Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-11-04
" NANNY"

NANNY"
IT was stony, neglected field, pow
dered with ox-eyed daisies and dotted with
dandelons-golden dandelions that look
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 buggies standing about,
and horses, some tied to the lower
bran ches of the trees, others held by the
little negroes belonging to the plantation
In this field, away off beyond the house.
was a square wooden railing, painted
black, and within it were grassy mounds,
some large some small; and now in one
corner had been dug another long, deep
hole, and the earth lay scattered around it
red and fresh. Friends and neighbors
had drawn near, some within the incos-
ure, Others leaning against the black rail
ing. The coffin had been reverently low
cred and, while the sun slowly sank and
bathek the grain in flood of mellow
light and tlckered among the leaves that
trembled overhead, clear and solemn on
the summer air fell the words q 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 rafting of
clods, and the hollow answer that so
many aching hearts can recall; and there
We're half-repressed cries and choking
sobs, ans still the grave was surely and
inevitably filled; another mound was
raised ard spaded into shape; stones were
placed, one at the head, another at the
foot, to mark the sleeper's place; and
then she was left alone, the sweet young
wife and mother
AS Mr.. Larrantree and his sister re-
turned to his desolate home his eyes rested
on his children, Nellie 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
piazza steps in little white frocks, their
hair tied back with black ribbons and
Nanny sat between them in white tur-
ban 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 a
broad, flat mouth containing only the yell
low remains of teeth and the rim OF hair
that peeped out from under her turban
had been gray for many a year. The
little black eyes had retained their bright
ness and cunning, but the balls had turned
yellow and the lids grown tlabby and
Nanny could not fasten the children S
clothes so deity as she had their mothers
but ah. how Indignantly would they have
repealed the idea that she was growing or
could grow useless and her place be bet
ter filled, 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 bcstowing! Yes, Nanny, you were
wrinkled and black, and old and ugly;
you were ignorantand narrow-minded and
superstitious, but you were true 10 your
nurslings and tender as true; and they
gave you back your love with fervor
which neither time nor taste nor reason
could affect.
As Mr.. Larrantree and his sister APP
preached, Nanny stood up and the chill
lren sprang forward to meet them.
Papa said Grace, what you all been
dQi2': Nanny said for US not to go
You would be mad. Would you be mad
papaE'
lie held her in his arms and his ewes
We're blind with tears: Nanny was
right, baby-rapa did not want You
20 go"
An, papa. what you reckon 60 asked
Nelly. Nanny was tellin us bout Mr.
Rabbit and Mr.. Wolf, an she cried cause
Mr. Wolf eat Mr.. Rabbit up. Nanny
6eeps Cryin when amt anybody beer
dom thing 10 her; an, papa, csutinucJ
the child, beginning to cry herself, 81
want mamma. an Nanny says she's gon,
20 sleep, an The door is shut, an we can
get in. Can't we 90 in, papa: Won't yol
wake mamma up?"
How could he answer except by tears
Aud poor old Nanny, As night cam
On and the children grew tired Of play o
We're sickened with sweets, it almost brok
"sE heart ~ see the blue eyes full OF tear
and the corners OF the little mouths draw
Gown, while the. red lips ;rembled and tn
'lu0l>i voices cried over and over again
|antmy mamma want my mammal
And.ss night after night the black rib
hons were laid aside. and the motheries
children put on their little white night