The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-09-04
THE .sDEATH RAM

his elbows resting on the arms of his
chair. while he gently tapped together
the tips Of his fingers. "We Yankees" !"
said he, thoughtfully, and with pause
at almost every sentence-"w we Yam
KEGS have but 3 meagre conception of
the negro character, the real planta-
ton negro-a fact / did not admit forty
years ago. Otway-or. as everybody
called him, Chelmsford and / were
room-mates at Harvard. Hewas fine
fellow to look at, and very fine fellow
to be with-full Of life. overlooking with
fun, wild; not so much because he was
. fun-blooded Southerner. as because
he was an orphan with his fortune in
his own hands. Most young men,
North or South, will be wild who have
. plenty of money, which, not having
earned, they do not know how 70 value.
One night, with yawn, he threw down
his book and stretched himself ON the
bed. I stood with my back to the fire.
looking ut him. Presently said, SO
you are going home for the holidays,
s"Yes-Christmas on the planta-
tion.' s az ss,.;
"sThey say your negroes are to have
their freedom at tyour death. Is dot sho?
as the Dutcfm1n 1ys.s
is sho,' replied OF with an
other yawn.
".i wonder you are not afraid to go
among them,' said L
!, "He laughed with genuine amuse-
ment, and asked II any other white
person would be- On the plantation.
: The overseer,' said OF. But sup
pose You 90 with me. old fellowa'
"sBut suppose the negroes make
away with me toop e-
"'Wen, you will be no great loss,
that can see,' replied my companion;
and, adopting his view of the subject, I
went with him home.
"Arrived at the plantation, we had the
house all to ourselves, for his next of kin
was married sister who lived in the
adjoining State, but we had as many
chambermaids and dining-room serv-
ants. and servants of every other age,
sex and calling, rs though OF had been
. patriarch.
1.-The third morning after our arrival
we were lettering over the breakfast
table, each of us with newspaper in
his hand. Plantation negroes were
more of curiosity to me than to OF,
30 he was giving his entire attention to
his paper, while mine was divided.
First appeared Aunt Fanny the ideal
Southern cook, shining black. ponder
Gus. jolly except when on duty; every
hair confined by gorgeous turban; her
broad hips encircled By . huge cotton
apron. > The bill Of fare was always
made out by herseh-and . most excel
lent bill it was-but she came every
day to inquire If her young master de-
sired any change In the naess~. This
- h2
trance with surprise, because we were
and abe stood silently out OF range oi
OTIS eye. Next appeared one OF the
hQpsemaids, who asked in loud, apollo
-getic whisper II anybody had seed her
broom. No one appeared to have seen
it, and she took up her station near the
cook. Petraxch, the head waiter, stood
with his eye on the door, and none Of
his subordinates budged from theiI
places. though the supply Of buckwheai
cakes was exhausted.
"'Go git some cakes,' whispered
Cicero - .sit .4....l. ~
".You 60 yo'se'f.' returned Jim.
ssOt was still reading, and observed
neither the omission nor the whisper.
"Soon appeared another housemaid
to look for her broom. Misery love.
company; so, not finding what shs
sought, Housemaid No. planted her
self by the side of No. 1. Then ap
peared the coachman, who always cam,
to receive orders for the day. II,
seemed content to await his master
leisure, and stood in dignifed silence
waving, however, the prominence du,
to his position, for he stationed himsel
in the rear Of the cook. Next cam,
one of the hostlers, suppose in searcl
of the coachman. A few moments aft
er appeared another woman servant
Housemaid No. apparently, for sh
made various feints toward the side
board. peeping under il, dashing roun,
It and muttering unintelligibly some
thing about her duster.'
"This attracted OTIS attention, an,
he glanced over his shoulder at th
group assembled behind him. Then b
turned in his chair, placed his ope
hands ON his knees, his elbows stickin
out ct right angles. and stared solemn
ly at the crowd. The crowd began t
giggle and seemed abashed. for tn
cook trod on the coachman's toes an
the housemAids suickered behind thei
= aprons. The hestler hid behind hi
nextrdoor neighbor. and, spite of hi
toes, the coachman sought the real
Thus. in . giggling. disorderly mass
they huddled together near the dool
each trying to hide behind the other.
'Ot turned to Petrarch, the only on
who retained his place by right .Whs
the deuce does this meanr he asked.
Bat before Petrarch could repl
there appearsd In the doorway . sta
wart negro, and behind him two Q