The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-12-01

anu como out1or game OF marbl,E SA
AaAMINTA AND THE BABY -
A long-earcd white mule, with burden
on its back, comes down the road. On
nearer approach we see, seated on the mule
a ginger read.colored woman, With a baby
on herlap. The woman wears red calico
dress, over the lower part of which is fas,en.
cd rusty black riding skirt her hea is
adorned with plaid cotton HANDKERCHIEF.
tied on in the peculiar turban fashion which
prevails now only among the plantation ne.
groes. The baby in her lap wears little
slip which seems to have borrowed its hue
from the sunfower; its neck, arms and feet
are bare. A limp un-bonnet of dingy
white protects its head and face, and its
body is encircled by the protecting arm Of
its mother. Altogether the. white mule,
with its gayly dressed riders, forms strik-
ing picture. AS they near the gate the
woman checks her steed and calls out:
"Oh, Miss Cornely, does you want TO buy
two dozen aigs?"
Miss Cornelia mods ass ,nt from her sta
ton at the window among her flowers, aud
then in her sweet, rich Southern tones, says:
Glow is your baby, Araminta? heard it
was sick"
Glancing tenderly at the child, Aramn-
ia replies: '.Yes'n,, she's been mighty bad
off. don't ezackly know what does ale
de chile. She amt been reart for some
time. She was took mighty curious like,
and 1'ze done all can for her, aud she
don't get no better. Poor little thing. I
hope to dc Lord she'll die, for when my
hillern gets sick dis way, Miss Cornely,
and l cant git 'cm up again Is nigh about
distracted, Dis here chile's always been,
delicate like, and dat makes me lub her
better den l d. t'others, but all de same, 1
hopes de good Lord will cake her home to
hisself, case he know how to take keer of
cher; and. I don't got plenty chileru, too
widout Sarah Jane, poor little thing. But
I'm gwine to carry her to de doctor now
see eff he can do anything fur her"
Miss Cornely sent Serena with mo ney aud
basket for Araminta's "aigs," and then, in
deprecating tone, said: Don't talk so.
Araminta; its all wrong. Ihope the doctor
can cure your baby, but you must be more
careful about her Diet. Give up that fool
sh notion Of making her eat some of every
thing that you eat; it is enough to make her
sick all the time aud kill her at last" MY
ole man told me yesterday not to gin her
pot>liquor and greens, but didn't mind
him case he thinks hisself SO smart" said
Aramnta. "Yoi ought not to expose the
baby to the sun, either, Aarmfnta< sit
will give her fever. / will lend yoa an
umbrella and Matthew can bring it back
when he passes here on his way to the mill"
GooD-FoR- NOTHING NEGRO.
Again Serena mutters as she goes on h cr
mission. "Dat good for nothing niger
gwine to Spite Miss Cornely's umbrella"
But when she hands it up to the mother
notice that she takes handkerchief from
the pocket of her white apron and wipes
the moist face of the baby as she says:
"Jest keep the hank cher, Araminta to wipe
Sarah James face, anu ou stop at my house
as you goes home and let her have good
nap, and III gin her some blackberry cor
dial it's first rate physic. Lor! how de chile
does mind me of my poor little baby what
died out to de Mississippi bottoms wild dc
yaller fever. I'ze got de money now dat dey
put on her eyes arter she died, and when l
dies wants 'em to put it on mine"
"Poor creatures!' says my hostess, com~
ing out on the porch and plucking a rose
from the clambcring vine; "they suffer
dreadfully from their ignorance. They
always depended on their owners to take care
of them, and have them properly nursed
during sickness, and none except the house
servants know how to care for each other.
IF we could only teach them something Of
this and Of domestic science it would do
them vast deal more good than all the
algebra which the public schools are try
ing to get through their thick skulls They
are nothing but grown-up children, despite
certain shrewdness which often deceives
the careless observer. You have to live
among thom to know them. Patient and
uncomplaining they are beyond measure,
and pathetic in their childishness and im-
providence. / often wonder whether sla-
very maze tnem tnus, or orwnetner the ex cess
Of these qualities made them slaves You
know the Indian could never be enslaved.
So saying, Miss Cornelia plucked another
rose, shifted at it, and then tuckino one at