No. 394.
SAMBO AND TONEY:
DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO SERVANTS.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED
BY THE LATE
REV. EDMUND BOTSFORD,
MINISTER IN GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
PUBLISHED BY THE
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,
150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK.
2
SAMBO AND TONEY.
THE COLORED BOY.
A few months ago, I was journeying in the interior of
one of the middle states. 'After the long and fatiguing
rides of the week, I was received on a Satwday into a
most excellent family, whose kindness and hospitality I
had often enjoyed. One of the servants in the house was
a young and very intelligent colored boy, about fourteen
years of age. As I retired at the close of the evening, he
attended me to my room. Being much exhausted, I direct¬
ed him to bring my portmanteau, and told him if he would
sit by my side at the fire, and hold the candle, I would
read to him a few verses of the Bible before I went to my
pillow. He seemed very glad, and hastened to get the
chairs ready and the candles trimmed, while I was getting
the book.
I selected a plain and easy passage, and endeavored
to explain it as I read. He looked at me intently at the
time, and seemed deeply interested in what was said.
After I had read a few minutes, and had taken occasion to
urge upon him the importance of religion, and the danger
of putting off repentance until it was too late, it occurred
to me that he perhaps could read, and might read to me.
I asked him the question, and the following conversation,
as near as I can remember, ensued :
"Can you read, George?"
"Yes, sir, a little ; mistress is teaching me now."
"Well, I should like to hear you read; you may take
the Bible and read a little. See how slow and distinctly
you can read." He did so, and I was much surprised to
find that he read in so plain and proper a manner. I ac-
No. 594. f-ige 3 of cover.
Mo. 391.
SAIBO AND TONEY.
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO SERVANTS.
originally published by
THE LATE REV. EDMUND BOTSFORD,
minister in georgia and south carolina.
Sambo. How do you do, brother Toney ? I am glad
to see you. I hope you are well,
Toney. Is this Sambo? How have you been this
long time ? I am glad to see you indeed.
Sambo. I hope, brother, that the Lord has changed
your heart by this time ; I hear that many where you live
have been converted, and have joined the church.
Toney. 0, yes. We have praying and singing, ex¬
horting and preaching all around us, and some on our
plantation; but I don't like any of it. I think I'm as good
as those that make such a noise. Many that pray, and
all that, are no better than we that make no pretence.
They do bad things, with all their religion.
Sambo. I am very sorry to hear that those who call
themselves Christians do as bad as those that make- no
pretence to religion ; may-be they never were converted.
Toney. What you call converted, Sambo ? I know
nothing about it.
Sambo. I am afraid, Toney, you don't want to know.
I am very sorry for you. I always loved you, Toney ; I
should be glad to see you serious and thoughtful about
your soul. You can't live always, and when you die,
't will be dreadful if you die in your sins.
Toney. I know I must die some time or other, but
while I live I want to 'joy all the pleasure I can—time
enough to talk about repent and die, when I am old.
Sambo. But suppose you don't live till you're old.
Do you see many on your plantation live to be old ? And
2
SAMBO AND TONEY.
if you should be old, may-be you '11 be hardened in sin.
Did you never see an old man very wicked ? Suppose
you should run away from your master, and never come
back till you get old and can't do any work ; do you think
your master would care for you then ? If you was in his
place, would you not say, What do you come for now?
When you was strong and could do work, you keep out;
now you sick and old and can't work, you come home.
Begone ; I '11 have nothing to do with you. Well now, if
you serve the devil all the best of your days, and when
you can't serve him any longer, then you come and call
upon God to take you, may-be God say, Begone. I tell
you, Toney, you had better think upon your poor soul
before it is too late—before you drop into hell.
Toney. I don't know any thing about this gospel and
praying, and all these things.
Sambo. Do you never go to meeting, Toney, to hear
the minister preach ?
Toney. Yes, I go sometimes, but the minister never
preach to us.
Sambo. Why, Toney, the minister preach to every
body. May-be you think he don't preach to you, because
he don't say, Now, colored people, I speak to you. The
word of the Lord speaks to every body alike—white peo¬
ple, black people, rich man, poor man, old man, and young
man; it says, Repent, every one of you. I thank God,
this word has done great things for me since you and I
lived together. Then I thought just as you do now; I
loved frolic and dance, and a great many bad things, but
I am a great deal happier now than I was then.
Toney. You talk like some of our people. They say,
now they be religious, they hate frolic and dancing, and a
great many other things, as much as they once loved
them ; and they talk about being happy, and all that, but
I do n't understand any thing about these things.
Sambo. Suppose you can't understand all these things;
SAMBO AND TONEY.
