The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-12-19

Fanny Albert Doughty, Harper's Magazi'

Hdly anu OHClC L ClC WCIC SClllHS dlOlS.
Picking up few cold remains from our
own deilcacies, it did not take very
long to reach thier shanty in the sub
urbs of Richmond. Quite respecta-
BILE volume of smoke was issuing from
their chimney, and on entering, it was
indicated to my olfactory nerve that
they would feast on cabbage if nothing
more. Two fresh tallow dips, trimmed
with fancy papers, adorned the mantel-
piece, and bunch of scraggy evergreens
and holly berries in broken china vase
suggested the festive season. Uncle
Pete was smoking a comfortable pipe
over the fire, and his wife, with gay
yellow handkerchief on her head, was
bustling about the kitchen, brandishing
a huge pewter spoon in her hand.
God bless you, honey, for thinkin
bout your oil aunty!' she exclaimed,
gratefully, when she saw the basket de-
posted on her table. Then, after tell
ing me about the misery in Pete's chist
and the misery in her side, she struck
pensive attitude, and broke out in
feeling tribute to the Long Ago.
Christmas nowadays amt like it was
in days agone, when had my oil mis-
tiss. Mighty po times now. But y0~
] don't know how it used to be fo de
wah on de plantation whar was raised.
Dere amt no sech times no mo. De
hirelins what lived out in de cities all
went home to dier own masters, and
had eight days holyday. More'n get
tin de Chris mas dinner for de white
family, dey didn't have muffin to do
cept joy deirself. Ne had de parties
den; the white folks have EN- after
Christmas was all over. De cullud gals
alters got married in Christmas week eff
dey could. got married den myself
Here she glanced over at her husband,
as though he must remember the occa-
sion; and he laid down his pipe, and
nodding his head approvingly, said,
DAT you was, Mahaly, for l was dar,
laughing huskily.
you know my ole mistiss she lived
down ON James River. She was one
dem high-toned famblys down dar what
owned lots slaves, an money in de
bank, an mo land dan you eber seen.
l was hired out in Richmond, an she
done promised to take me home an
lemme glib up my service place Chris
mas, an git married. Pete an me was
keepin compny fo 1 gone down dar.
You jis ought to seen de letter he wrote
to mistiss when he ak for me. Oh, it
certainy was beautiful letter! Young
master he taught Pete to write some,
rainy spells in de winter, when dere
wasn't much goin on
young master set powerful sto by
me, said Uncle Pete, proudly. 4 was
his body-sarvant.
Il seen dat letter. Pete he wrote it
on pink sheet o paper, wild two real
sweet silber dubs doves on de top o
de page. Dem dubs was me an him
Law, ole oman! amt you seen
trouble enough to forgit dem dubs yit1'
asked the old man, rather sheepishly.
mo. 1 done learn it by heart, it was
so pretty. Pete would been fine
scholar eff he'd got de edication lots
o good for muffin niggers gifts now. He
says in de letter, 'My dear an mos
spectacle mistiss, wants to try de life
what you tried, an eff you don't con-
sarnt to lemme marry Mahaly, my po
heart will bust. Say yes to your hum
BILE sarvant Pete, an l will agonize for
you at de frone of grace in simple
mindness. Now want dat pretty?
Well, mistiss, she done consarnt, an l
bid EN- all good-by, all de cullud peo-
pie down in Richmond. Dey had party
too in Christmas week, but dey had to
git pass to be out nights, an dey got
cotched widout de pass sometimes-ha |!
ha! We use to sing Run, niger, run,
de paddy rollers [patroller's] catch you!
1t was Christmas Eve when | got home
to de plantation on James River-dat
was Watch Night, you know. De
pious cullud folks alters had prar-meet-
in Watch Night; dey met in one house,
all of EN-, an prayed twell de gret
mawn come in. Dey sang de reglar
shoutin hymns, what amt sot down in
no book, but is jis made up out o verses
old hymns and texes out de Bible.
Seems like kin hear EN- now!
Dere was a star rose in de east.
| De Wise Men found our Lawd.
Dey took Him from His cradle dar,
| An kyar'd Him to His cross
eve come dis night to sing an pray;
We hope twill last twell break O. day.
| We come dis night to sing an tell
De wonders OBJ King Emmanuel
Fall you see me 60 long so,
hab my trials here below;
| Sometimes I'm up an sometimes down;
| Sometimes I'm lebel to de groun'.'
'De holy grace appears;
De promise is fulfled
Mary was de Virgin hold,
An Jesus was de chile
my Lawd de highest Gawd
Called Him his only Son,
Bid Him to rule de lands abroad,
| An glib Him David's frone'
'Po' an needy vo be,
Gawd, my Maker, keer for me.
He glib me clothes an shelter, food;
He glib me all 1 hab OBJ good;
An vo sleep, an vo l wake,
He keeps me safe for Jesus sake
When twelve o'clock come dey all
lump up, an shout an shake hands
sChris' mas gift, Sis Patsy! Chris
mas gift, Bro Nic'las!' Pete an me
we wasn't 'mong de watchers; we was
dancin' all night wild de young people
ober to Tilly's quarters. She glib de
party dat night, an she certainly did
hab a real fine supper You know dey
glib 'em all double rations for Christmas
week. Mistiss she glib me an Pete a
piece O. groun' to gin housekeepin' on,
twelve hens, an two hogs. She lowed
dat each cullud family. Christmas
mornin' she call up all de slaves on de
plantation, an she glib de women-folks
a bandana hankcher an calico dress
,, an white cotton apern all 'roun'; an
de men-folks dey got pipe an shirt
an a cullud hankcher; an de little
gals, she glib 'em bib aperns an some
candy an oranges