News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-12-27

shopping, they packed the stores of the
thrifty descendants of Moses. Impromtu
| business meetings were held on the
corners. Occasionally there was but
ting match between two stalwart ne
groes, unduly excited by cheap liquor.
The political situation was discussed
with all earnestness and gravity. The
negroes spent their money for any article
for which they took fancy, regardless
of its value or the benefit that might
accrue from it. One of them fell in love
with large bottle of cucumber pickles,
price 81. 1t had some fancy emblems
on that pleased his artistic eye. He
bought it. He went out under tree
on the edge of the public square and de-
liberately sat down, uncorked the bottle,
and in the most dignifed manner ate
every pickle it contained and drank the
vinegar. It had no more effect on him
than a tumDIer of whisky would on
professional carpet-bagger, and [ expect
hat he is still voting ''that good ole
publican ticket"
Sometimes two good aged colored
ladies, old-time friends, would meet un-
expectedIy, and the conversation would
run about like this:
With an elaborate bow: 'Why, Mis-
Williams, good mornin', ma'am. How
is your health dis mornin', ma'am ?"
Fright pohty, Mis- Brown, h thank
you, ma am. lse got a sort misery IN
the back, but I don't complain much,
thank God. How is you and Mr.. Brown
an de chillen, ma'am?"
''Tollable, tollable, only tollable, Mis-
Williams. Mr.. Brown is jest sorter
stickin' together, thank you, ma'am.
He has a risin' on his hand, but he put
some anarchy on hit, an hits right
smart better now. Ireckon you heerd
my dater 'Liza's gwine get married ?"
"Why, now, Mis- Brown, you 'sprise
me, deed you does. Who she gwine
marry, Mis- Brown?"
''Why, a young gemman who works
on Major GoIdon's plantation. He's an
exhorter, too, and kin beat 'em all hol-
lerin' in prayer. L know de Lord mus
hear him Good-by, ma'am. You mus
come an see u.s."
"Thank you. I feels proud to do so,
Mis- Brown, ma'am.'
And so they separate, each to her lit
tie world.
A favorite amusement among the
negroes was to catch a rat, saturate it
with kerosene, set fire to it, and then
turn it loose where there would be no
danger of constructive arson. I once
saw the walters at one of the hotels have
a large rat, a regular veteran, which
they put to the ordeal of fire. After
soaking him thoroughly in kerosene,
they took him in the back yard, touched
a match to him, and started him on
run down the path. An old grRy-headed
negro was so heartily amused that he
rolled over and over in a spaSm Of de-
light.
About 9 o'clock one beautiful moon
fnht night [ vas idly strolling along one
of the ruiet back streets, when L heard
the pleasing sound of music, both vocal
and Instrumental. On turning the near
est corner [ saw n cOlOred man and a
piczauinny sitting on the edge of the
sidewalk. The man had an old battered
banjo with only two strings, on which he
was playing, accompanied by the boy
vocally. The song detailed the troubles
of an unfortunate rabbit. 1t ran thus,
as near as | can remember :
De rabbit am cunnin' ting,
He hide hisself in de briar,
An he nebber know when de trouble come
Till de broom grass catch on fire
CHoRUs depression Of astonishment and con-
sternation on the part Of the rabbit
Big-eyed rabbit, boo!
Big-eyed rabbit, boo
The negro very early in freedom de-
veloped a surprising enthusiasm for pat
ent medicines, especially when they
came in the shape of pills. His faith in
them bordered on the sublime. No
matter what allied him, old-fashioned
universal ''misery," cut finger, head
ache, cramp, collie, sore toe, or any
thing else, down went half dozen pills
or a dose of liver regulator. He was al
ways impatient of results, and preferred
cathartic medicine to any other kind ;
and as most of his ills arose from too
free indulgence in sugar cane or water
melon, or else were mainly imaginary,
the pills answered all purposes.
Music of any kind was the negros
passion. On Saturdays, when the town
was full of country darkies, with theI
wives, children, sweethearts, uncles,
cousins and aunts, let some dusky war
rior produce a drum, even if it was made
of an empty nail keg with coon skin
stretched over the ends, take his posi-
ton in the middle of the road and strike
up, and a procession was soon formed.
They marched steadily hour after hour,
with no object in view save to be behind
| the music. As the drum rolled its stir
ring notes upon the air, men, women
and children swelled the ranks and fol
lowed wnere 1t led.
Happy in their one idea OF freedom,
giving no thought to the morrow, trust,
ing the future with a simple, chlldllke
faith, no happier race ever gave more more
picturesque outline to history.
HAMILTON JAY.