3
some things you can understand, and if you would give
your mind to these things, and pray humbly to the Lord,
he would enlighten your mind, and make you see and
understand what a sinful creature you are.
Toney. Some of our people tell a great deal about
their danger, and about the Lord enlightening their hearts,
and about believing in Christ
Sambo. Will you answer me two or three questions,
Toney ?
Toney. Yes, I will.
Sambo. Well now, Toney, suppose you were to die
this minute ; do you think you are prepared for that ?
Toney. I hope I shall live a good many years yet.
Sambo. But you don't answer my question.
Toney. I don't know if I am ready to die now. I
do n't like it.
Sambo. You say you do n't know if you 're ready to
die now, and you do 'nt intend thinking of it until you are
an old man. Now, Toney, I will tell you why you have
such thoughts. You never consider what a dreadful thing
it is to sin against God. Sometimes you think, Well, I
must die as well as others, some time or other ; and that
makes you uneasy, and so you put that thought away.
When any of your people die, you are troubled again for a
little time ; but you say, I am young, and sha' n't die yet,
and so dance and frolic and do wicked things again. And
then, again, you think that you can repent when you
please, and that many are worse than you are. Now mind
what I tell you ; as long as you think you can repent
when you please, without the Holy Spirit converting your
heart, so long will you go on in your old ways. >Tis the
devil that puts these thoughts into your heart, and keeps
you from repenting and turning to God. Besides, Toney,
you know very well that life is uncertain ; you see young
people die as well as old, and some die very sudden; and
you may die as sudden as any, and have no time, so much
4
SAMBO AND TONEY,
as to say, Lord have mercy upon me. I onco had such
thoughts as you have now; and if God had left me to
myself, I should to this day have been serving the devil;
but, thank the Lord for his goodness, he was pleased to
bless the preaching of the gospel to my poor soul, which
brought me to see that I had been doing wrong all my
days, and if I died it such a state, I should certainly go to
hell.
Toney. I 'most wish I was like you, Sambo. Can't
you tell me what I must do ?
Sambo. I am but a poor creature to give advice, but I
love you, Toney, and should be glad to see you a good man.
Toney. I believe you do love me, and I always loved
you, Sambo. I wish you would tell me how I must pray,
and how I must repent and believe the gospel, for I never
thought of these things before.
Sambo. I have n't time to talk much with you now,
Toney, for I must go to my work. But I would advise
you to go to the Lord for directions ; and as for liow you
must pray, just pray as you can, and the Lord will hear
you when you pray with all your heart. I can stay no
longer now. I hope I shall see you again soon, and I beg
you to think seriously upon what I have said to you. Sit
down, Toney, and think over your whole life, and think
which is the best—that you go on in sin, and so at last
go to hell, or turn to God, and believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and so be happy in your soul while you live, and
be prepared for heaven when you die.
Toney. I thank you, Sambo. I will try and do what
you say, and I hope you will pray the Lord for me. Fare¬
well.
Sambo. I hope I shall pray for you. Farewell.
SECOND MEETING OF SAMBO AND TONEY.
Toney. How do you do, brother Sambo. I am glad
to see you once more.
SAMBO AND TONEY.
5
Sambo. I thank you, brother Toney, I am very well;
I am glad to see you too. I hope you 're well.
Toney. Tliank God, I am very well.
Sambo. Well, brother, have you. been thinking upon
the things we talked about when we met last ?
Toney. 0 Sambo, I hope I have reason to remember
that talk while I live, and to thank God for putting it into
your heart to talk to me.
Sambo. If it has been of any service to you, I am
very glad, and thank God for it. Now, Toney, tell me
how it has been with you since we parted, for I have
been thinking a great deal about you.
Toney. Well, brother, as you ask me, I '11 try and tell
you ; but some of my thoughts have been so foolish, and
some so bad, I am 'most ashamed.
Sambo. Never mind, tell me all; and tell me first what
you thought while I was talking to you, and how you felt
afterwards.
Toney. 0 Sambo, I never felt so in all my life be¬
fore. When you first began to talk to me, my heart almost
rise up within me against you ; by and by, when you seem
so sorry for me, I feel ashamed, because I talked so foolish
to you ; and when you ask, suppose I die that minute, my
heart trembled within me. I thought about poor Joe. I
dare say you remember him. Joe was wild and bad like
me. When any body talked to him about religion, he
always made game at them. One day, when he was
working in the field, Joe was taken very sick, and had to
go home. When I was done my task, I went to see him.
