The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-12

and in fact more dan all de world put
together. All de long night l kept tink-
ing how happy we should be. l was
only boy of 20, but l had de feelings
of a man. -,A .4t s..-f .....7-
Sunday night (the I'd of May, twenty
years ago. came and we took a walk in
r. You don't know, lady, how de
beautiful trees grow on de sides OBJ de
streets, so big and fine! De moon was
out full and bright--silvering eberyting
all over, and de trees cast shadows on
de ground as Skiddy and | walked on
telling how fust saw and loved her;
den we made solemn VOW to love each
other till death and ever afterward. She
was so pooty, not quarter so black as
me, and you may wonder, lady, at her
choosing me, but was not so big and
large den. was d nice, trim young
man. AFTER we had exchanged our
word we shook hands; no one that saw
us knew what dat wer for, but we knew,
we were clasping hands and hearts for
life. What blessed night it was. l
felt can't tell how--but so happy. If
l slept little de night previous / slept
less den. Skiddy was in my mind all
de time. AFTER that courted her bout
four years. l did wish to marry her,
but how could IP She was lady's
maid and her mistress thought de world
OBJ her, used 10 take her to de Springs
or travelling in de summer wild her. She
dressed her so smart and nice. What
could giveEher nothing. l only got
| my fifty cents week and a sack of
meal. used to work from sunrise to
| sunset for my master; arter dat had de
evenings to myself, but could do but
little den. I tried, but couldn't save
much out of my fifty cents. l couldn't
ask Skiddy to marry me yet, when l
could git her nothing nice. thought
twas awful hard to wait so many long
years, and still be just as poor as ever.
looked at de massers round, .
and saw many dat did not love der wives
as l loved Skiddy; dey could marry
when and who dey pleased--while l.,
poor slave, must crush my feelings, and
wait de time. Sometimes, when l
would see her, it seemed as though l
could bear it no longer. would tink-
4 God tries de black mans patience awful
far--but I tell you, lady, never said
one dishonorable thing to her, no more
than | would to my massa or missis, and
|
to a little baby. t .......-
Toward de end OBJ de fifth year OBJ our
devotion l thought, if de folks was
willin', would marry her anyway, even
if could glib her nothing; but l didn' t
feel just right about it, as she had 50
many advantages, being her lady's
maid; she could read and write, while l
could do neither, for what 'centive is der
to de slaves learning to read! if you too
smart, de missis sell you to New Orleans
and work you on de plantations. One
evening while working in dis despond-
ing mood, got word dat Skiddy would
like to see me as soon as could come.
After work went round and she says
"Oh can give you light of such news |!
What do you think! Missis sent for me
yesterday. l went up to de room, and
missis says, 'Dere's some one counting
you, Skiddy,' and | says, Yes, missis.
Who is it?' l answered, st is George,
dat lives wild Mr.. - 'Why didn't
you tell meP' says missis. ''Cause
was so 'shamed.' You're sure he loves
you?' Il guess Use pretty certain of
that l said well, how long has he
been counting youP' Five years. re-
piled. Five years!' says missis, then
he must love you'll Il reckon he does,
/ said. 'Why, Skiddy, and you never
told me! Why didn't you get marriedP'
shall be married dis fall says missis.
you just send for George to come and
see me, he must be a,good faithful lover,
to wait all these years. He is worthy
of you, for l have heard of him before
would allow you to be married this
summer, but l am going to Philadelphia
and want you to accompany me, but
when return you shall be married, and
will see you have all that is right 1
, did bless missis den, / cried, for so
} much joy, and den 1 sent for you to
: come. Missis is out, but she wishes to
see you tomorrow. ..........
J Lady, went home; mudder had a
nice bit of chicken on the table for me
tempted to eat it, but something
: came right up in my throat and choked
, me. couldn't swallow, my feelings all
, gave way, and like Skiddy, l cried till
} my heart was eased. Next morning,
when woke, de thought of going to
, Missis - was de first ting entered my
head. AFTER breakfast I walked out. l
[ OOuiu cCO AsAlSoio AOuoC 1LOLl III y
hut, and | see de mas ssa and missis, and
de young ladies and gentleman, stand
ing out on de veranda, and knew very
well what dey was standing dere for; it
, was just to see George, de lover. Well,
dere was no way for me to get dere but
7 to walk past de veranda. felt so
'shamed l didn't know what course to
} take, but says to myself, "What got
to be 'shamed of? Is 'shamed cause |
loves SkiddyP No, dat l isn't.
| wouldn't be 'shamed to tell de whole
, world loves her! Well, what is itP''
couldn't tell, so got up all de pluck
: could and walked up straight. Just as
got in front of de veranda took off my
hat and made my bow to the ladies
dey all burst out laughing and went into
de house. didn't feel quite SO smart
arter dat, but nevertheless, / went in,
too. Skiddy came right to me and says,
81 am SO happy!" 81 am, too" says !;
den we went together to missis, and she
asked me if / loved Skiddy very much,
and told her how much-much loved
her. She took SkiddX's hand, and put
it in mine, saying we should be married
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