FOLKS FROM DIXIE
Fu'thahmo', we ain't paid de sexton but twenty-five cents on his salary in de las' six months. In conserquence of de same, de dus' is so thick on de benches dat ef you 'd jes' lay a clof ovah dem, dey 'd be same ez upholstashed fu'niture. Now, in o'dah to mitigate is condition of affairs, yo' pastoh has fo'med a pan which he wishes to p'nounce dis mo'nin' in yo' hyeahin' an' to ax yo' 'proval. You all knows dat Chris'mus is 'proachin,' an' I rekon dat you is all plannin' out yo' Chris'mus dinnahs. But I been a-plannin' fu' you when you was asleep, an' my idee is dis,— all of you give up yo' Chris'mus dinnahs, tek fifteen cents er a qua'tah apiece an' come hyeah to chu'ch an' have a 'possum dinnah."
"Amen!" shouted one delighted old man over in the corner, and the whole congregation was all smiles and acquiescent nods.
"I puceive on de pa't of de cong'egration a disposition to approve of de pastoh's plan."
"Yes, yes, indeed," was echoed on all sides.
"Well, den I will jes' tek occasion to say fu'thah dat I already has de 'possums, fo' of de fattes' animals I reckon you evah seen in all yo' bo'n days, an' I 's gwine to tu'n 'em ovah to
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