Soon as he saw me, he cried out, " 0, Toney, I shall die and
go to hell." Sure enough,. Joe died that night; his death
troubled me a little time, but it soon went off. I hardly
ever thought about Joe till you talk to me t' other day;
then it come fresh into my mind, and I said, Who knows
but I may die like Joe? That night too, I had a dream
that frightened me. I dreamed I was very sick, and
6
SAMBO AND TONE T.
thought I was dying. I thought a man c&me to mo and
called, "Toney." I said, "Sir." He said, "I'm come for
you ; are you ready to go ?" I said, " Go where, sir ?"
He said, "Go with me into t'other world." I said, "No,
sir, I a'n't ready, I can't go but the man said, " You
must go, and that directly : God Almighty send for you."
0 how this strike upon my heart. I said, This is death.
1 must now die like poor Joe, in all my sins, and go to
hell. Now all you told me came into my mind. I now
remembered every bad thing I did in all my life. I felt so
confounded, I could not pray so much as, Lord have mercy
upon me. I saw I must be damned. I thought God was
angry with me ; that the moment I die, he would strike
me down headlong into hell. I was so frightened, I cried,
0 Sambo, what shall I do ? and this made me wake up,
and my heart trembled a long time. At last I found it was
nothing but a dream.
Sambo. Well, Toney, how did this make you feel
afterwards ?
Toney. I felt like a condemned man. I did n't know
what to do. It seemed as if something said to me, Toney,
you have lost your soul; you can't repent; you need n't
pray; God wont hear such a wicked man; you may as
well go on your old way, and get all the pleasure you can.
Sambo. See how cunning Satan is. First he tells
us, There's time enough to repent and return to God.
Then, if we get uneasy, he tells us, It's too late now to
pray, God will not hear you. But how did you make
out?
Toney. Oh, brother, I can hardly tell; my heart was
so troubled, I could hardly eat or work, or know what I
was about. One night, as I was going home from work,
1 went by uncle Davy's house, and I thought I heard him
pray. I went softly up and listened, and -Oh, brother, I
never heard such prayer in all my life. Uncle Davy
prayed for master and mistress and the children; he
SAMBO AND TONEY.
7
prayed to the Lord to convert young master's heart, and
he thanked the Lord for opening master's heart to let min¬
ister come and preach to us ; and he prayed the Lord to
bless the gospel to all on the plantation; and then he
thanked the Lord for revealing Jesus Christ to him, a poor
sinner; and then he prayed so heartily that he and all
who were baptized might be kept from sin, and might live
peaceably and quietly together, and be honest and faith¬
ful servants, and remember that the Lord was always
looking upon them ; and then he prayed so earnestly that
if any poor creature on the plantation was in trouble for
his sins, the Lord would carry on the work in his soul until
he found rest in Jesus Christ; and a good deal more like
that. As soon as uncle Davy was done prayers, I went
home, and my wife was out, and I sit down by myself
and lament my case. I saw myself to be the worst man
in the world. Oh, I thought I must be lost; my sins
seemed too great for God to pardon. By and by, Fanny,
my wife, came home. I told her all that was in my heart,
and that I couldn't pray, and didn't know what to do.
Fanny seemed mightily concerned for me, and told me I
had better go and talk with uncle Davy, and he would tell
me what to do. I had been laughing at uncle Davy's
praying and talking a little time before, and I was ashamed
to go. So I thought I would leave off some of my bad
ways first, and get better, and then I would go.
Sambo. Poor Toney, you did n't know what a deceit¬
ful heart you had. You would first make yourself good,
and then you would go to uncle Davy to make you good.
So it is with poor sinners and God. They think they must
first make themselves good, and then go to God to make
them good. 0 what a deceitful thing sin is. Well, but
tell me, how did you get on ?
Toney. Why, Sambo, it seemed to me as if I got
worse and worse ; I saw myself so bad, that I wondered
God did not strike me dead, and send me down to hell.
8
sambo and toney.
Every day what you said to me come into my mind. I
tried to pray. Sometimes I could speak a little ; some¬
times my heart was so hard that I could n't pray at all.
One day I thought to myself, Why don't God kill me, like
poor Joe ? Who knows but God may be mind to spare
me ? Then again it come into my mind, he only let me
live to sin more and more, that it might be worse with
me, because I made game at religion, and did every thing
more wicked than other people. Then again I thought
that God made every body and every thing—the rice, the
corn, the wheat, the cattle, the. grass, and all the good
things ; what made me so wicked ? Oh, I wished a hun¬
dred times I never had been born, because I sinned so
much against the Lord, who was so good to me. At last
I went to uncle Davy, and told him all that was the mat¬
ter with me.
Sambo. And what did he say to you ?
