“I don’t know, massa,” he replied.
“Well, you know something about the Bible, don’t you?”
“No, massa.”
“Have you never heard the Gospel preached?”
“Yes, massa, I used to hear old parson Cooper preach, and I guess dat was what he preached about.”
“Can you read?”
“No, massa.”
“Did you ever pray?”
“No, massa. I’se heard folks a-prayin’. My massa never prayed like dis nigga,”—referring to the visitor who had been praying with him in the cell.
“Well, my dear fellow, you know you have to die, don’t you?”