The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-24
GENERAL wAsH1SGToN's PET MARJORIE.

Scribner for July contains a delightful
chronicle of the good old times in 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.
land Lord) Bryan FairfaX's siX-year-old.
Since DR.. John Browns "Pet Mariorie,'
she is perhaps one of the quaintest little
mortals In literature. She was "great
friends" with Washington, and he comes
in for share of attention in her journal,
part of which is reproduced in Mrs. Harrl-
sons sketch. There are also some interest
ing pictures and quite authentic 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 of january papa went
to Colo. Washington's and came home
again the next wednesday which was the s.
"On friday the 0 Of jan that vile man
adam at hight kid poor cat OF rage be-
| cause she eat bit of meat out OF his hand
| and scratched it. vile wreach OF new ne
| grows if he was mine l would cut him to
pieces a son of a gun a 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 a single dam. ;,
| And then the offender was a 6 new negrow.'
Il. e., not born upon the estate,) which, in
itself, was term Of opprobrium.
son monday the 9th Of january which
was old C. mass day in the afternoon it set
| to showing and showed till the snow was
above anclc-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 I'd Of jan margerry
went to washing and brought all the things
in ready done on thursday the 9th OF the
same month I think she was great while
about them a whole week if you will believe
me reader.
"un friday the 10 of january in the
morning came here danny genens overseer
for taft and tail went away accordingly poor
tail pity him indeed reader
| OF "talf's - offences and "tatf 5 pun
ishnent, 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 go of january "
| "On Safer day the 18th OF Jan. papa mca-
surcd me on the right hand OF the door rs
you come out of the Chamber"
The Chamber. This does not present q
very clear image, perhaps, except to the UNI
derstanding of dyed-in-the-wool Virgin
| ian. Thus has always been designated the
| bedroom Of the mistress in an old Virginia
home. This room, generally situated upon
the grollnd-foor, was broad, spacious, moth
crly, eXGuisitely neat. Here was the great
mahogany bed Shrouded in spotlcss dimlty,
with the flight of steps leading UP to it ;
here the huge fireplace blazing welcome,
and the brass andirons and split basket OF
pine knots upon the hearth-side. Before the
fire stood the chintZ-clad eaSy-chalr, behind
which covered little impish shapes of black
children brought up for daily training III
the useful arts. Here sat the mistress for
stated period every day; here she held
leyees of her people, who came in from the
quarter, one by one, dropping curtseys and
courtly bows, offering for sale their eggs
and butter, detailing grievances, each with
story to tell of some bodily allment or g mise
ry," without which no cOlored person of
good standing in those days was ever found.
4 corner cupboard situated somewhere near
the ceiling, behind the chimney-piece, gen.
orally contained stock OF good old-fash-
| Toned medicines castor oil that 1caS castor
oil, fodoriferous rhubarb, calomel by the
pound-for the applicants were very rigid
in eXacting the proper degree Of strength to
their doses. In the chamber-pronouhced
il you please, with the broadcast Of MS,
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 out.