Toney. When he see me in such trouble, he pity me,
and pray for me ; he seemed to know my case, and he
talked so good to me, and asked me this tiling and t' other
thing, until he made me tell him every thing—all my
heart. Then he said he was glad to see me in this trou¬
ble. He said God was at work in my heart. He advised
me to go to meeting, and pray God to direct the minister
to my case. So I went to meeting next Sunday, but Oh,
I felt so bad as I was going, I was half a mind to turn
back and go home again. But I went, and I wouldn't
miss that sermon for all the world. Such a sermon I
never heard before. The minister took his text from these
words, " God be merciful to me a sinner." When he took
this text, he looked right at me. I am sure he knew what
a sinner I was. I shall never forget that sermon. First
he showed what a heart and conduct a sinner have ; then
he showed how God can be merciful to sinners ; and then
how great God's mercy is. 0, Sambo, it was such a day
to me as never was before.
SAMBO AND TONEY.
9
Sambo. Well, how did the minister tell you sinners
get their wicked hearts, which make all their conduct
wicked ?
Toney. I will tell you all as well as I can remember.
He said God made the first man, and called him Adam.
He said he made him very good and holy; he had no sin,
and God told liim he must mind and be very good, and ho
would be very happy; but if he broke the law and did
wrong, he should die, and all the children that should come
from him should die too. And sure enough he did break
the law, and now, the minister said, every body that is
born into the world is born a sinner, with a wicked heart;
they love to do wrong; 'tis their very nature to do so.
Now then, he said, a sinner is one that has broken the
law'of God ; and as a sinner, he is under the curse of God.
Oh, my heart trembled when he said that, for I felt my¬
self to be under the,curse of God. And then he said, How
come God not to condemn and send every body to hell ?
How can God save poor man, and keep his word ? For
God said, the soul that sins shall die ; not only the body,
but the soul be sent to hell. My heart trembled again,
Sambo, when he said that, for I could see no way how
God could keep his word and save the poor sinner. Well,
now, the minister said, I will tell you, and I pray the Lord
to make you understand it. I will speak as plain as I
can, but you must pray to God to open your hearts that
you may understand it. Now, when there was found no
one that could save poor man, the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, said, Father, send me, and I will save poor
man. But how will he do it ? He said, I will become
man, and be born of a virgin, and have no sin, and then I
will be both God and man ; then I will keep the law that
man broke, and as man deserves to die for breaking the
law, I will die in his place. Now, Jesus Christ being
equal to the Father, what he did was of more worth than
what all the men in the world could do. So he kept
10
SAMBO AND TONEY.
the law of God, and suffered and died, the just for the un¬
just. Now, said the minister, what Jesus Christ did and
suffered made God willing to forgive poor man; and in
this way God can keep his word and the sinner be saved.
Then, may-be some will say, Why are not all poor sinners
saved ? I will tell you. Before they can be saved, they
must come to the Lord Jesus Christ. This they will never
do till they feel themselves in a lost, ruined state; and
this they will never see till the Spirit of God shows them
their sin; and this he does many ways—sometimes by
preaching; sometimes by a good friend talking to us;
sometimes by one way, sometimes by another. But I will
tell you, he said, how you may know if the Spirit of God
is at work with you: if you feel sorry for your sin, and
hate it; if your hearts are full of trouble about your
souls—full of guilt, and shame and fear, and if like the
poor man in the text, you are smiting your breast and cry¬
ing, " God be merciful to me a sinner."
Sambo. Well, Toney, you must have a good memory
to remember so much; it must have reached your very
heart.
Toney. Yes, indeed, I trust I did.
Sambo. Tell me all about how it made you feel.
Toney. I haven't time for that now. If the Lord
spare us, when we meet again I will tell you every
thing.
THIRD MEETING OF SAMBO AND TONEY.
Sambo. I am glad to see you once more, brother
Toney. I have been thinking a great deal about you
since we parted 't other day, and I want to hear some¬
thing more about that good sermon you heard. I hope it
was a word in season to you. How did you feel after you
went home ?
Toney. 0, Sambo, I can hardly tell. One tiling I
know, it made me love the minister mightily, though I
SAMBO AND TONEY.
11
didn't understand all he said; but he s&id I must pray a
great deal to the Lord.
Sambo. And did you do as the minister told you ?
Toney. Yes, over and'over again.
Sambo. And did you find peace ?
Toney. No, not for twenty times.
Sambo. Well, then, didn't you mind to leave off
prayer ?
Toney. Yes, a hundred times.
Sambo. And why did n't you leave off?
Toney. 0, Sambo, I couldn't, because the minister
said, without believing in Christ all the world couldn't
save me. So I thought with myself, if. I leave off pray¬
ing I am lost for ever, and I can but be lost if I pray. I
went to uncle Davy and told him all my troubles, and
begged him to pray for me.
