Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-22
Dot, the Little Quadroon.

Sabbath taught IN q mlssIOh sCuOOi ""'NH
in order 10 distinguish it from a number
of others. was called the Plow Sunday
School. This name was given, or rather
came 10 ii. because before the war the
scholars used to assemble in the hall OF a
large pillow mandatory. Last winter
however, the war and the disturbed state
of the city diminished the plow business
as well as the attendance at our mission
school; so government took the building
for a hospital, and we repaired to the
basement Of church near by, the name
of "The Plow' going with US.
If / were not going to tell Of Dot, !
should like TO sketch the motley group
which gathered there each Sabbath, and
the measures we were obliged to resort to
TO keep our classes decently well behaved.
am sure respectable New England sun
day scholars would open wide their eyes
to hear us teaching those little ones their
letters, and how TO count, very much as
they are taught in our public schools
But at any rate our teaching was better
than the street knowledge from which we
rescued them. One thing | must admit
they did better than you do, little New
Englanders that was singing, and /
didn't wonder bit when che of the SOL
diers in hospital near by told me,
"They didn't want no other Sunday, than
TO hear them boys sing"
One evening, as | was going into the
school, | noticed peering down at me from
the top Of an iron lamp post, such a
queer little face. At first ! thought ia
was boy, but looking closely found IL
was a girl, and from her olive complex
ion and the wonderful beauty Of her pa
,hetic eyes, yellow girl. was not Al
bit surprised to see her there children
of her race are everywbere q. the south );
but | asked her what she was doing,
thinking she would 60 in with me.
"Doin' nallin'."
"Well, come into Sunday school i
wouldn't you like to ?"
"Nigs go TO white folks meeting
reckon they'd let me |" and she laughed
in so strange and sarcastic way that
could hardly believe it came from child,
"What is your name 2"
"Dot,"
"Are you slave?"
"Reckon / be-"
"Well, come in, at any rate"
"Missis, they wont let me. gets up
here to hear the singin', cause the boys
beave stones at me IL they coteh me u,
the door,"
"Come down and take hold Of my hand,
and they will not dare TO touch YOU" !
spoke very earnestly, for she interested
me greatly. Her lovely eyes shone with
delight, but still she hesitaied, only being
persuaded to come sliding down at last
by her own assurance that she "conld
run heap faster than the boys could III
they did come at her."
We went up the steps and were going
through the door, when a group Of lads
seeing her, began, "'There's yaller cal,
don't let her in" but before they could
touch her or could speak, she broke
from my hand and was gone. watched
her turn the first street corner, then she
vanished from my sight. My heart
ached for her through all the service
The boys were no: at all under my pow
er, or they would have had at least a lee
ture, but reported them TO the superin-
tendent, who told me coldly enough il
was no use to say anything to them; the
mistake was mine in introducing a black
child at all. For days afterwards ! look
ed at every little yellow girl l met, but
Dots lustrous eyes illumined no one of
the deep, ugly sun-bonnets, and gave
up finding her. But God was leading
the child to me.
1t CHANGED one day we went 10 dress
makers and ordered her TO send home
some work of ours. Running into our
house just at dark, as usual the first place
VIC made for was the nursery, aud open h
ing the door unexpectedly, found babies
and nurse in a perfect storm of laughter,
and in the midst, --cause of it all--my a
Dot. The minute she saw Us she drop a
ped demurely upon both feet, and bobbing Ii
her head, said, "I've done brought your
work home" h
My sister thought me demented, as.
seizing the child by both shoulders, / ex. t
20 Dot, where ever did you 90 il
TO that Sunday p Il
"Why Missis, | just ruined off till the n
boys got in; then elm up the post aud s.
ieard all the singiL'.1 Ii
She told US she belor oed 10 old Mrs IN,
Trouble, and Celeste, the dressmaker, Q,
hired her TO do errands. She was wild d,