The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-06-26
The Story of VTinney.
BY Lillian A. Faulkner.

Where did 1 learn to make these de-
icious breakfast rolls? I learned them
of Winney, my colored cook, in the days
when I kept house in Washington. I
never told you her story? Well, how
soon we forget such things. 1t does not
seem possible to us now that they could
ever have happened, but then I used of
ten to have glimpses of the dark side of
slavery and be indignant, as was pow
erless, over some dreadful injustice or
cruelty.
Winney was a colored woman, not
black nor yellow, but of a complexion
very much the hue of fine old mahoga-
ny. She was.about 40 years of age, and
came to me recommended as an excel
lent cook and washerwoman, but with
terrible temper of her own. The re-
commentator was entirely Just our
new cook was almost perfect in her de-
partment, and she added to others the
browning virtue of punctuality. AS yet
there had been no outbreak of that
temper" On the contrary, Winney
seemed a pattern of good nature, gener-
ally singing about her work, particular
ly at the wash-tub, where her songs and
hymns kept up constant accompani-
ment to the music CT the rubbing board.
! Now it seems to mo that any human be-
ing who sings over the wash-tub must
possess n tolerably good disposition.
Don't You think so, or don't you know
what it is to enjoy soap-suds steam
bath every Monday morning?
Affairs went on quietly for four or five
weeks, when, one Monday morning,
noticed a great change in the kitchen
The work appeared to be going OF
rather slowly, and in perfect silence. 4
state of ings so unusual seemed to re
quire investigation, and, overcoming
the fear of encountering that dreaded
temper, entered the kitchen. Their,
stood Winney over her tub, her darl
face a shade or two darker than usual
but whether with sorrow or anger
could not well determine. Seeing tina
she had not observed my entrance,
p ottANA W AAAb 10 VIC AAAtsoNNAs W 4AAAAO1
Are you sick to-day?"
"No, mn'am, said she, turning slow
ly around, "but I'm in heap of troubl
, and if you'll just wait till get thes
clothes ON, I'll tell you all about it. -
I waited as she desired, and theI
seated on low stool, her arms folde
across one end of her wash-bench, VIII
{ ney told her story.
, Twelve years before, she and fOu
p children were slaves upon a plantatio
: in Virginia, when her master, with whol
it seems she had many alterations,
! nally told her that if she would tai
:, herself of with her children and tai
+ care of them, she and they should
forever free. No free papers were give
q her, but the promise was made in Il
presence of a clergyman and sever
: other white witnesses. She Immediate
e accepted the conditions and proceed,
y with her four children to the city
Washington. There she put her thr
10 eldest ont to service, and taking Il
Youngest with her, she hired out hersC
\ as cook and washerwoman. In a fe
l. years she had laid by enough to pu
chase and furnish a small house. Al
a neat little tenement it was, whit
i washed within and without, and go,
!; garden in the rear. Her two eide
daughters were now well-married, h
4 Oldest son apprentced to the trade of
a stone-cutter and the youngest employ
"a as a porter at a store. It seems III
= her old master had lately died, and ]
!; son and heir had come to the city WI
10 the purpose Of claiming Winney q
IA her children as slaves. Only the eve
M ing before, he had been to her house
; inform her that her case was already
court, and would be brought to trial
he few days.
This was indeed trouble and h
= many misgivings as to the result /
we talked over the matter and plann
what to do. The next day Winney ca
back quite confident of success. S
had engaged the services Of an exc
= lent lawyer and had ascertained Il
two, at least. of the witnesses Of ]
ui- freedom were living. Things remain
ms in this state until the next Mond
eh night, when, just IS she was about