Sambo. And what did uncle Davy say to you ?
Toney. He told me nobody could help me; that I
must believe in Jesus Christ, or I should be damned; but
then he said the word of the Lord is in your favor, for it
say, " Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest."
Sambo. Well, what did you do then ?
Toney. Do! I did n't know what to do. I looked
upon myself as a poor lost sinner. I had nobody to blame
but myself, and I often thought I should drop into hell.
I went on praying and begging for mercy, till one day the
Lord enabled me to believe in Jesus Christ, and gave me
peace in my soul.
Sambo. And how was that ?
Toney. I think it was the day we Ibegun to plant
rice. That day I felt too bad ; my heart was so hard, my
sin looked worse than ever. I thought that day nobody
could be such a sinner as I was. By and by, I thought
as if somebody said to me, "Believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved." I said, Lord, I can't
12
SAMBO AND TONEY.
believe; Lord, give me faith; then I heard this word,
"Cast thy burden on the Lord," and that word in the
hymn came into my mind,
" Come hither, all ye weary souls;
Ye heavy-laden sinners, come."
These last words never seemed so sweet before; they
made me feel as I never felt before in all my life. I now
saw that when our Lord die, he did n't die for himself, but
for poor sinners ; then I said, Lord, here is a poor sinner,
worse than any other sinner in the world beside. Lord,
save me, or I perish 1 It seemed now like I believe that
Jesus was able and willing to save just such a sinner as
I was. I saw that the Lord had done every thing for
poor sinners. Now, when I saw how I deserve to be
damned, I said, Lord, if you send me to hell, I can't say
one word; but if you save me, I'll praise my Lord for
ever and ever. Now my heart began to feel light; my
trouble was gone. Now I loved the Lord ; I loved good
people; I loved every thing but sin; my heart rise up
against that. I thought I never would sin again as long
as I live. I now thank and praise my God for sending his
Son to die for me. 0, Sambo, I was too happy; I say,
Glory, glory, glory to my God for ever and ever. I tell
'most every body I meet how good I feel. I went to my
master and fell down on my knees, and said, Oh, my mas¬
ter, I 've been a bad servant; I've been cursing and lying
and stealing, and doing every bad thing ; I hope you '11 for-*
give me; I trust I shall never do the like again; I trust
the Lord has pardoned me.
Sambo. And what did your master say ?
Toney. Master said, Toney, I'm glad to hear you
talk so. I hope it's the work of the Lord. I freely for¬
give you any thing you have done against me. But,
Toney, take care; the heart is deceitful; watch and pray
that you fall not into temptation; and a good deal more.
He talked so good, it made me love him more than ever.
SAMBO AND TONEY.
13
Ob, I wisli every servant had such a good master as I
have.
Sambo. I suppose you tell uncle Davy too. What
did he say to you ?
Toney. Uncle Davy seemed 'most as glad«as I was.
He thanked and blessed the Lord for it: he said, Toney,
you've now begun a new life, the life of a Christian. Now
you must be on your guard. The devil will try and trou¬
ble you every way he can, and you must try and live very
near to God; you must pray to him every day to keep
you from sinful thoughts and words and actions, and help
you to walk by faith, and not trust to your own strength;
and a great deal more like that.
Sambo. I praise the Lord too, my dear brother, for his
goodness to you and me. When we were boys together,
I loved you ; but now I love you with another sort of
love. I love you because you love the Lord. Now, my
brother, we be Christ's soldiers, and we must fight against
sin, against every sin, and we must do every thing the
Lord say in the book. We must remember that the word
says, Let him that is converted put away lying and steal
no more, and live peaceably, and walk honestly, and then
we shall have peace in our souls. But here is uncle
Davy coming, and he knows more about all these things,
for he is an old Christian; he's been fighting the good
fight a long time. Let's ask him to tell us more about all
these things.
Toney. Uncle Davy, we are glad to see you to-day,
and you just come in time to tell brother Sambo and me
something more about religion than we understand yet;
we are nothing but just little children. Yet a while, and
the devil will be too much for us, unless we learn more
how to manage him.
Davy. I a'n't much more than a little child myself,
brethren. I am very weak and foolish, and if the Lord
wa'n't always helping me and telling me something, the
14
SAMBO AND TONEY.
devil would be too much for me, a great deal too ; but I '11
tell you all I know by my little experience, with all my
heart.
Sambo. Thank you, uncle Davy. First of all, uncle
Davy, I should be glad to hear you talk upon one thing.
