The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-15

! Rod give her head away II she could get her
shoulders" Miss Sally was devoted TO the poor
lady; walking with her. reading to her, caring
! for fer in a score of ways. Once | caught her
| darning Mrs. Ravenels stockings Il always
| look Ro's Clothes said she; Tempe takes
| the whole enduring day over one stocking"
1T doesn't seem to occur to anyone" was
! Graces private comment that Mrs Ravenel
might look over her own stockings" "Oh.
| Grace, said ], when she is so kind to us. when
| this very day she is going to let Tempe shampoo
| our hair!' indeed at that moment it was hanging
about our shoulders
You mean she has other people to be kind to
! u.s. answered Grace, dryly. Miss Sally cooks
| things for and the Doctor goes to the woods
| after yellow jasmine, and Tempe is going to
| shampoo my hair for which she will get 90 cents.
Oh, am not denying she is kind, but the kind
ness is rather ny proxy, don't you thinkP
| Temples knock on the door saved me the ne
| cessity of any reply. Tempe Mrs. Ravenels
| maid. ('Why do they keep maid if they
so poor said Grace She was a relic of the
| past, having been born slave on the Asbury
| plantation She black. but she not
| comey; still she good creature, slow
| the mills of the gods, and of a sweetly cheerful
disposition. Nothing could mar Temples good
| humOr. mistress Of herself though China fall"
| she had been known to smash a tray full of
| dishes. merely soliloquzing above the ruins:
"MaZin' how teetery dem ar dishes am"
Tempe liked nothing better than to discourse
! concerning the grandeur and misfortunes of de
| family"
"Dey wur de reel aristookracy," said Tempe;
| so kins hot bread TO breakfas! You neb-
| Der see de ole Asbury manshone Dat wuz de
| housen ter lilo IN Often twenty ladies an gem
men vistin' dar ter onct. Hoses an ca'idges
| free like as dey growed. Ebry Asbury chile hab
| niggah TO ter wait on ern dess dey's baWn
same s dey hah hoss~
| If possible, she dilated with even more JUNCTION
on her masters proud spirit and the high hand
| that they had carried for generations. To-day
| she soon in full tide of tragic "reminiscences.
dc ole Ginral. Miss Ros gran paa," said Tempe,
waving dripping hand over Grace's head, The
wuZ er oner You uns mus unnerstan he WIZ
| de vey fustest man in all desc yern parts; an
! wen he done sot his fut down nobuddy dap
| squeerm! He fot five jjues cos he wuz
drefful spertty, an lows the culud pussOns
mex deirselbs mighty skearce wen de ole gnra
60 stompin' 'roun' Glare. onct he done frOw
| shubbell fuller burnin' Goals enter yallah boys
| face dat madded lm mos done putted is heyes
out. Dat wuz de way wild i'm alters. Wen he
| want ting, pears like he mus hal it eff he had
ter tar de worl up by de ruts TO ter git it, Wy.
| my baby. when he was drefful sick-dat was
endurin is las sicknis-de doctor say as 'ow be
| mustn't tex no mo- sperits. He po-ful fond
er drinklr, allus, an gitin tolerated de wus
| kin. An de doctor says: One mo drunk finish
| you, Gin'ral, an no mistake! But all mars
| Gin'ral say D de doctorH an drink
des de same, an TO de Lawd, he wen often er
perplexity fit befo' sunup. He did TO- sho' Whar
| he done gone isn't gwlne TO ter say; but pears
| like he'd be mighty omstreperous comp'ny TO- de
| angils!"
Grace asked if his son was any better.
| Some ways he wuz. an some ways, again, he
wuz not" said Tempe, judicially. Oar want
| skearce a likely loOkIn' gyur en- de plantation
dat he did'nt go TO ter reduce her. Dat wuz his
| kin. But he wuz right free handed an pleasant.
| Laws. deys heaps wusser men nor ole mars.
Spec hit WIZ Ges dat he wuz like all de Asburys,
| mus hab at he wanted, cos he want it tur-
| rbu bad! lay it's in de blood. Miss Ro, fo
| all she's so soft like an sweet. she hab it, too
| FREDDY" said Grace, after Tempe had gone,
| II have an opinion about Mrs Ravenel now; but
| | think | sha'nt tell you"
| All my persuaSlOnS were useless | could
only discover that ner theory quite rehatilitated
| the doctor. 1t goes without saying that did
| not share her trust and my doubts were
| trmed by trifing circumstance which occur, ed
| on the following day. Wanting TO make some
| returns for Mrs. Ravenel's gifts. / had managed
| latter deal of Machiavelian strategy to buy
| ruby ring of her at price which appeased my
| conscience. | Glanced to come out into the hall
| directly after our little transaction.
Mrs. Ravenel was standing the threshold
! of her door facing her husband, and tears were
| running down her cheeks
| "Oh, please, heard her beg him, please let
| me keep So of the money! | haven't had five
| cents for a whole year.
| l could not catch his reply, but saw him put
his arm about her to lead her back into the
| chamber. That afternoon when we were out
walking together, Mrs. Ravenel, Miss Sally AMI
| |, Miss Sally paid her cousins street car fare
| told Grace. l confess that l felt an
| travagant Indignation. Grace listened atten-
| lively. though it was plain that she did not
sympathize for she said: Perhaps had better
tell you, Freddy, believe Mrs Ravenel is
| crazy
Nonsense" cried l. "she is 80 mild and
| gentle"
What does that NATTER It is the intermit-
tent form Paroxysms, Freddy. paroxysms.
| Think of Charles and Mary Lamb"
WELL think badly of the doctor but can't
quite think that he would turn lunatie loose on
| his cousins boarders.
That's the point" answered Grace solemnly;
| she isn't loose. she is watched every minute.
Besides, Southerners are so queer; they have
| every thing out of DOORS
| Il don't believe she is any more crazy than
| you are" said l. But all the same | turned
| Graces uncomfortable notion over IN my mind
| Meanwhile, the Doctor continued to regard
| with favor. He was always contriving little
| pleasures for us. He brought us wild flowers.
| he told Us the local legends, he drove US about
| the country in his Anticipated buggy. He told
me that he was grateful to because had
| been kind to his wife.
Il feel it deeply, Miss Fredrica" he said
ALLOW me to say that your friend and you have
| revoutioniZed my oplnions--1oubtess too
| hastily formed-Of Northern ladies' 1t is the
same with Mistress Ravenel She was very
| bitter, ma'am, very bitter The legacy of the
| war, you understand. Women feel it more than
| men; the female mind, gentle and | may saw.
| angelic as 1T ls'-with bowls as tenacious of
| anger of affection"
| SAID that was only natural: the women had
| lost more in the than the men.
True ma'am," he answered, land another
| thought occurs to me. Our ladies' naturally see
| only the sorrows and privatioEs resulting from
| the war, and do not reckon the compensating
| gains. For one. Miss Fredrica. | rejoice in the
loss of our slaves. The system more
to masters than to slaves. Our fervid. inpetu-
ous Southern natures require to be curbed rather
! than have every passion pampered by servie
| fattery and the possession of despotic power.
20 o. 4. tiy1rn = a
| courts We made the Shareholder despot; and
| Cicero saws truly, Observation-Disclosures est peccandi
impunitatis spes.' The greatest Indictment to
guilt is the hope of SHINING with impunlty."
1t was while this conversation was in progress
| that Mrs. Ravenel approached her husband TO
say something in a low voice. With Miss Grace?"
he answered, "a drive in the pine woods? Yes,
| certainly, my dear; hope you will enjoy it."