gospel here,
As he misunderstood it at twenty-five a year.
The day was warm and sultry, sleep was getting in my eyes,
When this most unique sermon made them open with surprise:
“My belubbed congregashun, I bin preachin' 'bout de 'possles,
An' took my tex' whar Paul poked his 'pissle at de 'Fezhuns.
When this most unique sermon made them open with surprise:
73
An' took my tex' whar Paul poked his 'pissle at de 'Fezhuns.
But to-day I gwine to tell yo' 'bout de chillun ub de Lord,
How dey crossed de ragin' waters at de spekin' ub de word.
I know y'all long bin won'drin' how de chillun crossed de sea;
'Tiz jes' ez plain ez kin be to er 'sper'enced man like me.
How dey crossed de ragin' waters at de spekin' ub de word.
I know y'all long bin won'drin' how de chillun crossed de sea;
'Tiz jes' ez plain ez kin be to er 'sper'enced man like me.
You see, 'twuz in de winter when de chillun dar wuz led,
An' de norf win' wuz a-blowin' strong ernuf to raise de dead.
Now, yo' see, de thing wuz easy, an' likewise berry nice,
Fur all de chillun had to do wuz to skeet across on ice.
An' de norf win' wuz a-blowin' strong ernuf to raise de dead.
Now, yo' see, de thing wuz easy, an' likewise berry nice,
Fur all de chillun had to do wuz to skeet across on ice.
74
But when ol' Farro kum along wid dem big chayut wheels,
De ice je's broke, an' all er dem fell in head ober heels.”
This was hard on my intelligence as teacher of the school,
And so I rose and said a word, although against the rule:
De ice je's broke, an' all er dem fell in head ober heels.”
This was hard on my intelligence as teacher of the school,
And so I rose and said a word, although against the rule:
“Beg pardon, brother pastor, but geographies, you know,
Say this land is in the tropics, where can be no ice or snow.”
“I thanks yo', do' I does not like no 'sturbmence on dis topic;
But in dem days 'twon't no gogerfies, so, 'course dar won't no tropics.”
Say this land is in the tropics, where can be no ice or snow.”
“I thanks yo', do' I does not like no 'sturbmence on dis topic;
But in dem days 'twon't no gogerfies, so, 'course dar won't no tropics.”
You can see I was dumbfounded; the brethren said, “Amen,”—
And thus he then concluded, ere I could speak again:
“When yo' gwine to cross de water, yo' better tak' advice,
An' 'cepin' de Lord is wid yo', don't skeet across on ice.”
And thus he then concluded, ere I could speak again:
“When yo' gwine to cross de water, yo' better tak' advice,
An' 'cepin' de Lord is wid yo', don't skeet across on ice.”
| 'Weh Down Souf and other Poems : | |