Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-05


Of the mulberry trees, and they gathered
around their mistress like bees. She told
them to come up to the house in the after
noon as she had something for them.
Mrs. Honf1eur said to Mrs. lie Verrier:
II sent word to Dinah TO make up a
quantity OF cake for me before l came
home, for ] knew the children would all
expect me to give them something"
They entered one of the cabins and
found in It woman who had been bed
ridden for a long time. She was young
looking and had a good cOuntenance, but
the lines of suffering were there. She had
endured more than tongue could express.
''DO you get any better, Eliza?" said her
mistress.
''Little better, mis-, tank God was her
reply, 'but bad enough" and she shook
her head hOpelessly.
81 was sorry after left that / had not
taken you to New Orleans with me to see
if the city doctors could not do something
for YOU"
''He de no use, mis-; nobody help 'em.
Please God He take 'em soon to heaven,
den he done wild sorrow"
Il hope you will STAY with us a long
time yet" said her mistress, cheeTfully.
'Paul and the little ones could not spare
you. You manage to do many things for
them with all your suffering. Can 1 do
anything for you, Elizaf Is there anything
you wantP'
''Nufin' tall, mis-; muffin TALL"
do you have any appetizer
BERRY little, MIS-
SIS the wine all gone and the Jelly
that | sent you when l went away!"
''Dere little bit lef', mis-, of de wine; de
Jelly stan JUS so. He no suit he tas'; he
make 'em sick; he too sweet"
81 will send you some sour jelly when l
90 back to the house, perhaps you will
relish that better and some more wine. /
bought some French wines while l was
away. Perhaps you will like them better
than the homemade wines"
''Tank you, missus; tank you. 1 der so
glad you come back. De place seem los
when you no here"
The next visit was to an aged couple
the oldest on the place. There were many
superannuated ones who mad been ex-
cused from labor for years, but old Jack
and Katie longer than any OF them. 1t
had been more than twenty years since
any service had been required from them
indeed, never from MIR. HOntieur.
When he bought the place he accepted
them as a necessary incumbrance, as the
children and grandchildren on whose kind
offices they We're dependent were a part
Of the property included in the sale.
They were sitting outside of their cabin
door, one on either side Of it leaning on
their stalls. The old mans head was as
white as cotton, while his sight was so
dim that he did not see Mrs. HOnfeur
until she got close upon him. He grasped
her tiny hand with his big bOny palm, and
blessed the Lord that his old eyes had been
spared to see his mistress once more.
Katie, who showed somewhat less the
marks Of age, had like cordial welcome
for her mistress. She told her that it
looked so pleasant to see the big house
lighted up once mOre-that she and Jack
sat up the night before until every light
was out.
''NIe de want to come dere so bad and
speak TO 'em before he Sleep she said,
''but me de so ole and clumsy an so 'fraid
he fall"
i bought some shoes for the men, Jack,
and hats. Which do you want, or will
you have bOth?'
"Me no want 'em, mis-; me done hab
/ plenty. Sem 'em good eatin', mis-; he no
/ want muffin but good eatin'."
''Weu, will remember you, Jack, /" she
| said, smilingly, as she passed on. Are
! you not fatigued, Mrs. lie Verrier? If so
1 will excuse you and you can return to
the house."
"By no means. am not only interest
! ed, but highly gratified.''
81 have many more to vi sit yet. When
come l am obliged always to go to see
all or some would be Jealous"
They entered many another cabin, find
ing the suffering well cared for, and the
aged as comfortable as their infirmities
would allow them to be.
Many who had been placed on the list
/ Of retired ones would have been per-
forming labor had their lot been cast
among the suffering poor who were COM
PEELED to work for their daily bread, but
the lines had fallen to them in pleasant
grip Of declining years they had been al
lowed to enter their cabins to spend the
rest of their days in idleness. When Mrs.
/ HOnfleur and Mrs. lie NeTrier returned to
the house they were wearied, and retired
to their rooms to rest and prepare for din
ner, for they had consumed nearly the
whole morning in their rounds.
Arthur and Clare had long since re-
turned, and were sitting together in the
parlOr. When they met at dinner Mrs. LIE
Nerrier was giving her son a description
| of the manner in which they had passed the
morning, and SAID:
Il wished you had been with me, Ar
thur, all the time"
elf l had not been so agreeably en-
gagged l, too, should wish nat had been. .
he said. Il know l should have been in
| terested.'
a-"Clare must not forget in the indul-
gence of her new-fOund happiness" said
her mother, ''that it is her duty to call on
those who cannot come and see her. They
will all look for her to do so now that she
has been away, and will expect it at once,
too"
- will go this evening if Arthur will 90
with me-"
You cannot 90 this evening as l want
your aid" said her mother. Il sent NJ.
Davenport word to order the negroes all
up to the house at five O'Clock, and told
the children to come, too. l shall want
your assistance in cutting off dresses and
l giving them out, lifting them with shoes
and distributing cake to the children"
They had not vet left the table when
the negroes began to gather around the
back door, and there was a noisy, happy
group there for awhile.
Arthur and Clare took it upOn Them
selves to supply the children and their
nurses first and send them off. Ma'am
Dmah had had large table placed upon
the back piazza with many huge lOayes of
cake upon it, which were soon shared out
among the happy group, and they took
their departure.
Then the dress patterns were prepared
and laid out, and the women were called
forward to take, each one of them. one
the elder being allowed to make the first
selection. At length all were served, and
they traded around among each other I'M
til there did not appear to be one among
them who retained the pattern she bad
first made choice Of. The hats were more
easily disposed Of; all being alike there
was nothing TO choose from. Then came
the great labor of fitting them with shoes.
"These we're too big, and these here too lit
tie" were sounds heard on all sides.
Some were seeking for the very smallest
ones they could possibly get their feet into,
while others who cared less for looks ard
more for ease were trying to get hold of
large ones. 1t was quite a scene to one
who had never witnessed the like-to
Mrs. HOrfieur and Clare it was of such
frequent occurrence that they had learned
patience with those who were so hard to
please. BY the time it was over night
closed in around them, and there was no
time left to prepare the gifts for the inYa-
lids and the aged ones.
Mrs. HOnfieur said she would have them
prepared early the next morning. and
when Clare was ready to 60 and cali upon
the negroes she would send servants down
to the quarters with them, and Glare
could distribute them herself. Mrs Hon
fieur had taken pains to inform herself of
what they wanted most when she was
among them in the morning. Some want
ed curds, some jellies and some wine, and
several of them good eatin's.