E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Pilar Somoza, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 15886-h.htm or 15886-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/8/8/15886/15886-h/15886-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/8/8/15886/15886-h.zip) THE STRENGTH OF GIDEON AND OTHER STORIES by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR 1900 TO MY GOOD FRIEND AND TEACHER CAPTAIN CHARLES B. STIVERS CONTENTS STRENGTH OF GIDEON MAMMY PEGGY'S PRIDE VINEY'S FREE PAPERS THE FRUITFUL SLEEPING OF THE REV. ELISHA EDWARDS THE INGRATE THE CASE OF 'CA'LINE' THE FINISH OF PATSY BARNES ONE MAN'S FORTUNES JIM'S PROBATION UNCLE SIMON'S SUNDAYS OUT MR. CORNELIUS JOHNSON, OFFICE-SEEKER AN OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS A MESS OF POTTAGE THE TRUSTFULNESS OF POLLY THE TRAGEDY AT THREE FORKS THE FINDING OF ZACH JOHNSONHAM, JUNIOR THE FAITH CURE MAN A COUNCIL OF STATE SILAS JACKSON THE STRENGTH OF GIDEON Old Mam' Henry, and her word may be taken, said that it was "De powerfulles' sehmont she ever had hyeahd in all huh bo'n days." That was saying a good deal, for the old woman had lived many years on the Stone place and had heard many sermons from preachers, white and black. She was a judge, too. It really must have been a powerful sermon that Brother Lucius preached, for Aunt Doshy Scott had fallen in a trance in the middle of the aisle, while "Merlatter Mag," who was famed all over the place for having white folk's religion and never "waking up," had broken through her reserve and shouted all over the camp ground. Several times Cassie had shown signs of giving way, but because she was frail some of the solicitous sisters held her with self-congratulatory care, relieving each other now and then, that each might have a turn in the rejoicings. But as the preacher waded out deeper and deeper into the spiritual stream, Cassie's efforts to make her feelings known became more and more decided. He told them how the spears of the Midianites had "clashed upon de shiels of de Gideonites, an' aftah while, wid de powah of de Lawd behin' him, de man Gideon triumphed mightily," and swaying then and wailing in the dark woods, with grim branches waving in the breath of their own excitement, they could hear above the tumult the clamor of the fight, the clashing of the spears, and the ringing of the shields. They could see the conqueror coming home in triumph. Then when he cried, "A-who, I say, a-who is in Gideon's ahmy to-day?" and the wailing chorus took up the note, "A-who!" it was too much even for frail Cassie, and, deserted by the solicitous sisters, in the words of Mam' Henry, "she broke a-loose, and faihly tuk de place."