Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-10-24
A Domestic Tragedy.

Last summer waiie the writer was in
Amelia County. Virginia, the following
incident occurred, illustrative of the
philosophical manner in which negroes
accept the DEGREES of Providence. Anne
liza. 1t will be remembered, is one of
the black counties. T.le negroes occu-
Ply most Of the old homcsteals, and are
given over to ignorance and supersti-
ton. The Wigwam. the old Harrison
place, a house we'll kno IN in Virginia,
is surrounded on every side ny hordes
of negroes, who own small tracts OF
land, and farm them. Ono of these
settlements is at ''the Lodge" ouce the
property OF Mr.. Robert Archer. a dis
tinguishe,t Virginian gentleman OF the
old regime, now. with ri. his descend.
ants. dead and gone. My hostess and
l was peeling peaches on the broad
veranda. when Mary Caesar, the dairy
maid, appeared.
"Miss Anna, gimme piece o light
bread, please. marm.'
"Who is sick, Marv?' said Mrs. H.
light bread being u luxury reserved for
the i'll negroes.
"Sister Rose Archer, marm."
All colored people Claim the frater-
nal relation, whether ,ncrc is any in
reality OF not, II they are members OF
tle same church. or have Experienced
q Change
why. l thought Rose Archer lived
in Richmond. What is tine matter with
hcr?"
Mary's large greasy countcnancc.
which rivalied Il BON YaZine dress for
~blacSncss, fairly shonc.
"Well, Miss Anna. YOU member Sis
Rose was married to Unk Cru,ch Henry
Archer's son Willum. en- dcy moved
fun dc Lodge 10 r chmond. Bout
three week ago SIS Rose en- Willum he'd
q fight bout spme'in', en- Sis Rose hit
Wi!luln Archer er ;ick oE de head wild
a stick er wool, en- it kilt him. it pintly
did. Willum Archer always was q
sickly Niger. We'll, Miss Anna. she
done I'LL She could, en- gin him er fun
eral, en- den, bein' ca she was u uiddey.
en- pore, she come up to de Lodge to
stay here longer Willum's daddy en-
nanny. Unk Cru,ch Henry were
mighty 'ficted 'bouten Wilium being
kilt, cause he wcr. de onliest son whar
he had. but Sis Rose say she gwine dar
to be all dc company she ken for Will.
um's folks"
The peach knife fell. Mrs. H,
though schooled to Amelia cccentrici-
ties, stood transtixcd. Then she gasp
ed:
'.And Williams father and mother
let her stay there after killing t.,eir on
ly son?
Miss Anna said Nary. in a r"cu-
liarly soothing voice. II k C.ytch
Henry done TX Rose i.ucs UNI she come
to kill Willum Archer, eli Sis Rose say
she On kn0~ h"c' um."
This was Monday. Sunday afternoon
Mary rc-appcared, an expression Of
triumphant excitement in her eyes
though her manne was as gentle anu
d%eprccatory rs ever.
isis Rose Archer dead, Miss Anna,'
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- de sheriff SOM Sis Rose word
10 Slt TeaNy, cause ne WAS comm &c
de Lodge Monday mornin' to git bel
en- hang her for KILN of Willum Arch.
er. Flu Sis Rose say eff de sheriff were
comm to hang her. ez she were porely
enyway. 'twa 1T muh whje togtup. 5,
she gwtnedie."
"Nonsense!' cried Mrs. H. "A.
if people could die when they %close!'
isis Rose done die" said Mary,
stoutly. .'S.:e say 'twa'M ruth whtie
to git up jest to be hanged. en- she die
last night, en- please, Miss Anna, lem.
me 60 to de funeral. Unk Crutch
Henry gwine gin her Il mighty nice
Willum Archer was de onlicst son he
hed."-J. Z. label, IN Ed4to,'s Druw.
", Ha,per's Magazine for september.