These books he collected together, and in the evening called Uncle Solomon into the house.

After jeering him for some time, he gave him one of the Bibles and told him to name his text and preach him a sermon.

The old man was silent.

He then made him get up on the table, and ordered him to pray.

Uncle Solomon meekly replied, that "forced prayer was not good for soul or body." The overseer then knelt down himself, and in a blasphemous manner, prayed that the Lord would send his spirit into Uncle Solomon; or else let the old man fall from the table and break his neck, and so have an end of "nigger preaching." On getting up from his knees he went to the cupboard, poured out a glass of brandy for himself, and brought another to the table.