The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-29
AUNT BETSEY'S BABY.

suppose you might travel a whole day
over the big city, and ont into the sweet
and shady suburban village, where the
streets are no more than brown stfnCgiln +,
country LINES running along between dull
green ranges Of dOgwood rose vines, ana
You would not end shabbier house than
Uncle Prices.
II was the tinicst little cabin in all Of
Carro.t0u, and the shabbiest and the
sweetest. It was no wonder that Uncle
Price, standing ont in his yard in the cool
of the evening. used 70 look with faded,
aGec; onate eyes On the gray little ram
sbpchle shautv, and declare That hit
seemed Ike IL would crack his heart
strives ct de good lawd shed sec dtten 10
youst h.m our dat Var cabin
A. the dewy country lane came run
ning toward Uncle Prices, joyously green
aud gay between Us mountainous ranges
OF rose vine, it laughed ont into broad
grnssy common Uncle Price loved thut
lane und that common, and often when he
leaned over tie broken gate that gaped q
perpetual welcome TO his house hc would
say. with ana apureciatiyc chuckle: "Dat
lane jes Jus it4cI wide open " en- 1t come
dJWa SAT- ty &c cabin.
AID lust where 'dc lane had bus Itself
wi1.ouen. " whore he failing town t:mled
OIL mo nc country as You have seen a
: Ling sandy block trail Cil into the sea-
Ulc.e Price anI Aunt Hetsey had their
ca y Tie uneven yard was thick with
g,as3 and short white clover and down in
u. conner by the fence stood clump OF
goleArol. i,s o. ght lamps all alisht.
f,rrf. #
aid under these lAc cabin stood the pale
giyyh Three cornered leaves keeping the
wollly porch ia lestlul shade all the long
summer, from April 10 November.
1t wG5 curiou-ly Top sided little shanty
with board ON hinges for shutter, n
mud chimney, and there was but one room
tina, did duty for patlor and dining room
rs weA rs bedroom and kitchen. There
wGi a b0ck porch as we'll and At one
corner Of IL, up on end, stood huge green
hug5head. with spirOt near the bottom,
which hogshead In Uncle Prices country
f. called a cistcrn a beautiful curtain Of
Jasmine Vine lroidered all over with pale
mo stars OF blossoms that smclled, Oh, so
sweet. az sunrise and at nightiall,
swung from the r0t,ing pillars Of the
polches Inside al was sweet and neat
aud clean The ashes were swept up In
the center OF the big fireplace, and tie
saucepan and skillet, that were all Of
Betsay's Kitchen utensils stood, when
not in use, decorously up in corner Of
the hearth The door was uneven, and
down in the valley side was an old red
posted bedstead covered with n pine straw
mattress, couple of thin pillows and IA
faded quilt. There was also a table, a
shelf in one corner, on which leaned two
small yellow bowls, two gray Neined
plates and a few spoons and forks. In
the corner of the fireplace stood n trunk
cradle, the boSy Of al old skin covered
trunk, 10 which Uncle Price had put
rockers In the days when Betsey's baby
was little enough for such a queer resting
place.
There was also a chest in which Betsey
kept their few extra pieces OF Sunday go
connecting clothes, q bench for the old
woman, and hide bottomed arm chair
under the window for the old man. A
big Bible worn aud tattered and old, lay
on the table AID every night Uncle Price
would light a pine torch and hold II for
Betscy 10 read the gospel In these
southern negro cabins lamp OF candle
is rare luxury. Winter and summer
the bit OF light needed az NIGHT ia furnished
by kindling pine knot on the hearth
Such a gospel rs Bctsey used 10 read
out Of the good book was sweet 10 her old
mans ears, although it would have puz-
aled the parSon 10 give the chapter and
verse-scraps Of hymns, bits OF ringing
plantation melodies Il remembered sen
tencc Of some sermon and a few Scripture
phrases All the room would be IN black
shadow save the space about the old
couple Price, 80 If he was day, would
b bending over, pipe IN his mouth, hod-
ing tie flaming pine stick, from which
the thick smoke breathed and the yellow
drops OF ros!n fell Ike amber beads
Bctsey, on her low bench, the Bible
open ca her knee and her long, claw
Ike forelurer following the lines patti
emily, would read out In her trembling
voice, with sort OF anxious sob in II,
while tho old man would listen solennly,
. sucking az his PIPE, now ana then saying;
Dress dc Lord fer datn "Armen"' and
getting great comfort out of Betsey's
gospel irufe one night | heard the
old woman read this cut Of her wonderful
Bible.
C.e Joe beAin' 30 foe,
Alligator kchn Up besin olo Joe
Did old Betsey think she could regd'
Or course SIZE did, although the pages
were as unknown 10 her as Sanscrit IS 70
you aud me. Course kin read, honey,
she used to say, with dignity, when the
baby sometimes asked her, "bonor
brightY'
Early every morning Betsey used 10 get
NJ and start u LITTLE fire on the hearth and
b, down the saucepan OF water 10 boil.
EAc had tiny two sloried coffee pot, ana
In the second story, which lad o perfor
aied floor, she would put handful Of
ground coffee, and when the water boiled
she would take her small gourd clipper
and pour just little biz at Il limo OH ~
the grounds THIS water would soak
through into the lower half Of the pot and
when she had poured ON two cupfuls--it
tool. long time-she would have a pot Of
blacE. clear, delicious coffee, strong
en9s IA to stain the yellow bowls deeper
brown
SAC was funny little old darky We
man. short, stumpy, with u small bit Of u