Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-11-04
MiseellaneOus. q
NANNY.
From Lippincoti's Magazine. !

FROM LlpplncoGr Magazine.
1t was stony, neglected field, powdered
with o1-eyed daisies and dotted with dan
delions that looked like spots of sunshine
on the green grass and among The crevices
OF the rocks and the gnarled roots of the
oak trees that were scattered here and
there. There were carriages and bugges
standing about, and horses, some tied TO
the lower branches OF the trees Others held
by the little negroes belonging to the
plantation.
In this field. away of beyond the house,
was square wooden railing, painted
black, and within il were grassy mounds.
some large, some small, and now IN one
corner had been dug another long, deep
hole, aud the earth lay scattered around
il. red aud fresh. Friends and neighbors
had drawn near, some within the enclo-
sure, others leaning against the black rail-
ing. The coffin had been reyerently lowered
and while the sun slowly saak and bathed
the grain in a flood of mellow light. and
nickeTed among the leaves that trembled
overhead, clear and solemn on the summer
air fell the words, II am the resurrection
| and the life"
Earth to earth; dust to dust; ashes TO
ashes" And each time there was the thud
OF falling earth and the rattling of clods,
and the hollow answer that SO many ach
| iag hearts can recall and there were half
/ repressed cries and choking sobs, and still
the grave was surely and inevitably filled !;
another mould was raised and spaded into
| shape; stones were placed, one at the
! head. another at the foot to mark the
/ sleeper's place; and then she was lett
alone. the sweet, young wife and mother.
As Mr.. Larrautree and his sister return
ed TO this desolate home. his eyes rested on
his children. Nelly and Grace, two little
motherless things with fair curling hair
and innocent blue eyes like those in the
coffin out in the field. They sat on the pi-
| aZZa steps in little white irocks. their hair
TED back with black ribbons; aud Nanny
sat between them in a white turban and
cape and black dresss he had worn before
their mother was born. She WAS about 20
years old, with a low black forehead full
| Of wrinkles. and a broad fiat mouth con-
tanning only the yellow remains of teeth.
and the rim of hair that peeped out from
under her turban had been gray for many
ayear. The little black eyes had retained
theiI brightness ami cunning, but the balls
had turned yellow and the lids grown hab-
by, and Nanny could not fxsten the chill
dre0's clothes SO deftly as she had their
mothers; but, ah. how Indignantly would
they have repelled the idea that she was
| gfOWiDg Ut cOuiu grow uSeieee, ana neI
place be better filed! How obedlent they
were 10 her delegated authority! and
how tolerant OF the little shakes and jerks
she sometimes administered. How trust
ful OF her love and emulous Of the praises
she was lavish in bestowing! Yes, Nam.
my. you were wrinkled and black and old
and ugly, you were ignorant and narrow.
minded and superstitious. but you were
true to your nurslings, and tender as true
and they gave you back your love with .
fervor which neither time nor taste mol
reason could affect.
! As Mr.. Larrantree and his sister ap
preached, Nanny stood up and the chill
drep sprang forward to meet them.
Papa" said Grace, .what you all beer
doin'? Nanny said for us not tn 20. yol
would be mad. Would you be mad, papa !?
He held her In his arms. and his eye.
were blind with tears. NANNY was right
bsby-papa did not want you to 60"
AN. papa. what you reckon?'' asket
Nelly. Nanny was tellin' US bout Mr.
Rabbit and Mr.. Wolf an she cried 'caus,
Mr.. Wolf eat Mr.. Rabbit up. NANNY
keeps cryin' when amt anybody doin'
thing TO her; an. papa" continued tn
4 child. beginning to cry herself IL wan
mamma. an Nanny says she's gone t,
] sleep, an the door u shut, an ve can