Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-20
"Oh, shout. shout,
De dethil am about;
shut de do' an keen him ont ~


made my way to her side. and discovered
that this ancient prophecies was quite blind.
She was dressed neatly. and sat erect, as
though conscious of her conspicuous position
Her feet were planted on an old carpet-bag,
evidently containing all her earthly possessions,
aud she held large stick, sceptre-l like in her
wthered hand, with which she occasionally
raped upon the floor 10 command attention.
Il am sorry. auuty," said, that | have
given away al the little things | brought with
me. What would you like TO have Perhaps
can G. you something in town"
"Bregs d Lord, honey, Is nose dyin' for a
chaw oh t,rhackrr. FL you could get me a
leetlc mite ob uipg,r twis' you'd do mo- for
mo dan dem crows 'bb1r did fur Dc prophet
Eliza"
Having procured the coveted dainty, Aunt
Lilly's heart warmed to mr, and she proceed
ed to pour forth the story of her life. 1t was
full of touching incidents as is the life of
nearly every woman who has passed her half
century, a record of earnest struggle, severe
trial, and patient endurance, with one sus-
tanning hope-a single flower in the rocky
waste Of her life.
II was parted from my husband, she said,
''cousid'able befo' de wah, an Is been a.
huntin' for him ebber sence. Is been foller-
in on honey, JUS like a biood-houn'. Is had
y
dc driber dat took him away from me tole me
lie sole him TO planter in Louisiany. NOSE
cotched sight OBJ him in de pine e-barrens-dat's S
when ] see de man who owned him las in
Floridy. l loss him in de swamp-dat's when
dc defamation proclamation mixed all de
niggahs up. But now Use on de turnpike
road, an Is a-gainin' on him ebbery Dressed
minute. | hoern he war in Kansas, an dis
yere exodus war de turnpike fur me-"
What if, when you find him, Aunt Lilly,
he should not be as true TO you as you have
been to him ?" Aunt Lilly brought down her
staff with a startling thump.
dat ar niggah done b'long to me- I'll JUS
take him by de eah and tote him along. When
de hounds trees a niggah, you don't see no
discussin' oh de matter-he's cotched dat's
all.
was almost frightened by the storm which
had raised. The old woman rolled her sight
less eyeballs toward me, and their Opaque orbs
seemed to read me through and through and
TO give the conversation different ending, l
asked her how she lost her sight.
~ had a fever, fust place, round in my
cistern centrally, but byme-by it conglomerat-
ed in my head, an my eyes turned sOmersets
in'ards, an dar amt no doctor been able to
make dem toe out agn.'
As l drove home l met Mingo driving his
mud-splashed crazy vehicle groaned under a
weight of bags and boxes, He touched his
hat respectfully.
"I's fought dat matter Ober, Miss Friendly
an 'cluded to take few peryision in to dem
fool eXoduses."
smiled and nodded After all, Mingo was
not mere sentimentalist.
The next morning, as the eggs had order
ed from him were not forthcoming, and as
expected company for tea, and could not
make my strawberry short cake without them,
determined to call for them myself. As
entered his shanty l was surprised to see
Mingo with his sleeves rolled up busily en-
gagged in beating to a froth the white of the
very eggs which had desired.
Cant help it, Miss Friendly" he said,
rather sheepishly dis yere's sorter, kinder
celebration wild us, an | wanted TO make n
fust-class cake"
"Us" l replied, in surprise "Who are
MS z" But ms | spoke shrill voice called from
an interior room: See hyar, you Mingo,
come fix dis yere iiah de cake won't riz one
mite vout you fotch some bresh fo' it,"
Mingo obeyed the summons with startling
alacrity, and at the same time, feeling her
way before her with her staff, Aunt Lilly en-
tered the apartment in which sat
"Why, Aunt Lilly" exclaimed, show in
the world did you come here 2"
"Is dat you, honey 7" replied Aunt Lilly.
~ done tole you dat l should fotch mp wild
my husband at las, but didn' know when
said dat dat he war so neah."
"Is Mingo your husbandY Z" l asked, in
surprise. II did not know that he had ever
been married" Mingo, coming in at that
moment with an Ormful of wood, ginned un-
til his face appeared cut in two
81 tole you bout my ole missus, Miss
Friendly Well, she's lowed to take me
back"
81 don't understand this at all, exclaim-
ed, completely mystifed,
"Yes, honey" proceeded Aunt Lilly,