Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-12-25
"WlTCllED."
BY JENNIE wooDvILLE, LYNcHBuRe+, V

BY JENNIE WOODVILLE, LYNCHBURG, VA
We lived about two miles from Allan
| vile, Va, and this fact made it Difficult
to keep servants, for the country negroes
were soon attracted by town charms, ant
the town negroes soon wearied of rufa
quiet. Despite this difficulty, however
Aunt Cynthia, our cook, having such q tel
rible temper, never was so glad of any
thing as | was to get rid of her, except
to get her back again; for my husband
frown d, and the children cried, and the
thou sht of her bread became like ''recol
lected music;'' but after I had dismissed
her with d flourish of trumpets, and M
Smith had beat the drum and the childfe
had sung hymn Of victory, what was to
! be ne ?
But MI. Smith continued to frown, an(
the children cried louder than ever, an(
our psalm Of life began to be ciIanted il
SUCH mournful numbers that the burden of
it became intolerable, and sail SO, family
ad ling that wished we had Aunt Cynthia
back; whereapon Mr.. Smith evad ed dys
| pS1Sfts Utt iilCoCt NCi Ny ofty itE
that I must do as liked, the selection of
d cook was my personal affair, all he hat
to 10 being to pay her wages and eat hel
| brral.
The recent appearance Of our table had
broken my spirit and destroyed my self.
respect, and / was perfectly willing to sac
rifice dignity aud ignore pride and bow
again beneath Aunt Cynthia's yoke, that
might once more see ii loaf of bread which
it w uld not be ludicr0us to place beside 3
bouquet, or d cup Of coffee that I was not
ashamed to offer to my husband 4; so
gladly accepted his indirect consent 10 her
reinstatement, and set to work To find her.
! AS Oh inquiry found she was sill ''out oI
d place, y had no hesitation in sending fol
| her 20 come to me.
She had been a family servant, and oul
| late unpleasantness was soon cast into
Lethe; but had to pay for the concession
made by sending for her. In the inst place
she dem tnded double the amount of her
former wages, and in the second, refused
to do any portion Of the washing.
| Dub ollS ID SuCll SIlIdll ldI1llS, AlH
Cynthy. and we are SO regular in our llab-
its, you would not be occupied half the
time" said [.
She had seated herself with her elbows
on her knees, her chin in both hands. her
variegated turban seeming about to topple
from above her shining black brow as sht
shook her head in positive refusal.
II don't keeTr, chile; amt strong like
were. You has too mucl futin' done too
Look at dat apun you got on. | wouldn' I
mind lavin' it myself. A nice apun is {
greet condishun to f lkeses looks. -
agreed that some one else should pre-
side in the laundry and she left. but re
turned to say that SHE must request an adj
vance of eight dollars, as she wished tt
join Il society. ''What kind of society p
1 inquired.
lily, Miss Rose! S'maritin siety. o
course! De one what buries folks, an
goes out in q regaly, wild fedders Oh d.
huss," said she.
Bat, Aunt Cynthy,'' mildly venturet
to demonstrate, II cannot possibly allow yot
to be buried unless you die first, and, ii
that event. [ shall be forced to employ an
other c,uk, so Ire lily do not think it woul.
Pay me to advance the money for such
purpose. Have you any special desire t,
be buried ?'
'Lor' Mss Rose Course amt speck
in to git buried lessen / die fuss; but e
de cop 'rashnn buries you, dey jes nauls you
out fus thing ii. de mornin'. wild nobod,
but dem an you, an has dirt tramped dow
on you fore de mex man knows you
dar. When | gifts to hebben an look
back, l don't want to see dat ragged oil
huss troltin' away from my grave! No
my lor'."
Then, as a question offinance PROFOUND
ed The interrogatory whether it would no
be cheaper to repair tile hearse.
Aunt Cynthy threw back her head an,
placed her knuckles on her hips. Now
Miss Rose. eff you think dat big a fool
how you spec me to make bread fifteen t.
eat ?''
immediately the widest apprehension
took possession OF my soul, and hastene,
to assure her with every Establishment 0
voice and gesture, that my admiration @
her cookery was excelled only by my respec
for her intellect.
"Cos,' she continued, ZOOS [ got to b
fore fix up huss at my own spense, al
den have de fus niger dat kill hissel
eatin' goin' out in it. Hy, my lof! spos'
I was to live five year! Dis ole huss woul
be wore out fore dat, an den spose &C
to fix up anoder, or go out like a cop'rashu
Niger at last?'
i. This struck me as so exquisitely funn.
that I screamed with laughter, and migl
never have stopped had not Aunt Cynthi
4 to my great surprise, dropped into I'll
chair behind her and burst into tears, raif