The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1885-10-28
A Domestic Tragedy.

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. Ame-
Lin. it will be remembered. is one Of
the black counties. Tao negroes occu-
nv most of the old homestoads. and arc
given over to ignorance and supersti-
ton. Tho Wigwam. the old Harrison
place, q house we'll knorn in Virginia.
is surrounded on every side ny hor!cs
of negroes. who own sru:ll tracts OF
land. and farm thum. One Of these
settlements is at 1.-THE L 'dgc.' once the
property of Mr.. Robert Archer. dis
tinguished Virginian gentleman of the
old regime, now, with all his descend
ants, dead and gone. My hostess and
was peellng peaches on tho broad
veranda. when Mary Cesar, the dairy
maid, appeared.
Miss Anna, gimme piece O light
bread. please. marin. "
who is sick, Mary?' skid Mrs. K,
light bread being a luxury reserved for
the i'll negroes.
Sister Rose Archer. marin"
All colored people claim the fratcr-
nal relation, whether, there is any in
reality or not, if thcy arc members of
the same church, or have Inexperienced
change.
why, thought Rose Archer lived
10 Richmond. What is the u,atter with
hcr?"
Mary's large greasy countenance,
which riva1led = bombazine dress for
blackness, fairly shone.
..Well, Miss Anna. you member Sis
Rose was married to Unk Crutch Henry
Archcr's son Willum, EN- dcy moved
fun de Lodge to Richmond. Bout
three week ago Sis Rose en- Willum he'd
a fight bout some'in', en- Sis Rose hit
WilIum Archer or lick on dc head wild
o stick or wood, en- it kilt him, it piptly
did. Willum Archer always was !
sickly nisger. Well, Miss Anna she
done all She could, en- gin him er fun
eral, en- den, bein' ez she was sciddcr.
en- pore, she como up TO, dc Lodge to
stay here longer Wiilum's daddy en-
NANNY. Unk Crutch Henry were
mighty 'flicted 'boutcn Willum being
kilt, cause he were do onliest son whar
he had, but Sis Rose say she gwine dar
to be all de company she ken for Will
um's folks"
The peach knife fell Mrs. H,
though schooled to Amelia eccentrici-
ties, Stood ransixed. Then she gasp
ed:
land William's father and mother
let her stay there after killing their on
ly son?"
miss Anna" said Mary. ia pecu-
liarly soothing voice, ''Unk Crutch
Henry done ak Rose huck UNI she come
to kill Willum Archer. ca Sis Rose say
she don k'sow hucs un,-"
This was Monday. Sundsy afternoon
Mary re-appeared, an expression OF
triumphant excitement in her eyes,
though her manner was as gentle and
deprecstory as ever. =.
isis Rose Archer dead, Miss Anna, !"
she announced.
'De5O. w neO ola S0e UlSs
Mary smoothcd her apron.
We'll, 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
en- hang her for KILN of Wllum Arch
er. En- Sis Rose say eff de sheriff were
comm to hang her. ez she were porely
enyway, 'tsoG'nt scah soki!e to git up, so
she gaotne de
'.Nonsense!" cried Mrs. H. LAS
If people could die when they chose"
isis Rose done de-" said Mary,
stoutly. ''She say 'tsoa''ss vuth ,ch,ls
to g't up jest to Dc hanged. en- she die
last night, en- please, Miss Anna, lem
me 60 to de funeral Uuk Crutch
Henry gwine gin her mighty nice
buryin'. beip' ez she was widder en-
Willum Archer was de onliest son he
held. c. Cabell, IN Editors Draso-
er, Earper's KGgaziaae for September.