Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 15.pdf/347

CONFESSION AND AVOIDANCE. BY ALBERT V. GAINES. It created a sensation, in the Darktown congregation, When Ezekiel said he wished to be a saint; And the members all asserted that when 'Zekiel got converted, Tvas enough to make Old Nick himself grow faint. But they took him on probation to accomplish his salvation, They exhorted him a better life to lead; Notwithstanding this, howe'er, he was summoned to appear To the charge of dancing—deadly sin—to plead. "I iz come befo' de Session, fo' to make you my confession," Said Ezekiel, with a solemn countenance; "I distinctly recollects all dem solemn, wahnin' texts, Dat you coted 'bout de gamblin' an' de dance; How dat when I got de 'ligion, sho' I mustn't cut de pigeonWing no mo'; an' dat dancin', 'twuz de Debbil's own; Dat 'Come seben. come eleben' wouldn't take me up to Hebben— An' I vow'd dat I would leabe 'em all alone. "Zi wuz stridin' an* a-reachin', an a-comin' to de preachin', In a mighty hurry, night or two ago, On a sudden I wuz facin' an open doo' adjacen' Down dar in de Pickaninny Row; Zi wuz in de doo' a-glancin', I cud see dey's gwyne to dancin', (An' my bredren, dem gals des fahly shine!)— As dey wuz 'bout to begin it, jes' allows I'll stop a minute, As dey passes up an' down de dancin' line. "Den de fiddle 'gins to singin' an' de banjo 'gins to ringin', An' de promptah, he shout: 'S'lute an' balance fo',' An' dem niggahs go paradin' wid dey pahtnah's promonadin', An' dey chassees back and foth across de flo'; As de promptah calls de figgahs like a wave ob sea, dem niggahs (Sweeps across an' back an' thu so vehey neat, Sho—I tells you, pahson, truly, dat I gits somewhat unruly, An' I feels a mighty fidgits in ma feet. "Den dey wahms up to de dancin', all retirin' an' aclvancin', An' dey stahts into de Ole Virginny reel, Den dey 'gins to dance he hoedown, growin' gradual to de breakdown— (You can imagine, bredren, how dis niggah feel!) Den de music libely growin', all de instruments a-goin', An' de ragtime floats upon de air so sweet,