Texian Stomping Grounds Page: 139
162 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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THE LIFE OF CHRIST IN TEN ACTS
"Brothuhs and sistuhs, Ah sholy 'preciates y'all likin' mah
play so. Dere is three or fo' mo' acks, but hit's gittin' so late
dat we has 'cided to do one mo' an' call hit a day. Dere ain'
no use in keepin' de chillun up all night. An' jes' look yonduh,
ole Satan done drapped off to sleep."
And sure enough, Satan was sitting on his stool in Hell, his
head dropped forward on his breast. He was obviously asleep.
Jesus smiled.
"Ah reckin Ah don' wore po' ole Satan down to a nubbin!
One of you chillun go punch him an' tell 'im dat Ah'll be lookin'
fuh him in de nex' ack."
A little girl ran over and shook Satan. He sat up with a
start and stared about him. The little girl whispered something
to him. He went behind the stage curtains, yawning and
stretching.
The last act was supposed to be set in the temple being put
to commercial use by money lenders and the like. Three men
were on their knees rolling dice. At the left side of the stage
a woman stood, shopping bag on her arm, bargaining with a
man in a white apron who apparently had something to sell, off
left behind the piano.
"How much does you git fuh dese doves?" (The man would
make a muffled reply, and the woman would continue.) "Dat's
way too high. Ah cain' 'fohd to pay dat."
And then the question was repeated again. Several persons
were around a table at the right where a fat money lender sat.
They were all talking at once and he was passing them green
paper coupons of some variety that were supposed to represent
money.
Satan was rampant on the scene. Moving from one group to
another, he warmly encouraged the gambling and trading:
"Dat's right, folks, use dis ole temple fuh a business place.
Go ahaid, go ahaid. Ah ain' goin' to let nobody bothuh you.
Len' out money at two fuh one an' take all dey chickens and
mules when dey cain' pay you back." (This last in the direction
of the money lender.)
From behind the piano at the left crept Jesus. He held one
sheet-draped arm up over his face and the other he carried under139
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Texian Stomping Grounds (Book)
Collection containing sketches of post-war life in East Texas, including descriptions of early recreations and games, stories about Southern food and cooking, religious anecdotes, Negro folk tales, a first-hand account of a Negro folk play about the life of Christ, and other miscellaneous folklore. The index begins on page 159.
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Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964. Texian Stomping Grounds, book, 1941; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67663/m1/147/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.