Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1902 — PROFESSIONAL PRAYER. [ARTICLE]

PROFESSIONAL PRAYER.

The Odd Business of an Old Negress in New Orleans. “In one of the more unique quarters of New Orleans I have found one of the most unique characters I ever saw, m an old negro washerwoman,” said a man who has lately taken up his residence in one of the more popular avenues of the city, "and she seems to be proceeding along original lines in the main purpose of her life. Washing clothes seems to be a mere incident to the general plan she carries out. She Is an interesting old character, and can quote copiously from the Bible. This seems to be a bobby with her. She Ims some kind of construction to put on every line she quotes, too. She can tell you Just exactly what It means from her way of looking at it. But this is not the point I had in mind. "Several days ago I got into conversation with the old woman, and she asked me if I didn’t have some family washing to give her. I told her I did not, but encouraged the conversation, as I have a fondness for the negro of the ante-bellum type, finding them always very Interesting. She finally threw a quotation from the Bible at me, and it was followed by another, and still another, and so on. ‘Say, boss,’ she said after a while, ‘does yo’ ever have anybody to do any prayin’ fo’ yo’?’ I told her I did not, and, becoming more Interested in the old woman, I got her to unfold her whole scheme to me. She did it without any sort of hesitation. "She is a professional prayer, and makes no small sum out of it from what she told me. She told me she was praying once a week for the lady next door, who had employed her to pray for her husband to quit drinking, although be Is a very light drinker, to my own knowledge. The old woman seemed to be very proud of her calling, and whatever other people may say about It she is an enthusiastic believer In the efficacy of her own prayers.”—New Orleans Tlmes-Democrat.