De Lam' A Sirayin

[Kzhortation at a coloree! camp-meetlng. Tüe dialect is ttiat of a MissUsippi plantation.] Lonk out, backBlider, whar yon walkin V Make a misstep, sho's jou bo'n. I teil you wtiat, U's no ase talkin', Ef yo slip up, chile, yon gonel De road is f uil er stumps au' stubble, Ruts an' siuk holes etierywliar', I epec dej'll ib you heap er trouble, 'è you don't stop yo' fooliu' dar". l'.'e dark ez pitcli au' migbty cloudy. Spftf de debbit's walkla' roun', Fub' thing you know he'll teil you "howdy,"- Lif' his hoof an' stomp de groun'. Man, can't you see a sto'm's a brewin'? Hear de awful thunder peal! Look! Blazin' light'nln' ttareat'nin' ruin- Oh, backsüder, how you feel? Drap on yo' knees èn' go to prayln', Ax de Lawd to he'p you out. Chile, teil him you 's a lam' a strayin' - Done got los' an' stum'lin' 'bout. A.n' den you'll see de starB a-gleamin'- 'Luminatin' all de way. Yea, 'bout ten thousan' twiaklin', beamip'- Smack untwell de break er day. Bat e( you (all de debbll git you, Fetch you slap! ti'ht in yo' eye, You'l) foei mos' like erurapeehot hityou, Drapp'd t'om half way to de sky!