The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-06-22
Ghe Bulletin.
a Little Centennial Lady -lien. Wash
imglOn's Pet Marjorie.

iWgiOn's Pet Marjorie.
scribner for July contains the delightful
chronicle of the good old times Ia Virginia
one hundred years ago, from the pen Of
Mrs. Constance Cary Harrison, and entitled
"a Little Centennial Lady" The little
Centennial lady is Miss Sally Fairfax, Rev.
(and Lord Bryan ,Fairfax's six-year.old.
Since DR.. John Browns "Pet Marjorie"
she lie perhaps the quaintest little mortal in
literature. She was "great friends" with
Washington. an he comes in for share Of
attention in her journal, part of which is re.
produced in Mrs. Harrisen's sketch. There
are also some interesting pictures and q
quite authentic account Of a love affair on
the part OF Washington. Miss sally was
the greai-auus OF the writer of the article.
We quote from the journal
ION friday the 3 of January papa went to
'Collo. Washngton's and ca ne home sgain
the next wednesday which was the s.
'On friday the Of jan that vile man adam
at night kid a poor cat Of rage because
she eat bit OF meat out of his hand and
scratched it. o vile ~reach Of new negrow
j
a son Of a gun nice negrow be should be
'kild himself by rites,''
In this vivid outburst OF Sally's wrath one
is reminded of Pet Marjorie and her turkey
that "did not give single DAM And the
offender was "new negrov," ii. e., not
born upon the estate which, in itself, was
aterm Of opprobrium.
''on monday the 9Th OF January which was
old e mass day In the afternoon it set TO
showing and showed till the snow was
above ancle-deep and then it held up but
the snow lasted upon the ground at least
"a Week and then there came another snow
as deep.
"on thursday the % OF jan margerry went
to washing and brought all the things ia
ready done ON thursday the 9th OF the
same month think she was great while
about them wols week if YOU will believe
me reader"
son iridsy the 10 of January in the morn
sing came here danny geneDs overseer for
tad and taft went away accordingly poor
taft pity him indeed reader.
Of"taf's'' 0ffenses and "tafi's" punish.
ment, we shall ever be left in ignorance /;
but OF one thing we are sure, that tear
pure as the recording angels was dropped
for him that $50 Of January
"On Safer day the nth Of Jan papa
measured me on the right hand Of the
door rs you come OF the Chamber"
The Chamber. Thi, does not pre- sent
va ri DaF ina mar han 10. q Ia
understanding OF a dyed-in-thc-wool Viz
ginian. Thus has always been designated
the bed-i Dom OF the mistress in an old Nir-
gnis home. The room, generally situated
upon the ground-foor, was broad. spacious,
motherly, and exquisitely neat. Here
was the great mahogany bed shrouded in
spotless dimity, with the flight Of stair lead
ing up to 1t here the hugh fireplace blaZ-
ing welcome, and the brass andirons and
split basket Of pine knots upon the hearth.
side. Before the fire stood the chintz.clad
easy chair. behind which severed little
impish shapes OF black children brought up
for daily training in the useful arts. Here
sat the mistress for a stated period every
day here she held levees of her people,
who came in from the quaI tiers. one by one,
dropping curtseys and courtly bows, Offer
ing tor sale their eggs and butter, detailing
grievances, each with a story TO tell Of some
bodily ailment or "misery,' without which
no colored person of good standing in those
days was ever found. a corner cupboard,
situated somewhere near the ceiling, behind
the chimney piece, generally contained u
stock of good old-iashioned medicines
castor oil that was castor oil, odoriferous
rhubarb, calOmel by the pound-for the APP
plcants were very rigid in exacting the
proper degree Of strength to their doses.
In the chamber-pronounced, II you please,
with the broadest of as, (chsamber)-
centered all the hundred little family cares
and interests; and, except at times when
the mysteries Of birth and death closed the
portals, it was apt TO be the most charming
inviting spot about the mansion. l can
picture Miss Sally, standing on tip.tOe to
be measured, and the pencil marks that
We're never rubbed out