The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-24
$ NANNY

bow Ger t0dt INV VloSe.
NANNY"
t. was n stony, neglected field. powdered
with ox-eyed daisies and dotted with danae-
i;ons-oolden dandelions that looked ike
anota al sunshine on the green grass ana
omnno tho creyices of the rocks and the
orarled roots of the oak trees that were scat
Tered here and there. There were carriages
and bugQies standing about and horses some
tied to the lower branches OF the trees, otners
held BY the little negroes belonging 10 Inc
plantation.
WAS a square wooden railing painted black,
and within it were grassy mounds. some Large,
aome small: and now in one corner had been
duo another long deep hole, and the earth
Law scattered around it red and fresh.
Friends and neighbors had drawn near, some
within the inc,osure, others leaning against
the black railing. The coffin had been rev.
erentlv lowered; and, while the sun slowly
sank and batbed the grain in q Hood OF mel
low light, and Fl !ckered among the leaves tnat
trembled overhead, clear and solemn on the
summer air fell the words, 81 am the resur'
recton and the life.
Earth 70 earth; dust to dust; ashes to
asbas." And each time there was the thud OF
falling earth and the rafting of clods, and
the hollow answer that so many aching
hearts can recall and there were halfre-
pressed cries and choking sobs. and still the
grave was surely and inevitably filed; another
monnd was raised and spaded into shape;
stones were placed, one ct the head, anothera at
the foot, to mark the sleeper's place; and then
she was left alone, the sweet young vile ana
mother.
AS Mr.. Larrantree and his sister returned
to his desolate home, his eyes rested on his
children, Nelly and Grace. two little moner-
less thugs, with fair, curling hair and 1nno-
cent blue ewes like those in the coffin out IN
the field. They sat on the piazza steps IN lit
lie white frocks, their hair tied back with
black ribbons; and M ammy sat between them
In a white turban and cape and black dress
she had worn before their mother was born.
She was about seventy years old, with low
black forehead full of wrinkles. and broad,
fiat mouth containing only the yellow remains
of teeth, and the rim of hair that peepeo out
from under her turban had been gray ior
MANY a year. The little black eyes had re-
tanned their brightness and cunning, but
grovn aabby, and Nanny could not
fasten the children's clothes so deity as she
had their mothers; but, oh! how Indignantly
would they have repelled the idea that she
was growing or could grow useless, and her
place be better filed! How obedient they
were to her delegated authority and how
tolerant of the little shakes and jerks she
sometimes administered! How trustful OF
her love and emulous of the praises she was
lavish in bestowing! Yes, Nanny, you
were wrinkled and black, and old ana ugly
YOU were ignorant and narrow-minded and
superstitious-b you were true to your
10. truo
Won back your love with fervor which
neither time nor taste nor reason could Affect
Az Mr.. Larrantree and his sister ap-
proached, Nanny stood up and the children
sprang forward to meet them.
"Papa," said Grace, "what you all been
dom !? Nanny said for us not to 60, yom
would be mad. Would you be mad, papa Z
He held her in his arms. and his eyes were
blind with tears Mamma was right, baby
papa did not want you to CO.
:" An, papa, what you reckon asked
Nelly. NANNY was tellin' us bout Mr..
Rabbit and Mr. Wolf an she cried cause Mr..
Wolf eat MIR. Rabbit up Nj NINA Keeps
erwin when amt anybody been dom thing
70 her an. papa" continued the child be-
ginning to cry herself, :" ! want msmma, an
Nanny says she's gone to sleep. an the door
ia shut, an we can't get in. Can't we go In,
papa Won't you wake mamma upy
How could he answer except by tears?
And poor old Nanny! AS night came on
and the children grew tired Of play or were
sickened with sweets, it almost broke her
heart to see the blue eyes full OF tears and
the corners of the little mouths drawn down,
while the red lips trembled and the childish
voices cried over and over again. 81 want my
mamma want my mamma
And as night after night the black ribbons
were laid aside, and the motherless children
nut on their lit le white nightgowns. Nanny
racked her poor old brain for marvellous tales,
and GOT down on her stiff old knees by the
little trundlebed, and placed her left arm I'M
der Nelly's head, while she patted Grace's
shoulder with her right hand, till she was stif
and sore. and the white turban bobbed suspi-
ciously up and down; but there was no break
in the chain of events that took place between
"Mr Rabbit and Mr.. Wolf" and Nanny do
not steal her arm away till the curly heads
were motionless and the little hips had ceased
to ask why mamma slept so iorg.
DAVIS dragged slowly by, and crystalized
into weeks. and a. length the governess had
come. and Mr.. Larrantree's sister felt com
nailed to return to the charge Of her own fam
ilv. BEFORE she did SO, however, she request.
ed that Miss Ennerby would be very tendel
with the children, rs they we're OF nervous
temperament, and had been accustomed te
II shall not deny them any reasonable in
dulpence." said Miss Ennerby stiffiy; "bui
children have no right to be nervous; l snai
make it my business to conquer the ten
dency."
81 do not mean to say that they are nerv'
GUS" replied Mrs Allerton. who was very un'
favorably impressed by her new acquaintance
II meant merely to call your attention to the
fact that they are Of . nervous temperament
and should be favored with greater indulgence
of a certain nature than
Permit me to differ with you.' said Miss
Enns saS.d before 1 1s tendency
becomes radical evil
As Mrs. Allerton regarded the light cold
ewes the short lashes. the thin lips and
square jaw Of the woman before her. her
heart misgave her, and she trenbied for the