Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-08-21
namesrIc TRAGEDY.

Last summer, while the writer was in Ame-
liza County, Virginia, the following incident
occurred, illustrative OF the philosophical
manner in which negroes accept the DEGREES
of Providence. Amelia, II will be remember
ed, is one OF the bLIck counties. The negroes
occupy most of the old homesteRds aud are
given over to ignorance and superstition. The
Wigwam, the old Harrison place, house
well known in Virginia, is surrounded on ev-
cry side by hordes Of negroes, who own small
tracts OF land, and farm them. One of these
settlements is at ''lhe lodge" once the prop
erty of Mr.. Robert Archer, a distinguished
Virginian gentleman of the old regime, now,
with all his descendants, dead and gone. My
hostess and l were peeling peaches on the
broad versnda, when Mary Cae5ar, the dairy
maid, appeared
Miss Anna, gimme piece o light bread,
please marm."
"who is sick, Mary ?" said Mrs. Il,
light bread being luxury reserved for the i'll
negroes.
''Sister Rose Archer, marm" All colored
people claim the fraternal relation, whether
there is any reality or not, II they are mem
bers of the same church, or have "experienc-
ed a change"
"Why, | thought Rose Archer lived in
Richmond. What is the matter with her p
Mary's large greasy counienance, which ri
vailed a bombazlne dress for blackness, fairly
sbone.
"Well, Miss Anna, you member Sis Rose
was married to Unk Crutch Henry Archer's
son william, en- dey moved fun de Lodge to
Richmond. Bout three weeks ago Sis Rose
en- Willum he'd a fight bout some'in', en- Sis
Rose hit Willum Archer CT lick on de head
wild a stick er wood, en it kilt him, it pintly
did. Willum Archer always was sickly mig
ger. Well, Miss Anna, she done all she
could, EN- gin him er funeral, en- den, bein' e2
she was q wilder, en- PORE she come mp to de
Lodge TO stay here longer Willum's daddy en-
nanny. Unk Orutch Henry we're mighty
'hcted 'bOuten Willum being kilt, cause he
were de onliest son he had, but Sis Rose say
she gwine dar to be all de company she ken
for Willums folks"
The peach knife fell Mrs. H, though
schooled to Amelia's eccentricities, stood
trans6xed. Then she gasped
"And Williams father and mother let her
stay there after killing their only son p
miss Anna" said Mary, in q peculiarly
soothing voice, Junk Cruteh Henry done ak
Rose huok um she come to kill Willum Arch
er, en- Sis Rose say she don knO'o huck am. "
This was Monday. Sunday afternoon Mary
re-Rppeared, an expression of triumphant eH-
ctement in her eyes, though her manner was
as gentle and deprecatory as ever.
olb AsOao hICucE hchu, hhlbn hhhuf nho
| announced.
dead When did she die?"
Mary smOothed her apron.
"Well, Tuesday mornin', Miss Anna, Br'er
Jeames Barksdale went to Court House, en- de
sheriff sont Sis Rose word to git ready, cause
he was comm TO de Lodge Monday mornin'
to git her en- hang her for KILN of Willum
Archer. En- Sis Rose say eff de sheriff were
comm to hang her, ez she were porely eny-
way, tind'Rt ruth iohie TO git up, so she g'oint
| die"
Nonsense !" cried Mrs. H. 'As il
people could die when they chose !"
isis Rose done die" said Mary, stoutly.
''She say 'tsoG'nt ruth ioliIe 10 git up jest 70
be hanged, en- she die last night, en- please,
Miss Anna, lemme go to de funeral. Unk
Crotch Henry gwine gin her a mighty nice
bnryin', bsin' ez she was a widder en- Willum
Archer was de onliest son he he'd. ~ Editor
| Drdioer, September Hdrper's.