The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-08-08
The Daily Bulletin.
A Remarkable Colored Woman.

Being invited by Il friend in Virginia
to spcnd some weeks Of the hunting
season with him, proceeded by steam
cr to my friends residence on the beau
tiful Rappnhannock. As we eIDowed
our way through crowd Of hucksters
and lOafers to the end Of the wharf my
attention was arrested by singular
specimen of the African race. AshOrt,
stout woman, as black rs ebony, and
weighing about 200 pounds, hurried by
quite brcathlessly with a large covered
basket on her arm She wore short
cotton dress, volumnous white apron,
long coat of dark cloth, and had
bright colOrcd baudana on her head,
which was surmounted by straw hat
with a very wide brim, Her feet were
incascd in heavy brogues. Her beam
ing smile disclosed to view an enviable
white set Of teeth.
well, Dolly" called my friend as
we passed, "what have YOU got now?'
"Chickens, master, - she replied la
conically, and without breaking her
gait.
"A remarkable woman that said
my friend 81 must tell You about her, "
and accordingly, when seated in his We
hiclc, rs we were on the way 10 the
house, reminded him Of bis promise.
"Wcll, YOU know, he began, after
the War when we were all broken up,
and poor rs possible, we had to get rid
Of the old servants unless we could AT
ford 10 pay them wages, which few Of
US could do. Dollys mistress, Mrs
Spencer, was left widow with several
children. aud almost destitute. 4 syit
was threatened for debt she was I'M
able to pay, and she would have been
turned ont Of house and home but for
Dolly. One day. several years after the
War, Dolly came 20 me and asked me
if her mistress did not owe her back
wages. as she called them. ! knew
she had been an excellent servant, toll
ing faithfully for her mistress, and oft
en- doinga mans work, driving the OK
cart, blowing, and the like Yet | was
sorry to acknowledge the legal Justice
OF her claim, for ! knew that Mrs. Spcn-
Ger would be- totally unable 10 meet the
demand. Judge Of my establishment
when Dolly's plan was untolded. II
was TO claim prior right TO the prop
erty in lieu Of wages, and then settle
the amount on her mistress, II sounds
like romance in these days, whose
motto i, emphatcally, Every man fol
himself; but | assure YOU il j, fact
and was faithfully carried out the
amount due to Dolly actually covered
the value Of the small property, and il
was awarded to her, and she immedi
atcly had it conveyed in legal form tC
Mrs, Spencer,
''Since then Dolly has remained witt
them exactly on the old footing, gar
deniug, working in the field, driving
the cart when necessary. and taking ;
truly maternal interest in the children
She raises nee, and sell, the honey, car
RE, fruits and vegetables Of her OWL
cultivation TO the river boats, and otter
deyoles the proceeds OF her labor L
buyinr clothes for the little Spcnccrs
having them cut out and made AT ne
own expense. Mrs. Spencer resign, ey
ery'hing into such efficient hands an'
returns Dolly's devotion
II heard a story once Of a negro VIII
asprcd to marry this thrifty hand
maid He determined to try hi, luck
I've a greet min to 60 upand liste
to dat niger, said one. III bet b
and Dolly /, ,e;tin up on de hill now
talkin'
"I1l bet dey amt doin' no sue
thing, was the reply. Dolly ain
takin up no time wild him, nor wild n
other Niger
$40 satisfy their curiosity they crer
up the brow of the hill and peored oye
to the new ground, whore Dolly wa
at work There she was, Is tyc .econ
speaker had predicted, -rubbing ava
with provoking diligence, while her di.
comiiicd sutton could not even Undue
her to turn her head in hi, direction.
From Il letter.