The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Page 56

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56

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

An Evil Spirit.

It was no uncommon occurrence, so the late
Teacher. Vix told the writer, to have drunken men
‘come to the services and create a disturbance. For
a while some ruffian from the neighborhood made
it his business to wrap a bedsheet around himself
and play the ghost, running up and down the stairs
and through the rooms during the services, wailing
and howling in most dismal tones. The fellow kept
this up so long that the mission-workers finally
decided that something must be done to lay the
“evil spirit.” So, on a certain Sunday night, while
the service was in progress, Mr. Vix hid himself in

a jump, and the ghost had reached the landing.
The waiting teacher sees his opportunity. He
dashes out of his corner like a flash—a sudden
grasp, and he holds the sheet in his hand, while the
“chost” continues his downward course into the
lower regions of the first floor. Though Mr. Vix
cried after the “ghost,” “THere’s your sheet!” he
never came back for it.

A Terrible Insult.

A most amusing incident that will bear repeat-
ing, and which throws a strong light on the character
of Mr. Vix’s pupils in “Sailors’ Home,” is the follow-

Mount Zion Church and School, New Orleans.

the dark hall to await developments and, if possible,
to catch “his ghostship.” He had not long to wait,
for scarcely had Missionary Bakke read his text and
begun to preach, when the “ghost” again began his
capers. Hideous howls rang through the building,
accompanied by the clanking of chains. The noise
came nearer and nearer, —now it approached the
head of the stairs, — the alert teacher crouching in
his dark corner saw the white form slowly descend-
ing the stairway from the third to the second
floor, — now it was only a few steps away from the
landing, — the missionary stopped in his sermon, —
i the eyes of the worshipers were staring terror-

stricken into the gloom of the hall, — then a howl,

ing: During the noon hour of a certain day
a bright-looking urchin came up to Mr. Vix with
tear-dimmed eyes and in broken tones cried, —

“Charlie cursed me.”

“Is that so?” exclaimed the shocked teacher.
“What did Charlie say to you?”

“He called me a gentleman,” sobbed the boy.

“A gentleman! Well, aren’t you a little gentle-
man, Bob?” rejoined the astonished teacher.

“No, sir,” is the emphatic reply.

“No? What are you then?” asked the dum-
founded teacher.

“I’m a nigger, sir!” was the positive assertion
of the little fellow.