The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-09-10
A DOMESTIC

rhe philosophical Manner In Which Ii
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 mannsr in which negroes
accept the DEGREES of Providence.
Amelia, it will be remembered, is
If the black counties. The negroes
occupy most of the old homesteads, and
are given over to ignorance and super
,tition. The Wigwam, the old Harri-
son place. a house well known in Vir-
ginia, is surrounded IN every side by
hordes of negroes, who w 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
1 were 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. Mary?" said Mrs.
H.. light bread being a luxury re-
served for the i'll negroes.
s"Sister Rose Archer, marin" All
colored people claim the fraternal rela-
ton, whether there is any in reality or
not, if they are members of the same
church, orhave experienced a change"
"Why, 1 thought Rose Archer Eged
in Richmond. What is the matter with
herp"
Mary's large greasy countenance,
which rivalled a bombazine dress fol-
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 err wood, and it kilt him, i
pintly did. Willum Archer always wa.
a sickly nigger. Well. Miss Anna, she
done all she could. en- gin him er tuner
al, en- den, bein' ez she was a Utdder
and pore, she come mp to de Lodge tc
stay here longer Willum's daddy Ell
nanny. Unk Crutcht Henry wer
mighty 'ficted 'bouten Willum beins
kilt, cause he were de onliest % wha
he had, but Sis Rose say she gwine da
to be all de company she ken for VIII
lum's folks"
The peach knife fell. Mrs. H
though schooled to Amelia eccentrici
ties, stood transfixed. Then she gasped
"And Williams father and mothe
let her stay there after killing their onl
SOM"
Miss Anna" said Mary in a pecu
tliarly soothing voice. Junk Crutcl
Henry done ak Rose buck UNI she com
to kill Willum Archer. en- Sis Rose sa.
she don't know huck um."
This was Monday. Sunday Afternoon
Mary reappeared, an expression of tri
umphant excitement in her eyes, thougI
her manner was as 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 wor'
, to git ready, cause he was comm to d
Lodge Monday mornin' to git her g
!, hang her for KILN of Willum Archer
En- Sis Rose say eff dc sheriff were COZ
, in to hang her, ez she were porel
anyway, 'tWa'n't ruth White to git up,
she gwime die"
: ..Nonesense!" cried Mrs. H.. "a
if people could die when they chose!"
isis Rose done die" said Mary stou
ly. ''She say 'twa'n't ruth while to q
up jest to be hanged, en- she die Ia:
nirht, en please, Miss Anna. femme G
= to de funeral. Unk Crutch Henri
!, gwine gin her a mighty nice buryin
!, bein' ez she was a wilder, en- Willul
: Archer was de onliest son he he'd.
C. Ca6el, in Editors Drawer, Harper
. | MUoGzine.