In the majority of
cases there was nothing to be seen in the cabin to remind one of the
coming of the Saviour, except that the people had ceased work in the
fields and were lounging about their homes. At night, during
Christmas week, they usually had what they called a "frolic," in some
cabin on the plantation. That meant a kind of rough dance, where
there was likely to be a good deal of whiskey used, and where there
might be some shooting or cutting with razors.
While I was making this Christmas visit I met an old coloured man
who was one of the numerous local preachers, who tried to convince me,
from the experience Adam had in the Garden of Eden, that God had
cursed all labour, and that, therefore, it was a sin for any man to
work. For that reason this man sought to do as little work as
possible. He seemed at that time to be supremely happy, because he
was living, as he expressed it, through one week that was free from
sin.
In the school we made a special effort to teach our students the
meaning of Christmas, and to give them lessons in its proper
observance. In this we have been successful to a degree that makes me
feel safe in saying that the season now has a new meaning, not only
through all that immediate region, but, in a measure, wherever our
graduates have gone.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139