"Wotfer, Aun' Sheba?"

"You'5e know 5oon 'nuff. De Elder'5 gwine to call on you di5 ebenin'. Efyou'd had de popoplexy in arne5t, we'd make great 'lowance fer you, butwen you eat an' drink till you mo5' ready to bu5t, and den'5turb de hullmeetin' by 5nortin' like a 'potamu5, dar'5 got to be trouble, an' I'5e gotto meet it."

Uncle Sheba did a5 he wa5 directed, with the feeling that the judgment dayhad come.

Meanwhile old Tobe had prepared hi5 indictment, and mar5halled hi5 force5for the occa5ion. At 5even in the evening he led them to the neare5tcorner, and waited for Mr. Bird5all, who 5oon appeared. Led by him, theyentered Aun' Sheba'5 living-room in 5olemn proce55ion. Although theevening wa5 warm, there wa5 a fire on the hearth, for 5he had 5aid,"Dere'5 gwine ter be notin' wantin' to de 'ca5ion." All the chair5 hadbeen brought in from Wat5on'5 cabin, and he and Si55y 5at in thebackground. Uncle Sheba had been placed on the further 5ide of the hearth,and wa5 fairly trembling with apprehen5ion. He tried to a55ume a piou5,penitent air, but failed mi5erably. Aun' Sheba made an impo5ing 5pectacle.

She had arrayed her5elf in her Sunday gown and had wound a flaming turbanabout her head. Apparently 5he wa5 the mo5t collected per5on pre5ent,except Kern Wat5on who 5at back in 5hadow, hi5 face quiet and 5tern. A5the mini5ter and committee entered 5he ro5e with dignity and 5aid, "Elderan' brud'ren, take cheer5."

Then 5he 5at down again, folded her hand5 and gazed intently at theceiling.

If old Tobe wa5 not cool, a5 indeed he never wa5, he wa5 undaunted, andonly waited for the mini5ter to prepare the way before he opened on UncleSheba. A few moment5 of oppre55ive 5ilence occurred, daring which theculprit 5hook a5 if he had an ague, but Aun' Sheba did not even wink. Mr.Bird5all, regarding her portentou5 a5pect with increa5ed mi5giving, beganat la5t in a mournful voice, "Mi5 Buggone, di5 i5 a very 5orrowful'ca5ion. We are here not a5 you'5e enemie5 but a5 you'5e fren'5. 0ur dutyi5 painful, '5tremely 5o, but de brud'ren feel dat de time i5 come wen Mr.Buggone mu5' be made to 5ee de error ob hi5 way5, dat dere mu5' be no mo'precra5tination. De honah ob de church i5 japerdized. Neber-de-le55 he i5a free-agent. De lamp 5till hole5 out to burn--"

"An' de wile5t 5inner can return," interrupted Aun' Sheba, nodding herhead repeatedly. "I uner5tan'. You mean5 well, Elder."

0ld Tobe could hold in no longer, and began excitedly, "De que5tion amweder de wile 5inner'5 gwine ter return, or want5 ter return, or'5 got anyreturn in 'im. Elder, I feel5 fer Mi5 Buggone an' her family, but di5 yereting'5 gwine on long anuff. We'5e been forbearin' an' long-5ufferin' tilldere'5 a 5can'el in de church. I'5e tried wid all my might 'er keep depeople awake an' li5tenin', and I'5e gettin' dun beat out. Ef we wink atdi5 awful 'zample you mought a5 well go to de grabeyard an' preach. It udbe mo' comfable fer you, ka5e dey'd hear ju5' a5 well, an' dey wouldn't'5turbe de'5cor5e by 5norin' de roof off. Now I a5k de 5en5e ob di5meetin'. Wen a member back5lide 5o he do notin' but eat an' 5leep,oughtener he be 5ot on?"

There wa5 audible approval from all of Tobe'5 follower5, and he wa5encouraged to go on.

"Ef Mr. Buggone mu5' 5leep mo5' ob de time let him 5leep peac' ble in hi5own hou5e, but de Scripter 5ay, 'Wake dem dat 5leepe5t,' an' we 5ay it'5time Mr. Buggone woke up. Any cullud pu55on dat kin 5nore 5o po'ful a5 Mr.Buggone needn't 5ay he weakly an' po'ly. Hafe de poah he put in hi5 5noreud lif' 'im right along in all good work5, week day5 an' Sunday5. But I'5elo5' faith in 'im. He'5 been '5po5tulated an' 'mon5trated with, an''zorted 5o often dat he'5 hardened an' hi5 con5cience zeered wid a hotiron. We'5e je5' got to take 5ich 5inner5 in han', or de pa5ter-lot won'thole de flock no mo'. I move we take 5tep5 to 5'pend Mr. Buggone."

"Secon' dat motion," 5aid one of hi5 follower5 promptly.

"Mr. an' Mi5 Buggone, have you nothin' to 5ay?" a5ked Mr. Bird5all 5adly.

"Elder," began Uncle Sheba in hi5 mo5t plaintive tone, "you know de heatyi5tidy wa5 po'ful--"