I mean about some people who seem to be awakened, and
for some time seem engaged a good deal; they pray and
talk about religion, leave off bad ways, go every Sunday
to meeting, and seem like they would soon join the church,
and some do join the church, but after a while they turn
right back into sin, and many laugh and make game at
religion. I want you to speak about this, for many times I
am afraid I shall turn back ; I find so many wicked thoughts
in my heart, and sometimes I can't pray, my heart is so
hard. I wonder many times if any Christian is like me.
Davy. Well, brother, as you ask me, I'll try and tell
you something about that sort of people. There are some
people, when they hear the gospel, particularly that part
that tells about the goodness of God in sending Jesus
Christ to die for sinners, and to keep the law, and let God
pardon the sinner who breaks it, and about heaven and
the joys of the saints that live there, and all this being
new to them, their hearts are made glad, and somehow
they get a notion that because they feel their hearts light
they are going to heaven. They sing and pray and talk
with every body they meet, and think all is well with
them; but they deceive themselves ; they do n't go far
enough; they never find out how bad their hearts are ;
they do n't know how deep sin goes down into them ; they
never come truly to Christ as weary, heavy-laden sin¬
ners ; and by and by, when they lose their comforts, as
they call them—that is, when these things a'n't any lon¬
ger new to them, their hearts lean to the old ways again,
and they do n't have the same good feeling in prayer and
hearing the word as they used to do; they get tired of
religion, and by degrees leave off prayer, and find more
SAMBO AND TONEY.
15
pleasure in their old ways ; and so they go back again to
sin.
Toney. Uncle Davy, can't you tell us about any other
sort that go back ?
Davy. Yes, indeed, for there be many sorts that go
back, and few that go right. We must watch and pray,
that Satan and our own hearts may n't deceive us. The
word says, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed
lest he fall." I will now tell you of another sort who turn
back. They be those who believe if they go on in their
sin, they '11 be lost. They believe God is just and holy,
and will send them to hell except they repent; this gives
them trouble, and makes them very much afraid. Now
they leave off lying and stealing, and cursing and swear¬
ing, and all such bad things ; they begin and go to preach¬
ing, and seem very earnest while this trouble lasts; but
by and by, when all their fear about hell wears off, they
go back again to their foolishness and sin, and go on from
one thing to another, till they get as bad as they were
before, and sometimes worse. Now the reason why such
turn back is, their heart never was really converted. With
all their trouble and fear of hell, their heart never was
right with God. They are like a man in the court, when
he is tried for his life: he is afraid he '11 be hanged. This
makes him sorry and repent; but if he gets clear, he goes
to sinning again. This shows that he was not sor^y for
the sin, but his fear and his trouble was about the punish¬
ment. So it is with the people I'm telling you about.
When their fear and their trouble wear off, they leave off
prayer; then, by and by, they leave off going to sermon;
then they begin to find fault with their brethren, and leave
their company; then they go among the wicked, and laugh
and joke with them; and then they go a little farther, till
they harden their heart so much that they a'n't ashamed
to do as bad as before trouble came upon them.
•Sambo. I trust the Lord will keep us from such a bad
16
SAMBO AND TONEY.
end as this. What you tell us is enough to make us trem¬
ble ; but it will do us good to hear about backsliders, to
keep us from being like them. I wish you'd go on and
tell us about some others.
Davy. I '11 tell you about one other man that thought
a great deal of himself. The minister told me about him.
He said there was one man who ran before every body
for a while ; he was for praying at every meeting, and he
talked to every body ; he talked to white people just as if
they were his fellow-servants ; and hardly any body was
good enough for him. This one didn't pray to please him ;
t' other one did n't talk enough. He had first to find fault
with the minister; this one was too proud; t' other was n't
strict enough for him. This man seemed going fast to
heaven—that is, he thought so. Now, the minister did n't
like his going on, and he kept his eye upon him. By and
by he missed meeting. After two or three times, the min¬
ister asked some of the Christian people where Peter was,
but nobody could' tell. At last the minister heard about
liim. Peter went one day to hear a grave old minister
preach, and after sermon Peter talked to the minister, and
he run on talking as if he knew every thing. But the old
minister soon found him out, and told him he was afraid
all his religion was in his tongue. He asked Peter some
close questions that puzzled him, and he began to be
ashamed. Peter wouldn't have minded it if the minister
had n't talked before some of the brethren ; but the good
old gentleman let him know before them all that he thought
very little of his religion, and begged him to pray the Lord
to change his heart, for he said he was afraid he knew
nothing about heart religion. Now this faithful talk didn't
humble him and send him to the Lord ; but Peter got an¬
gry, and from that time began to give way, and soon went
back to his old ways and his old companions ; and now he
laugh at every thing like religion.
Toney. But can't you tell us about some one that
sambo and toney.
