Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-04
AN EPISODE.
JEFF Davis and a New York Girl.

JEFF Davis and a New York Girl.
A Madison avenue girl tells a pleasant
little story Bf one Of the incidents of a
trip down South. This young woman,
noted for her impulsiye nature as for her
charity, was sojourning at Pass Christian,
a small Mississippi town, recently. In
taking her usual ramble one balmy morn
ing she came across a POVERTY -stricken
negro Tench who, crouched beside a
whitewashed milestone, was grooming
away in true darkey manner.
"What's the matter, my good woman ~
asks the Northern girl.
sob, Missy, Pse been doin' laundry
work up at de hotel, but dey won't hab
me dab no m0h."
'Why won't they give you mere work ?"
''kase I'se done hab de feber. n Fse
all worn away, Missy"
"WeL, but why don't you 90 to the hos
pItal or rest at home until your strength
returns?'
Oars no place fOh me dab, Missy, n
ole Sans done gone las spring. De
cabins way OF yOnder. NobOdy's come
dar II Use bin tryin' to get in ter town"
While old aunty was celebrating her
story a tall, slender white man, with cane
under his arm. was passing up and down
short distance away in deep meditation.
The maiden's sympathy for the Unf0rtu-
nate creature, bending before her with
wistful eyes upturned, had long since
been aroused. The answers to each of
the questions put to the crone had dis
closed the fact that nothing but stark
famine could have raised the figure by
the milestone from her wretched cabin
pallet"
My informant says that the old picture
Of Uncle Tom lying inLegree's WOrkhOuse
r. "a vrox
into her mind. She thrust her hand into
her stout walking dress pocket for her
purse. To her extreme modification and
regret it wasn't there. She uttered an eX-
clamation of dismay and turned hastily
around.
The tall, elderly gentleman who had
been walking up ard down had heard
enough of the cOllOquy between the negro
wench and the Northern girl to explain
the situation for him. Taking off his hat
with old-time gallantry he advanced a
few steps and in sIngularly gentle tone
said
''My dear miss, won't you allow me to
help yOu?''
Before the sentence was ended he had
thrust his purse into the young lady's
hand. Ny lady bOuntiful didn't hesitate
to make use of some Of the purses con-
tents, and the negro wOman's attenuated
fingers were soon closed over a handsome
largess of silver. The NOrtherner turned
to thank the gentleman and gave him her
address. He stood silent while she eX-
pressed her gratitude; habItual sadness
again looked out from his eyes. When the
young girl insisted on knowing at least
his name, he uncovered his thin locks and
bending toward his questiOner, said:
''Men call me Jefferson Davis! / will
see that your charge here is cared for"
My girl was amazed, more than amazed
-overcOme-by this revelation, and while
she involuntarily stretched out her hands
to the Confederate chief, the bugabOo Of
schOoldays, tears stood thickly in her
eyes.
"When 1 thought" she said to me in
describing the incident, "of the horrid
tales l had heard Of him, how repulsive
he was, how he hated the negro and all
that, and how had believed every word
against him, could not help feeling
ashamed. Who would have acted so no.
bly,, so generously as he did? He's the
dearest, kindest, truest gentleman l ever
metv
like to think of the picture this Madi-
son avenue lass made as she reached her
crescendO of praise of "Rebel jeff"
though her story isn't quite like the usual
tale that has come to me of the arch traitor
of the SOuth