Paul Laurence Dunbar

“ Abram Dixon went up to visit his son's church. Robert met him at the station, and took him to the little parsonage which the young clergyman's people had provided for him. It was a very simple place, and an aged woman served the young man as cook and caretaker; but Abram Dixon was astonished at what seemed to him both vainglory and extravagance.
"Ain't you livin' kin' o' high fo' yo' raisin', Robbie?" he asked.
The young man laughed. "If you'd see how some of the people live here, father, you'd hardly say so." ”

“ The judge was about to deal with him as quickly as with the others, and Abram's heart bled for the child, when he saw a negro call the judge's attention. He turned to find that Robert had left his side. There was a whispered consultation, and then the old preacher heard with joy, "As this is his first offence and a trustworthy person comes forward to take charge of him, sentence upon the prisoner will be suspended."
Robert came back to his father holding the boy by the hand, and together they made their way from the crowded room.
"I'm so glad! I'm so glad!" said the old man brokenly. ”

“ The son hesitated for a moment, and then he answered gently, "We think that one is the companion of the other, and that the best way to prepare them for the future is to keep them clean and good in the present." ”

“ And the thought, "On trial," was ringing in the young minister's mind as he rose to speak to them. His sermon was a very quiet, practical one; a sermon that sought to bring religion before them as a matter of every-day life. It was altogether different from the torrent of speech that usually flowed from that pulpit. The people grew restless under this spiritual reserve. ”

“ The son introduced the father, and the father, looking at his son, who seemed so short a time ago unlearned in the ways of the world, gave as his text, "A little child shall lead them."
He spoke of his own conceit and vainglory, the pride of his age and experience, and then he told of the lesson he had learned. "Why, people," he said, "I feels like a new convert!" ”

“ We do a good deal in the way of charity work among the churchless and almost homeless city children; and, father, it would do your heart good if you could only see the little ones gathered together learning the first principles of decent living. ”

“ It was a joyous meeting between father and son. The old man held his boy off and looked at him with proud eyes.
"Why, Robbie," he said, "you—you's a man!"
"That's what I'm trying to be, father." The young man's voice was deep, and comported well with his fine chest and broad shoulders.
"You's a bigger man den yo' father ever was!" said his mother admiringly.
"Oh, well, father never had the advantage of playing football."
The father turned on him aghast. "Playin' football!" he exclaimed. "You don't mean to tell me dat dey 'lowed men learnin' to be preachers to play sich games?" ”

“ There is no reformatory for black boys here, and they may not go to the institutions for the white; so for the slightest offence they are sent to jail, where they are placed with the most hardened criminals. ”

“ Abram Dixon's loyal members, "and bless my soul, de ol' man would preach all roun' him, and he ain't been to no college, neither!"
Robert and his father walked home in silence together. When they were in the house, the old man turned to his son and said:
"Is dat de way dey teach you to preach at college?" ”