17
holds fast, to encourage us ? for wliat you have been tell¬
ing about these people that deceive themselves and turn
back, make me feel very bad; I'm afraid I may turn out
so.
Davy. Yes, blessed be God, I can tell of a great many,
but I'll just mention one. He was my fellow-servant in
my old master's time. Soon after we began to hear about
religion, the Lord was pleased to take hold of Simon and
me. I think it was the first sermon we heard. Well, we
left off our bad ways at once, and we began to talk to
some of our people. This made almost every body against
us. Now first one and then another would go to the over¬
seer With some tale, to try and make mischief, and set the
overseer against us; this made him watch us very close.
By and by, somebody stole rice, and some thought Simon
stole it, and some things look as if it was Simon; but
Simon told me he did n't steal it, and beg me to pray for
him. Well, Simon was confined, and the overseer tried
hard to find out who was the thief. At last some of the
rice was found in Simon's house. I went to Simon, and
told him if he stole, to tell all about it, and pray the Lord
to forgive him. Simon said, " The Lord knows that I did
not steal the rice." The overseer whipped Simon. When
he was done, Simon said, " Overseer, will you hear me
talk?" The overseer said, "Yes." Simon said, "You've
whipped me for stealing the rice ; I know you think I did,
and some things look as if I did, but I declare to you I
never steal it, and I know nothing about it. I never steal
from any body since I first begin to pray. I know some¬
body put the rice into my house to bring all this upon me.
I am sorry for them ; I hope the thief will one day be
found out; the Lord send this to try me." Simon talked
so good and so humble to the overseer, it touched his
heart. But all this didn't make Simon turn back. No,
no; he prayed for his enemy, that the Lord would give
him repentance ; and sure enough, in two or three months
18
SAMBO AND TONEY.
Tom came one day to Simon, and fell upon his knees, and
said, "Simon, can you forgive me ?" Simon said, "For
what?" Tom said, "0 Simon, I stole the rice and put it
in your house while you was at meeting. The devil got
into my heart and made me do it. Yesterday, when the
minister preach, he looked at me so hard when he was
talking about the devil tempting black people to make
mischief among their fellow-servants, I was sure he knew
I took the rice. Oh, I expected God would strike me
into hell. By and by something said to me, Tom, go
and tell Simon ; he is a good man ; he '11 forgive you, and
tell you how to repent and turn to God. 0, Simon, what
must I do ?" Simon talked to him so kind and good, that
it almost melt his heart. Then he took him to his master,
and Tom told him all about it; and Simon begged his
master not to punish Tom this time, as his conscience
troubled him so much. And sure enough, he let him go
this time for Simon's begging for him ; and Tom became a
sober, honest man, and I hope a good Christian; and I
often used to hear old master say that he wished all his
servants were like Tom and Simon.
Toney. I suppose he encourage religion and preach¬
ing among the servants after that.
Davy. Yes. Our master was very good in this thing.
He sometimes asked the minister to come to his house and
stay all night; and then we had a good time, for true. The
minister pray, and then he exhort us "black people, and tell
us how we may serve the Lord, and how the devil tempts
the Christians, and how we must fight against him; and
tell us all about our wicked heart, and how we must
watch and pray for our fellow-servants, and all such things.
Sometimes it is 'most like heaven. I think 'most every
master would encourage religion among his servants, if it
was n't for the bad conduct of some professors. You know
all masters a'n't alike ; some be good men, and some bad ;
but good or bad, they all wish to have their work done ; and
SAMBO AND TONEY.
19
if I was a master, I would want to have my work done
too. Now, if master is a good man, and the servant pre¬
tend to be religious, the master expect he will be faithful
and honest, and quiet and peaceable, and not grumble and
murmur. And if a master is a bad man, what so likely to
make him better as to see his servants faithful and hon¬
est, and living peaceable among themselves ? By and by
he may see religion a good thing, and he may love it; and
if not, he must be very wicked indeed, if he use his ser¬
vants worse for being faithful and honest.
Sambo. Well, my brother, to-morrow is our day for
preaching, and we'll get our minister to come and give us
some good advice before he goes away. He loves to
preach to the black people, and he talks, so plain, we poor
black people understand 'most every word he says ; and
sometimes he talks to the children, and tells them to pray,
and not to tell lies, or any bad words, but mind their father
and mother; and he talks so good and loving, that the
children love him 'most as much as we do.
At the desire of Davy and Toney, the minister came in
the evening, when some of those who had lately made a
profession, together with others, came to hear him.
