The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-05


WHITE Doe OF MILESTONE.
Let us return to person too long neglected
Laura Taylor was profoundly impressed
with the events which her cousins narrative
had disclosed. They were of a nature calcu.
lated to arouse the most sensitive feelings OF
her heart. She could not blame Bartrelle fol-
| permitting his resentment to reach to the ex-
tent it had; but she regretted it. To her for
| giving and sensitive disposition the punish
ment appeared greater than the offence She
was orry for Warren Hayes To one so proud.
| such hUmiiiating chastisement was worse
| t1an death.
What if be should resent it by inviting her
cousin to a personal conflict One or both
would die. The fierce and naughty character
of her cousin, convinced her that he at least
would not spare his enemy There was no
grounds for supposing that Warren Hayes
would be more charitable. What then should
be done? The same anxiety that beset Mil
dred Hayes, afflicted her and wrung her heart
with the extremity of distress.
The appearance of old Aunt Betsy to clear
away the breakfast dishes, aroused her from
these unpleasant and harrassing reflections.
Aunt Betsy! how my heart leaps at the sound.
The dusky face, the untutored mind, cannot
d sguise the warm heart and the mistaken
fidelity of a life time. Good generous heart
ed old woman-my heart must grow cold in
death, and my brain wither beyond all sensi-
tive impressions. e'er 1 can cease to remem-
Der or fail to do justice to your virtues
Aunt Betsy was the factoiem of the house
hold; indeed, the prime minister of the do
nestle governmental premier in heart and
soul. She considered herself the main-stay
OF the family. If years of devoted service,
and answering fidelity to the family could
make her so, she was.
The one passion of Aunt Betsy's heart was
love for her young master and mistress. In
her eyes they had no faults Grumble at
them, scold them, affect horror at their mis-
-doiRsss, was an employment she delighted in;
but it was privilege she allowed no one else.
To her mind, the pleasures of scolding was
one of the incidents of faithful service. 1t
was prerogative accorded to neither parent,
brother, sister, friend nor foe. In short it was
Aunt Betsys sceptre, and the good creature
not unfrequently INDUCED in it. to escape the
necessity ofpraising. 1t was an expedient to
be used as occasion might require.
On entering the room, Laura's grave face
ar d fearful eyes arrested her attention. Peer
ing with affectionate sympathy into the trou-
bled face, she inquired
"What de marter now? Mars Dick ben |
noying you gin? Dat boys huff to drive my
lore ole head clean crazy, much less you
lille. Tclar fore my hebbenly maker, honey,
II Jis give dat boy piece of my mind. He's
Hers cuttin' up and hurtin somebody's feel
MS Pears to me he amt got any heart at
ll-now it JUS doris. What he say to you,
hile-tell your ole black nanny"
"Ihave not said that Richard offended me,
tunt Betsy you must not jump at conclusions
% recklessly."
"Jump! l hain't been a jumpin, XII re-
on my ole bones hain't supple enuff for dat.
'ut what you say bout Mars Dick, honey
THAT he do 2"
"Nothing, Aunt Betsy, have not COM
'lained your young master. What induced
ou to suppose that my bad feelings were oc-
asioned by him."
Dun no, chile-jes thought so. He mosly
t de bottom of all sorts O. mischief Spect
was him too. Can't fool your ole Aunt,
lille! rs too ole. L say agin, dat Mars Dicks
zen dom some of he everlastin' foolin. an I'll
es' stan to it. Now you jes' as well own up,
Hiss Lau'r, honey an tell your ole Aunt all
bout it."
"fou are speaking very harshly of Richard,
Iunt Betsy, and he loves you so dearly too,
'oor fellow. But then, everybodys finding
ault with him nowadays" quietly rejoined
aura, purposely designing to provoke the
Id woman to his detence-well knowing that
word of complaint uttered by any one else
sainst 'her boy, as she delighted to call
er young master, would inspire Aunt Betsys
eepest resentment. Richard was the very
pple of her eye, and her love for him, even
aura was compelled to acknowledge, exceed
1 that she entertained for her young mis-
ess. The bait took, as Laura designed it
lould, and Aunt Betsys wrath famed fierce
nd high.
"Who say dat-who don't like my boy
S tell me now dey's pore white trash, who
yer dey is Humph! don't like him-spect
ey's nifty grand, at leas dey tink deyselves
,, but knows dey amt wordy to unlash his
lu-strings, dey amt Maybe somn of dem
ants to tell him so-recon deyd better try ,
recon Mars Warm Hayes dun tried dat
me on, an it sorter hurt Pears to me, ,
DIV, maybe dey jes' had-ki!" exclaimed the !
dlgnant old woman, with a scarcely sup
essed malediction on the injustice and men, ,
.clty of the world. And Aunt Betsy having !
us expressed her utter scorn of such people +
were wicked enough to traduce her bow
lied maiestically from the room. she had y
hausted the topic, there was no more to
Y.
Laura smiled wickedly at the success of her
Sc. Poor Aunt Betsy" she murmured, 4
few hearts are as faithful as yours, what Il
lde In wealth and beauty then, when this
d negro can teach the proudest votaries of
her one oflife's richest virtues. fidelity and 7