The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-25
cits. pray them to remember how often memory
cHAPrER n-JKssY's STORY.

Il d funuInV ,1VTtu
number Of compsnions, all day on tse sands
washed by the water OF q mighty river. No
| clothes wore to fetter me 10 the free use of my
limbs; naked as came into the world, so ever
rfmeDber myself In that innocent and happy
land. When heated, into the river fearlessy
| plunged. swimming more strongly than the river
| horse. My greatest Joy was 10 watch for that
huge animal. and, as he Rlided along the sands AT
| tie bottom of the clear river, to attack him with
arrows poisoned with the rich blood of the deadly
upes tree, given by the great Goddess Voudou* TO
| her beloved children. But it is not so much my
| own story that | will tell you. as that of my
mother, the. Queen Juba. beloved daughter Of
| Voudou.
In our villsge, my mother was chief by right of
birth, and because her father had ever been the
favorite of the gocdess, offering her the blood OF
more victims than any preceding chef No pris-
oDer of my grandfather being ever saved TO be
sold a. slave, or used as such In his own house.
hold all were sacrificed by fire or smotherng to
The goddess-founder of our race. My mother
from infancy was devoted to the service, studying
her secret mysteries with the wise men of the
tribe. she saw and loved my father when they
were both what in this cold cline you would call
children, but which in land. loved Of the sun,
teemiDg with life. is the prime, the bursting Of
the bud into maturity. Love was inspired In her
gentle bosom by q graceful act. making him as
worthy the love OF Voudou's high prestess. At
one Of my grandfather's sacrifices some OF the
victims escaped and fled TO the woods. Ny father
then a swiftfooted youth, overlook and restored
the wretches to the goddess embrace.
With my mother, whose power was already
limitless, TO desire was TO have, and quickly were
The marriage rites peTformed-two hundred vic.
tins, the flower Of neiRhboring tribe on this
happy OCCASION were acriiced on the stone altar
before which my parents knelt. Soon after I
was born-and my grandfather dying, 10y noble
and virtuous parents became king and queen Of
the tribe. Not long did they enjoy their bliss; for
IN my ninth year my father was killed by some of
the survivors of the tribe sacrificed at his wedding
who he'd Incorporated themselves with the tribe
Fungi, our deadliest foes.
The danger OF this union was felt by my mother
WHO resolved, by spells and incantations, to de-
stroy the whole tribe. She voudouedt the chiefs
and their wives, filling their huts and persons
with snakes. toads and all loathsome reptiles, till,
in despair, they fed from that part Of the coun-
try. Had my mother been content to work only
against Ter enemies, might not have been here
this night; as il was. she turned her powers
against my fathers brothers, both of whom loved
and desired to marry her. Indeed, she had many
suiJors, for she was a beauty; her nose was broad
and fat, her forehead low, her eyes large, with
balls so white and gstening. that of dark night
they could be seen afar, cleaning like two stars,
with the bright glare Of the wildcat. Her stature
was upwards of six feet. Such was my mother:
when one night. ffty.fve years ago to-night-for
| always keep the anniversary by coming here TO
her grsve-was she torn and | with her. by wicked
knsmen from home and tribe to be sold as slaves
to strangers. On ths night her presence is always
lCie. Cdu utdr euuOluR drOuuu.
las Jessy rolled bis eyes and FLASHED his teeth,
too heard the mourning sound, and saw those
horrible eyes cleaning from every leaf. SILVER
ing, sat up and pinched my arm TO convince my.
self that was awake.
When sold, we were carried on board vessel;
many moons came and went before we found our
selves on large Southern plantation, slaves of
the best and kndest of masters. My mother had
just lost young baby, and was installed as nurse
TO my dear young master Frank motherless in
FAINT of few months. Old massa. Mr.. r., had an
other son, two years older than the baby-named
John. When my mother was appointed Masss
Franks nurse, she was made housekeeper-and
put over the other servants even the girl nursing
John. hitherto great favorite. This enraged the
servants and made them join in helping Chloe,
Johns nurse, to teach him to hate US and to be
afraid of my mother. For his hate she did not
care, till one day at Chloes instgation he struck
her. Juba, my mother, never forgave blow.