He spoke to them in the following words :
Your brethren Davy and Toney desired me to come
and pray with you, and to drop a word of advice. My
time is short; I cannot, at present, say much. It gives
me great pleasure to see you desirous of instruction. You,
my brethren, have made a profession of religion. You
must ever remember the eyes of the world are upon you,
to wait for your halting and turning back into sin. The
eyes of the church will also be upon you, to observe your
conduct and watch for your souls ; but what above all
should make you fear to do wrong and wicked is, the eyes
of the great God are continually upon you. You must
always try, therefore, to act as in his awful presence
20
SAMBO AND TONEY.
ever strive to keep a good conscience, giving' no offence
either to God or man. Let your whole conduct be sober
and steady, as becometh those who profess godliness.
Learn to be content with such things as you have, and
guard against a murmuring, discontented spirit. Live a
life of prayer and dependence on God. Let your master,
the people of the world, and your fellow-servants see that
you endeavor to live a pious, godly life, agreeably to your
profession, in all honesty and sobriety. When you have
an opportunity, talk to your fellow-servants about their
souls' concerns, and pray daily for their conversion. Guard
against self-conceit. Humility is a lovely virtue, and
shines nowhere more than in a servant. Be careful to
attend public worship when you have opportunity, and be
regular and strict in secret and family prayer. Live in
love with your wives, and keep to them only. Be careful
of your children, that they do not tell lies, use bad words,
or steal. Learn to make home the most agreeable place
to you, and then you will not want to ramble from one
plantation to another, and so will be kept from many temp¬
tations and hurtful snares. Be attentive to your master's
business, and obey him in all things ; pray daily for him
and his family. Learn to live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved us and gave himself for us. Let your whole
lives be such as you will wish they had been when you
come to die. Thus you will grow in grace as you grow in
years, and when you come to die, the Lord will receive
you into that world of joy and pedce where sin and sorrow
will for ever cease, and where all tears will be wiped from
your eyes ; where you will see your Jesus, and be made
like him, and with all the redeemed of the Lord will sing
the song of Moses and the Lamb.
SAMBO AND TONEY.
3
cordingly interrupted him, in order to explain what he was
reading, and to impress it upon him.
"That's excellent reading," said he, as he closed the
Bible and returned it to me. " Isn't it a very hard thing,"
said George, "to get religion?"
" In some respects it is ; in others it is not. Do you
not remember what is said in some parts of the Bible,
inviting any person to come to God and find forgiveness of
their sins, especially in Isaiah : 'Ho, every one that thirst-
eth, come ye to the waters : yea, come, buy wine and
milk without money and without price ?' I suppose this
to be a kind and affectionate invitation for all to come to
God, and be Christians. But there is one passage which
I love to think of, which shows how kindly the Saviour
invites all to come to him ; it is in Matthew. You will
find it in the eleventh chapter," giving him the Bible again.
" It is one of the last verses in the chapter, 'Come unto me,
all ye that labor.'"
" Yes, sir," said George, interrupting me; " I know
that. Mistress taught it to me a few Sundays ago.
' Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest.'"
" I am very glad you remember what your mistress
taught you so well; I hope you will always be attentive
when she teaches you. It is a great privilege that you
enjoy to have such a mistress. There are a great many
servants that never have such opportunities as you do to
learn."
" I hope I shall try to learn," said George.
" I hope you will," I replied. "But especially, George,
I hope you will remember what you already know. I
have no doubt you believe you have a wicked heart, like
all the rest of the world, and that your heart must be
changed in order to be hbppy when you die."
No. 594.
24 PAGES ]
SAMBO AND TONEY.
"Yes, sir."
" Well, George, why will you not resolve to seek your
Saviour now, that you may be prepared to die ? You know
that you may die suddenly, and when you least expect it.
I have known boys younger than you are, who have died
very suddenly, and I do wish that you would prepare
to go and give up your account to God. Have you ever
thought much about these things, George ?"
"Yes, sir, sometimes."
" Have you ever tried to come to your Saviour, and
give your heart to him ?"
" How can I know, master," said George, " when I
have given my heart to Christ ?"
"How can you know? Why, suppose, George, any
one should ask you how you could know whether you
loved your father or mother, do you think you could tell?"
" Why, yes," he said at once.
"How could you tell?"
" I could feel it."
" Do you think you could tell in any other way ?"
"Yes, sir."
"What other way do you think of?"
" I should love them, and should obey them, and not
fret them, and bring water for them ; and if they were
sick, I should be sorry, and should go and get herbs to
make them some tea,"
"Well, now, George, it is just in the same way that
we can tell whether we love God. If you love him, you
will obey him, and try to do every thing to please him."
Will not our readers apply this test to themselves,
and learn by it whether they really love their Maker and
Saviour ?
No. 594. .