owards me from the pulpit, with
a request that I should remain a moment longer, and before I could
take in the situation the singing was over and Jordan was speaking.

What he said, as nearly as I can recall it, was as follows:

"Befo' I pernounces de benediction, I wants ter 'spress de thanks o'
dis chu'ch ter de 'oner'ble visitor wha' set 'isse'f so modes' in de
las' pew dis evenin', _an' den sen' up de bigges' conterbutiom_,
fulfillin' de words o' de Scripture, which say _de las' shill be fus'
an' de fus' shill be las_'.

"Brer Chesterfiel' Jones, please ter rise an' receive de thanks o' de
congergation fur dat gen'rous five-dollar bill wha' you sont up by Brer
Phil Dolittle."

He paused here, and feeling all eyes turned upon me, I was constrained
to rise to my feet, and I think I can truly say that I have never been
surprised by greater embarrassment than I felt as I hurriedly subsided
to the depths of my corner. Addressing himself now to Dolittle, Jordan
continued:

"I 'ain't see you walk so biggoty in a _long_ time, Brer Dolittle, as
you walked when you fetched up dat five dollars. Ef dis heah 'd been a
cake walk yo'd o' tooken de prize, sho'.

"De nex' time dy' all gets up a cake walk on dis plantation, lemme
advise you ter borry a five-dollar note _f'om somebody dat don't know
yer_, ter tote when yer walk. Hit'll he'p yer ter keep yo' chin up.

"_An' dat ain't all_. Hit'll he'p _me_ ter keep _my chin up_ when I
ca'ys dis greenback bill to de grocery to-morrer an' I'll turn it into
a wheel, too--two wheels, wid a bulge between 'em. Now guess wha' dat
is?"

The congregation were by this time convulsed with laughter, and some one
answered aloud:

"A flour-bar'l!"

"Dat's it, Joe, a flour-bar'l! You's a good guesser.

"An' so now, in de name o' Col' Spring Chu'ch, Brer Jones, I thanks you
ag'in fur a bar'l o' flour, an' I tecks it mighty kin' o' you too,
'caze I knows deys a heap o' 'Piscopalpalian preachers _wha' wouldn't
o' done it!_ Dey'd be 'feerd dat ef dey gi'e any o' de high-risin'
'Piscopalpalian flour ter de Baptists dat dey'd ruin it wid _col'
water!_"

There was so much laughter here that Jordan had to desist for a moment,
but he had not finished.

"_But_," he resumed, with renewed seriousness--"_But ef Christians on'y
knowed it_, dey kin put a _little leaven o' solid Christianity_ in all
de charity flour dey gi'es away, an' hit'll _leaven de whole lot_ so
strong dat _too much water can'