With so many enemies around it was natural
that old massa should hear many complaints
against Jubs. but NOME of them could be proved,
and, ss during her administration not so much as a
crust OF bread was unaccounted for he would
listen to nothing tS her prejudice.
Master Frank being with her, she did hot live
with the other servants. having a small comfort
ably furnished cabin near the house. which the
baby and | shared with her. Juba. to whom
sleep was unnecessary, rarely spent night in
this cabin. Leaving me to watch the baby, she
wandered forth TO commune with Voudou. Oaee
CT twice the boloest of the slaves attempted to
follow her, but they were always driven back ia
terror, when they saw her seat herself upon the
back of fiery monster. who few away. The
body OF the daring negroes Immediately after
wards became rscked with dreadful pains, which
master believed to be rheumatics," but which
We all knew 10 be the evidence of Voud0u's
anger. The goddess could only be sppessed by
the offenders going at midnight to the woods,
where Juba would build magic fires aud offer
dreadful sacrifices. II VOudou was satisfied ali
gators, snakes and ell venomous reptiles came
around and watched the frantic dances, aud lis
tened TO the frantic songs. OF these dread mys.
teries | dare not speak for there stands my
mother, the great Queen Juba, her cleaning eye
balls fixed upon me, waving her hands and threat
enirg ell with quick destruction, should / TO tae
wicked speak Of these sacred rites.
looked upon tie old mans agiated face and
gigantic frame with terror. He stood little back
from the FIRE, having in Lis excitement risen to his
feet, and with cleaning teeth and straining eye.
was pointing into the darkness. | felt my blood
cufdle and my hair erect itself as | glanced
around imagining that saw the enormous ne.
gress as he had described her, dancing franti-
cally round the fire, or staring at me with glazed
eyeballs. | wished to awaken my companion,
but spell was now upon me: could not stir.
Pale and trembling, watched Jessy with hor.
nble fascination, snakes and lizards were crawling
over me, and felt that was to be his next sacri-
fee 70 YoudCu. He continued frantically:l
After one Of these midnight orgies, Juba re-
NAMED dark. cold, silent 10 all Master Frank,
who ever old as be pleased with her.
Years fed by, bringing small change, save that
the two boys became men. / belonged to Mas.
ter Frank, and was devoted to him. One day,
on the next plantation TO ours there was great
rejoicing. The eldest daughter. Miss Fanny NJ,
bad come from school. Old massa and Mr. NJ.
were old friends. and of course our young gen.
temen knew The family, and were often at the
house. Once Miss Fannie and her mother came
to cur plantation. Master Frank brought the
girl to see NANNY Juba,' as he called nv
mother. When Fannie saw her she screamed, and
running 10 John, hid her white face on his arm,
saying ''take me away, | am afraid OF her."
Then Juba rolled her eyes, and ! could see that
she was angry. Frank too was angry at Fannie's
going to her brother for protection, as both the
young men already loved the girl. He was very
pale, though he said nothing. Juba, looking at
him said, Prank, honey don't you love that white
laced girl, she loves John, and he loves her. But
IL you can't forget her come to Jnbs. who, with
Vodou's help, can turn love to hate, and hate
10 love. She will make her love you"
THANK you, nanny, but | don't think she
owes John yet"
Afew weeks after, at breakfast one morning,
John came in laughing, and going up his
brother, said, "Fanne is mine, she has promised
to marry me-"
THAT she never shall, y answered Frank, with
a great oath, as he left the room.
Going to Jubs, he spent the whole day in her
cabin At night. very pale, he came to his room,
carrying in his hand a bottle of stuff white like
water. "Jessy," he said, "this bottle Is TO make
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