The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-06-10
NEGRO FRAII.TrEs.
SOME OF THE TRIALS WHICH THE
SOUTHERN HoUsEKEEPER MUST
ENDURE.

: cO.-L VI me 1hlAIS Which Idf
e SOUTHERN HoUsEKEEPER MUST
ENDURE.
Light and darkness, sunshine and
shadow strangely blend together all
through life and in the negro char
: acter the good and evil is indiscrim.
inately mixed up, with the down
, weight In favor of the evil. In all
human natures | question if any
can call forth as many petty, annoy
ing. disagreeable traits of character
as that of our ebony-hued domes-
tics Seifinterest is the ruling pow
er which prompts every action, and
the reward to come aetuates every
proffer OF assistance.
| do not speak unadvisedly when
| affirm that it is a part OF the freed
mans religion to dislike the white
man and to injure and secretly APP
propriate bis property. Still. under
lying their general demeanor there
is species Of urbanity. Difference,
and humility which is an outcrop of
their policy, and not Of their true,
genuine good will to de white
folks" Yet think the negro man
is less bitter and possesses more
agreeable characteristics than the
dusky daughters of our soil, for l
will place the sulky. contentious,
Z" freed lady of color " against the ELL
tire domestic world for disagreeable-
ness. They can try you to the ut
most limits of your patience and ex-
ult in your discontinue and annoy
anee and maintain their stolid indif-
ference to the end.
1t Is not generally conceded that
the darkey is very apt or possessed
of unusual invective genius. yet
they combine the two qualities in an
unusually exalted degree, for who
can deny that where q negro is
caught in very tight place they are
extremely apt at inventing q very
plausible excuse for being in that
place. have known hand to
De caught in the field with a we'll
stuffed bag of corn Oh his shoulder /
TO solemnly affirm that he " jis dun !
tuck dat sack away from a strange
niger an fo' de Lo'd he wus jis dat
minute a-gwine to fotch it to de
boss" He wouldn't in no wise
steal corn. kase he could oct inuff is
fo' de AKIN"
They cling as tenaciously to a
fabricated statement Of their own
fertile imagination as if it were gos-
pei truth. and as unblushingly as if
their characters for veracity were un-
impeachable Perhaps, just at pres
ent. | am not in a very charitable
frame of mind toward the darkey
world, for / am for the twentieth |
time undergoing the trying ordeal of
having my help seek religion" !
This simple statement will call /
forth the sympathy of many a
southern housekeeper and palliate
my bitterness, but for the benefit of
the inexperienced, | will describe
more mournful expression than the
one which denotes "sulks.' ushers
in the proceedings. The listless air.
pre-occupied manner, tIghtly-closed
mouth, the martyr-like bearing, con-
stitute a picture so fresh and vivid
that | shudder even as | write. 10
smile is indeed a crime of serious
for which double pen
ance must be paid in the shape of
still more lugubrious expression of
Each and every little
reprimand is CO lstrued into cen
So" which must be borne by the
!. seeker" with all meekness-the
greater the trials the more complete /;
the victory. !,
Your work is sadly neglected,
ase" your help ''ain't got no hart
to wurk while she is seekih de sal a.
vation oh her soul, and altogether l
can hardly determine which is the
greater of the two evils, an acute at .
tack of chills, or a prolonged spell Of !
religion seeking =
But all things must end, and early :
some morning you will be rudely ,
aroused from the bIissful matutinal
dreams by the soul-freed shouts of !
your hearts trial" and be regaled :
with the pleasing information that !
I" I'se dun cum frew wild de blessid !
religion OBJ our Sabior Is sarched !
De Lord airly and late, and, flank de !
High King. Use dun foun' him I'se :
bin 20 de golden gate, Use knocked, I
and 1 has entered into de kingdom /
| is a restricted sinner. and | is I
washed as white as snow"
Knowing full well your help" is
far too happy to descend to the SUBJ '
unary realities Of cooking breakfast :
you mechanically don your own !
clothes and proceed TO the kitchen, Z
while the liberated sinner sallies J
iorth to scatter abroad de blessed
news
1t is Just scene ike this, and the
enforced necessity of preparing such
, m al that suggested this exposure :
Of negro frail,ies and which prompts !
The wish that all our work could be {
lone by machinery. :
The mere thought is filed with a
bliss and rest at the same time. / a
must compromise with my better
'elf by extending to the descendants a
Of our old ''uncles and aunties" my
pest wishes for their future advance y
nent and prosperity, for the kindly }
'emembrances of our childhood
mammies" prompt many kind ?
thoughts for their worthless latter Y
lay representatives. = Philadelphia 7
Times. :