Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-11-20
A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.

The Philosophical Manner In Which the
Negroes Accept the DEGREES of Prcvl-
dance.
Last summer while the writer was in
Amelia County, Virginia, the following
incident occurred, illustrative of the
philosophical manner in which negroes
accept the DEGREES of Providence.
Amelia, il will be remembered, is one
II the black counties. The negroes
occupy most Of the old home3teads. and
are given over to ignorance and super
stiton. The Wigwam, the old Ilarri-
son place. n house well known in Viz
ginia. is surrounded on every side by
hories OF negroes, who own small tracts
OF land, and farm them. One OF these
settlements Il at "the Lodge" once the
prop rarty OF Mr.. Robert Archer, dis
tinguished Virglnan gentleman OF the
old regime. now, with Ill his de cenl-
ants. dead and gone. My hostess and
| were peeling peachc, on the broad
veranda, when Mary Cpsai, the dairy
maid, appeared.
Miss Anna, gimme piece o ight
bread, please, marm."
"Who is sick Mary?' said Mrs.
H, light bread being II luxury ~
served for the i'll negroes.
"Sister Rose Archer, Marin" All
colored people claim the fraternal reld
ton, whether there is any in reality o.
not. If they are members OF the same
church, or have experienced change.N y
"Why, l thought Rose Archer lived
in Richmond. What is the matter with
her?"
Mary's large greasy countcnance
which rivalled bombazne dress fjI
blackness, fairly shone. g ~ ,iI
"Well, Miss Anna. yon member Sis
Rose was married. to Unk Crutch Hcnr'
Archer's son William, On dey move
FUN dc Lodge to Richmond ! Boul
three week, ago SIS Rose cn WilIum
he'd fight bout somc,in', en- Sis Rose
hit Willum Archer er lick on dc hcnd
wild stick er wood, and il Kilt him. II
pintly did. Willum Archer always was
a s'cklv nigger. Well. Miss Anna she
done all she could. en- gin him or funer.
al, On den. bein' ez she was Uiiier.
and pore. she come mp to de Lodge to
stay here longer Williams daddy en-
nanny. INK Crutch Henry were
mighty flicted 'bouten Willum being
kilt, cause he were dc onliest son whar
he had, but Sis Rose say she gwine dar
to be all de company she ken for Will
lum's folks"
The peach knife iell. Mrs. H.
though schooled to Amelia eccentrici-
ties, stood transfixed. Then she gaspcd,
"And Williams father and mother
let her stay there after killing their only
lon?' ..-e-..- -.------
"Miss Anna" said Mary in a pecu.
liarly soothing voice. 'Unk Crutch
Henry done AK Rose huck um she come
10 kill Willum Archer. en- Sis Rose say
she don't know huck nn,." s~,
This was Monday. Sunday afternoon
Mary reappeared, an expression of tri-
umphant excitement in her eyes, though
her manner was as gentle and depreca-
tory as ever. 49,
isis Rose Archer dead, Miss Anna. y
she announced.
''Dead! When did she diep"
Mary smoothed her apron.
"Well, Tuesday mornin', Miss Anna.
Br'er Jeames Barksdale went to Court
House. en- dc 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 ef do sheriff were COM
In to hang her, ez she were porely
enyway, 'tsoa'n't sottth ,ohiLe 10 git up. so
she gWine die"
"Nonesensc!" cried Mrs. H. "As
Il people could die when they chose!'
isis Rose done die" said Mary stout
". "She say 'ttDa' no ruth white 10 qit
up Jest TO be hanged, en- she die last
night, en- please, Miss Anna, lemme go
to dc funeral. Unk Crutch Henry
gwine gin her q mighty nice buryin'
bein' ez she was a widder, en- Willum
Archer was de onliest son he he'd. vi
C. Cabei. IN Editors Drawer, Harper
Magazi,se. '''-i y f "a q - -. - > y -