The Lake County star., 1876-07-06
General WashingtOn's Pet Marjorie.

DcFtOWeT IOI July COnIdius ucllSntIul
chronicle of the good old times in
Virginia one hundred years ago, from
the pen of Mrs. Constance Cary Harri-
son, and entitled "a Little Centennial
Lady," Tho little Centennial lady is
Miss Sally Fairfax, Rev. (and Lord)
Bryan Fairfax's six-year-Old. Since DIR.
John Browns "Pet Marjorie" she is
perhaps one of the quaintest little NOR
tails in literature. She was "great
friends with Washington, and he comes
in for share of attention in her journal,
part of which is produced in Mrs. Har-
rison's sketch. There are also some
interesting pictures and quite authsn-
tic account of love affair on the part of
Washington. Miss Sally was the great
aunt of the writer of the article. We
quote from the journal:
son friday the 8 of january papa
went to Colo. Washington's and camo
home again the next wednesday which
was the 8.
con friday the of January that vile
man adam at night kid poor cat of
rage because she eat bite Of meat out
of his hand and scrached it. vile
wrech of new negrows if he was mine l
woud cut him to pieces a son of a gun
nice negrow he should be kid 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 then the offender was
"new negro" Ii. e., not born upon the
estate,) which, in itself, was term of
opprobrium:
"on monday the 9Th of January which
was old G 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.
con thursday the I'd of January
margerry went to washington an brought
oil the things in ready done on thursday
the 9th of the same month ] think she
was a great while about them wole
week if you will believe me reader.
con friday the 10th of January in the
morning came here danny genens over
seer for taft and taft went away accor-
dinghy poor taft l pity him indeed
reader"
Of "tafrs" offenses and "taff's"
punishment, 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 cloth
of January"
"On Safer day the 11th of January
papa measured me on the right hand of
the door as you come out OF the
Chamber"
The Chamber! This does not present
very clear image, perhaps, except to
the understanding of dyed-in-the-
wool Virginian. Thus has always been
designated the bedroom of the mistress,
in an old Virginia home. This room,
generally situated upon the ground-foor,
was broad, spacious, mOtherly, ex-
quisitely neat. Here was the great
mahogany bed shrouded in spotless
dimity, with the fight of steps leading
up to it; here the huge fireplace blazing
welcome, and the brass andirons and
split basket of pine nots upon the
hearth-side. Before the fire stood the
chintz.clad easy-chair, behind which
covered little impish shapes of black
children brought up for daily training in
the useful arts. Here sat the mistress
for stated period every day here she
held levees of her people, who came in
from the quarter, one by one, dropping
courtesies and courtly bows, Offering for
sale their eggs and butter, detailing
grievances, each with story to tell of
some bodily ailment or misery" with
out 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 a stock of
good old. fashioned medicines; castor oil
that was castor oil, odoriferous rhubarb,
calomel by the pound-for the applicants
were very rigid in exacting the proper
degree of strength to their dose. In the
chamber-pronOunced, if you please,
with the broadest of as (chaamber)-
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. can picture Miss Sally,
standing on tip-tOe to be measured, and
the pencil marks that were never rubbed
ont