The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-04-12
How Cynthy Came 10 be Married.


w groes are. And, except when
sickness or death enters their homes,
how happy 1 think this contented
disposition must be u special dispen-
sation of Providence. Such as the dis
pensation which causes great rivers to
run by large cities.
Going into the the kitchen one morn
ing, said to Cynthy, my colored GIRL
I" Who was that young man visiting
you last night 7"
&C Laws, Miss Sallie," laughed Cynthy
that was Mista Jim Porter he called
to insult me bout de arrangements for de
festival de colored folks gwine to hab to-
night" Cynthy's fondness for big words
causes her to make some odd speeches.
That evening, respondent in white
dress, green sash and red necktie, ,Cynthy
exhibited herself to me and the admir-
ing children, before going to the festival.
The next morning, as soon as my hus-
band had gone to the office, she brought
in several slices of beautiful cake, saying,
while her voice shook with happy laugh
ter
I" Laws, Miss Sallie, dat Mist Porter,
he's de bigges' fool niger you eber seed.
He done get de cake for me.
why, how nice, Cynthy," said l.
You think so Miss Sallie," regarding
me doubtfully, then seeing L did not
laugh she continued, "You see, Miss
Sallie when dey he'll de cake up, an said
de girl as got de mos votes for bein' de
bes' lookin' would hab de cake, jes
whispered wish be de one; and /
reckon Mista Porter mus heered me,
fur he jus steps up, an lays down two
bits, am says, Five votes for Miss Gym
thy Shelton,' and then Tom Gordon
lays down thirty cents, an says, six
votes for Miss Phemy Howard and
then Mista Porter he lays down four
bits, and says, "Ten more votes for
Miss Cynthy Shelton an that Tom
Gordon, he's a stuck up niger, Miss
Sallie, he lays down four bits, spec it
every cent he had, an says, Miss Phe-
my's one ahead yet;' and 1 say, 20
Mista Porter, please don't vote again.
and he Gays, mighty naughty like, Miss
Shelton, got no shivery at all, you
think > an up he steps bol' as brass,
an hands out dolla, an dey all cheer
ed, an Mista Porter hands me de cake
bowin' as perlite, an says, Miss Shell
ton, says he, 'cept dis cake from your
voted servant, who siders you de belle of
dis town, bof as regards beauty an ma
bility.' tell you Miss SaIlie / nebber
was so commissioned in my born days
but 1 took de cake, an cut it, an pass
it aroun', an Mista Porter say dat de
charminest actin he ebber seed; but
Phemy jes turned her nose up an laugh
ed, and so did Tom Gordon"
I" Mr.. Porter is very complimentary"
said 1 "You mustn't let him turn
your head"
Laws, Miss Sallie," tossing her
head, Z" he keeps his hands to hisself;
he nebber touch my head"
And she went back to her work, sing
ing, in a clear, sweet voice, an old ne
gro melody.
Time passed, and 1 often saw that
Mista Porter coming and going out,
and in the back gate, 1 asked Cynthy
what he wanted.
Laws, Miss Sallie," how l know
what he wantsp He jes come las night
to tell me he done bought a cOok-stove."
A cook-stove,n 1 asked: ''what is
he going to do with cook-stove?"
Laws, Miss Sallie, l dun no. He's de
biggest fool niger, he wants to keep
house. Ask me what got TO keep
house wifi; an tell him bed, an a