Viewing page 16 of 208

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

24 POOR SARAH.

I think he just like Sarah.  She must go in secret, to hear 'bout Jesus, else husband be angry, and beat her.  Then feel 'courage in mind, determined to have Jesus for friend.  So ask nabor how get good heart.  She tell me, 'Give your heart to Jesus, he will give Holy Spirit, make it better.' Sarah don't know what she mean--never hear 'bout Holy Spirit.
17. "She say must go meetin' next Sunday, she will tell minister 'bout me-- he tell me what to do.  So Sarah go hear how must be born 'gain; minister say, 'You must go fall down 'fore God; tell him you grieved 'cause you sin--tell him you want better heart--tell him for Christ Jesus' sake give Holy Spirit, make your heart new.'  Then Sarah go home light, 'cause she know the way.
18. "When get home, husband beat me 'cause I go meetin'--don't stay home work.  I say,'Sarah can't work any more on Sunday, 'cause sin 'against God.  I rather work night, when moon shine.'  So he drive me hoe corn that night, he so angry.  I want to pray great deal, so go out hoe corn, pray all the time.  When come in house,husband sleep.  Then I kneel down and tell Jesus take my bad heart--can't bear bad hear; pray give me Holy Spirit, make my heart soft, make it all new.
19. "So great many days Sarah go beg for a new heart.  Go meetin' all Sundays; if husband beat me, never mind it; go hear good nabor read Bible every day.  So, after great while, God make all my mind peace.  I love Jesus; love pray to him; love tell him all my sorrows.  He take away my sorrow, make all my soul joy; only sorry 'cause can't read Bible--learn how to be like Jesus; want to be like his dear people Bible tell of.
20. "So I make great many brooms; go get Bible for 'em.  When come home, husband call me fool for it; say he burn it up.  Then I go hide it; when he gone, get it, kiss it many times, 'cause it Jesus' good word.  Then I go ask nabor if she learn me read; she say, 'Yes.'  Then I go many days learn letters, pray God all the while help me learn read his holy word.
21. "So, misse, I learn read Baptist hymn; learn to spell out many good words in Bible.  So every day take Bible, tell my children that be God's word, tell 'em how Jesus die on cross for sinner : then make 'em all kneel down, I pray God give 'em new heart; pray for husband too, he so wicked.  O, how I sorry for him; fear his soul go in burnin' flame."
22. "Sarah," said I,"how long did your husband live ?"  "O, he live great many year."  "Did he repent and become a good man ?"  "No, misse, I 'fraid not; he sin more and more.  When he got sick, I in great trouble for him; talk every day to him, but he no hear Sarah.  I say,'How can you bear go in burnin' fire, where worm never die, where fire never go out.'  At last he get angry, bid