The Columbus journal., 1885-11-04
A

Tn Philosophical Ann In which the
Negroes Accept the DEGREES Of Provi-
dence.
Last summer while the writer was in
Amelia County, Virginia. the following
incident occurred. illustrative of the
philosophical manner in which negroes
accept the DEGREES of Providence.
Amelia, it will be remembered. is one
of the black counties. The negroes
occupy most of the old homesteads. and
are given over to ignorance and super
stition. The Wigwam. the old Harri-
son place. q house we'll known in Vir-
GINA, is surrounded on every side by
Lordes of negroes. who own small tracts
OF land. and farm them. One of these
settlements is at '.the Lodge" once the
property of Mr.. Robert Archer. a dis
tinguished Virginian gentleman of the
old regime. now. with all his descend
ants. dead and gone. My hostess and
l were peeling peaches on the broad
veranda. when Mary Cesar, the dairy
maid. appeared.
Miss Anna, gimme piece o. light
bread. please. marin"
WHO is sick. Mary?" said Mrs.
H. light bread being a luxury re-
served for the i'll negroes.
..!Sister Rose Archer. marm." All
colored people claim the fraternal rela-
ton, whether there is any in reality or
not. if they are members of the same
church. or have experienced change
why. l thought Rose Archer lived
in Richmond. What is the matter with
herr
Mary's large greasy countenance,
which rivalled . bOmbazine dress for
blackness. fairly shone.
well. Miss Anna. you member Sis
Rose was married to INK Crutch Henry
Archer's son William. en- dey moved
FUN de Lodge to Richmond. Bout
three weeks ago SIS Rose en- Willum
he'd a fight bout some'in'. en Sis Rose
hit Willum Archer err lick on de head
wild a stick er wood. and it kilt him. it
pintly did. Willum Archer always was
a sickly nigger. Well. Miss Anna. she
done all she could. en- gin him er funer-
al. Gil uCu, UClu ca SuC "oS sAtCs
and pore. she come up to de Lodge to
stay here longer Willum's daddy en-
nanny. INK Crutch Henry were
mighty 'fiicted 'bOuten Willum being
kilt, cause he were de onliest son whaI
he had, but Sis Rose say she gwine da,
to be all de company she ken for Will
lum's folks"
The peach knife fell. Mrs. H
though schooled to Amelia e]ccentrici-
ties, stood transfixed. Then she gasped
And Williams father and mOthe:
let her stay there after killing their only
SOM"
Miss Anna" said Mary in a pecu
liarly soothing voice. LINK Crutch
Henry done AK Rose buck um she come
to kill Willum Archer. en- Sis Rose say
SHE don't knOU huck um.'
This was Monday. Sunday afternoon
Mary reappeared. an expression of tri-
umphant excitement in her eyes. though
her n vas Is gentle and depreca
tory as ever.
ISIS Rose Archer dead. Miss Anna
she announced.
dead! When did she die?"
Mary smoothed her apron.
well, Tuesday mornin'. Miss Anna
Br'er Jeames Barksdale went to Court
House. en- de sheriff sont SIS Rose word
to git ready. cause he was comm to de
Lodge Monday mornin' to git her Or
hang her for KILN of Willum Archer.
En- Sis Rose say eff dc sheriff were COM
in to hang her. ez she were porely
enyWay, 'tWd'n't ruth While to ait IN, Sc
she gvine die"
Nonsense" cried Mrs. H. "A,
if people could die when they chose"
isis Rose done die" said Mary stout
ly. ''She say 'twa'n't ruth while to ait
up jest to te hanged. en she die last
night. en- please. Miss Anna. femme sc
to de funeral INK Crutch Henri,
gwine gin her a mighty nice buryin'.
bein' ez she was a wilder, en- Willun
Archer was de onliest son he he'd.
C. Cabel, in Editors Drawer. Harper.
Magazine.