8G

	“I git money fer platting ~a11uses arid making boot strings and other little things. ~11us first, I desires to be well ~ua1i4ied wid what I does. I is gwine to be qualified wid everything dat I does, iffen iE• does it ±er money or no. Dat‘s de reason white people has ailus give me words o~ encouragement.

	“Now I gvvine to sing a song ~er Miss POily, k.aise she de ~rarid.~daughter of de late Sheriff Long, and I goes to see her ~rarid-~ ma at de Keys (Cross Keys House). Dar she come no~i.

	“How is you dis morning, Miss Polly? De L~vcd sho does shower you, L~iss Polly, arid dat‘s de reason I is ~ine to siri~‘ fer ~you dis morning. You‘ll be able to tell ivir. Jimmie (her father) dat Uncle ~eorge sing fer you, ‘Jesus Listening All De Day Long‘.

	“Jesus listenin~ all de day long to hear some sinner pray.

De winding sheet to ~rop (wrap) dis oody in,

	De coffin to hold you fast;

	Pass through death‘s iron do‘.

	Corne ye dat love de Lawd and let your joy be know‘d;

	Dis irongate ypu must pass through, i± you gwine to be

	Born a~in.“

	He saris these lines over three times Rnd then bowing, said:

“~&iri‘t it glory dat we can live whar de Lawd can use us? Dat‘s power. A~ strong man entereth in; a weak man cometh out. flat represent Christ gwine into your heart.

	t?Sho I can remember when dey had de mustering grounds at de Keys. Dar deymustered and den dey turn‘t in arid practiced dri1lin~ dem soldiers till dey larn‘t how to march and to shoot de Yari.kee8. Drilliri~, dat‘s de proper word, not practice. I knows, if I ain‘t ed‘icated. Dey signed me to go to de l6th.~regiment, but I never
Stories Prom Ex~S1aves ~Geo. Briggs)
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