Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1881 — Two Dollar-and-a-Half Christians. [ARTICLE]

Two Dollar-and-a-Half Christians.

Louisville Christian Observer. There are a great many people in their religion that remind me of “Uncle Phil,” a pious old darkey of the old times in Texas. Well, Phil was a fervent Christian, with a great gift of prayer. He attended all the Saturday night prayer meetings on the neighboring plantations, and could pray louder and longer than any of the bretheren. But Phil had one weakness —he dearly loved money, and, different from the negro generally, he loved to hoard it. Near by us lived a man, whp, not troubled about any scruples, would pay Phil a dollar to work on his field on Sundays. One Sundav night, as Phil came home after dark, I accosted with him: “Where have you been, Phil?” “Oh, just knocking about, massa.” “You have been working for Miller.” “Well, you see, massa, the old fellow is in need, and he jest showed me a silver dollar, and I jest couldn’t stand it.” “Ain't you afraid the devil will get you for breaking the Sabbath?” Phil scratched his head a minute,and said: “I guess the Lord’ll ’scuse me, massa.” “No. * He says, remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” and it was not long before I heard his voice in fervent prayer back of the barn, and so I thought I would slip down near enough to hear. “Oh, Lord,” I heard him say. “I have this day ripped and teared, cussed and sweared at them confounded oxen of Miller’s, and jest broke the Sabbath day. Oh, Lora, please foigive me; please forgive me, for I’s nothing bat a miserable heathen anyhow. If you’ll {eet forgive me this time I’ll never do t again as long as I live, ’cepting he give me $2.50 a day.” At this point I was obliged to beat a hasty retreat, but I am thinking that poor Uncle Phil isn’t the only $2 50 Christian in this world.