As the wind beat against the Ark on wild nights, so that we
could hardly tell which was the wind and which was the roar of the
maddened sea, and still those voices chanted hopefully of the "stormless
home beyond the river," etc., the words began to strike on something
deeper than my physical or intellectual sense, and that not rudely.
I smiled to catch myself humming them over often, and in the school-room,
when I felt that my patience was fast oozing, and I experienced a wild
desire to loose the reins and let all go, unconsciously I took refuge in
repeating those same simple words, going over with them, again and again,
beneath my breath, holding on to them as though they possessed some
unknown charm to keep me still and strong.
I went to the evening meetings. They were held in the school-house, and
were very popular in Wallencamp.
By some provision of the government on behalf of the Indians, a small
meeting-house had been built for those in the vicinity of Wallencamp, and
they were also provided with a minister for several months during the
year. On this account the Indians rather set themselves up above the
benighted Wallencampers, whom government had not endowed with the
privileges of the sanctuary, while they, in turn, made derisive allusions
to the "Nigger-camp" minister, and regarded with contempt its prescribed
means of grace.
Pages:
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180