The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1907, Page 4

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4 The Lutheran Pioneer.

Uncle Windsor.

Old Uncle Windsor was a colored servant in an
ideal “Old Virginia Home.” A daughter of the
family, whom we recently had the pleasure to
meet, published, some years ago, the story of his
life in slavery time. From this true story the
following account is taken for the P1ionEER:

Evening Prayer.

“Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,
Bless Thy little lamb to-night,
Through the darkness be Thou near

me, ;

Watch my sleep till morning light.” i

Uncle Windsor came into my father’s family
at an advanced age, and after he had by some acci-
dent become totally blind, his very helplessness

_making him an object of peculiar care.

“He had a mind of unusual clearness, and hav-
ing given his heart to the Savior, he made it his
one object to live and speak for Jesus. It was made
the duty of the children of the family to take him
his meals from the master’s table, and to read to
him every day from the Word of God. In this
way his mind was stored with many passages of

Scripture, which he brought into constant use and
made the daily guide of his life.

One summer day the blind old man was sit-
ting under the shade of a tree in devout meditation
as was his wont. There was a horse grazing near
by, and hearing his footsteps old Uncle cried out,
“Who is dat?” Of course, there was no reply, and
he called again, “Who is dat?” Still no answer,
“Well,” he said, “I will give you a word as you
pass. ‘Now is the accepted time; now is the day
of salvation.’” The horse coming nearer, he per-
ceived his mistake, and said, “I dar b’lieve I
preachin’ to a horse.”

My father, who had been an amused listener,
close by, said, “No, Uncle Windsor, your sermon
is not lost. I have heard you.”

Said he, “Well, marster, I mighty glad you is

* here; now talk to me ’*bout Jesus.”

His understanding of spiritual things was re-
markably clear, and ministerial friends of my
father, who were frequent guests at our home,
would gladly converse with old Uncle and were
astonished at his wisdom. :

His son Parker was very self-willed and caused
his father much anxious care. The boy, in an
excited revival meeting, had professed conversion,
but Uncle Windsor had some doubts as to the
soundness of his faith. He, as usual in any time
of trouble, sent for my father, who found him
wearing the stern countenance of a judge, while
his son sat near him in silence.

As my father came near, old Uncle addressed
him as follows:

“Marster, Parker say he is a child of God, and
I want you to help me sarch him.”

My father replied, “No, Uncle Windsor, I think
you can do that better than I can. But I will stay
and hear what he has to say.”

Turning to his son, old Uncle, with great ear-
nestness, began: “Well, my son, what makes you
think you are a Christian?”

After some hesitation, he replied, “Daddy, I
weeps an’ moans.”

Says the father, “Yes, you ought to weep an’
moan; but your tears ain’t worth nothin’.”

The son says, “Daddy, I humbles.”

Says the old man sternly, “You ought to.
humble; you been walkin’ mighty high; but your
humble ain’t worth a breath out 0’ my ole mouth.”

Again the son urged his plea, “Well, Daddy,
I prays.”

Said the father, “You ought to pray and call