The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-12-23
Written for the Cairo Bulletin,
AUNT MARIA'S 'SPERIENCE.
"Good evenin', ma'am ~

GOOD evenln ma am
But for the familiar tones, would have
been startled by the shadow which fell
across the table on my back porch one
bright afternoon in October. Looking up
from the beautiful silverskins | was pre-
pairing for pickle | beheld q little negro
woman, black as jet, in the arch made by
the madeira vines, and recognized Aunt
Maria Wintergreen, one Of my neighbors.
Her coat was of many colors; the skirt was
made of two distinct patterns Of calico, the
waisttof another, snd each sleeve of yet an
other variety snd style, but it was scrupu-
iously. Hanging over one arm was piece
Of Few calico about two yards long.
Why. Aun, Maria" l exclaimed,
when did you get backi ! never ex-
IAe.ed TO see you sgain."
-Lawz!, done been gone an got back
sgin, nA'sm, an tryin' to git ready for the
kig mee,in' now
Her eyes unconsciously strayed to the
streSmer On her arm. felt sure she had
uoIne TO ask favor; so ! pointed to a
char near her and told her to sit down and
rest; Not that | supposed her walk of a
half mile had wearied her, but wished to
hear OF her recent trip; and though her
speech is rather of the laconic style, she
can not be called q woman of few words
Once get her started and it often requires
some tact to bring her talks to close
though on this particular day was in the
mood to listen.
What big meeting is it," I asked, as
she took off her sunbonnet and looked
about uneaslly, then rolled it up into lit
lie bundle to unIoll, shake out and roll ur
again as she talked. She is always glanc
ing about as if on the lookout for horrors
and is the most nervous creature | ever
saw; just like her mistress, she says.
"Quarterly meetin', nam, at the
church across the road. Want to get ready
to be eat out o'house an home by tn,
preachers, by Friday morning. Spose
they'll gin to come by breakfast since
neetin' holds three days"
"You do not seem to be particularly wei
pleased with the prospect, Aunt Maria"
"Yese IN | am, but amt ready. Got to dc
some sewlng-some bakin' mean TO they
come, an kill some poke pork) Dom
know what III do for bread, my cows il
both layin out, 'twouldn't do much sooC
If they's both at home, one doesn't Civ,
mon pint an other ones no count. Be
lievo somebody conjured her, thou
snake bit hers
The milk questions settled, | asked why
she trailed the calico across the meadows
bringing half the weed seed crop into tn,
houseyard on it, wherupon she looked
sheepish and gave q historical little laugh
"Need a good cookin' apron if I'm t
have crowd o'strangcrs round, an bav
70 much work to do ] couldn't take tim
to cut one out, just got this little scrap {
goods fur it. So busy, you know, wit
sweet potatoes an Gavin; ole man so eros
If amt putin in all the time. Never hay
chance TO sew like woman ought to; n
girls in the family an three boys to kee
covered all the tme.'
sand you would like it if | would C,
the apron for your"
IF you pie e, nam, il it amt too muc
trouble for y I, Could do it myself if
bad Tine ut on the old complaine
picking of t ends and rolling them
the palm Of hand. 81 know how to c.
an sew; was I e one charge Of all tn
kind of work at nome. We had the b
gest plantation an the most colored fol-
Of any round. Can't Call my soul II
own now; ole mans SO drivin'."
VIZ Secretly smiling st her half.apologics E
asking the favor which knew was but
excuse to get TO talk 10 me, took up