The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-30

rro Character in Its Most Attractive
1 Aspect.
4 written for the News and Courier by Carroll ian.
Az One day recently, while turning over the
sontents of an old trunkwhich had been
hine since girlhood. haf followed me in
+ nnumcrable moves, and contained the
Xdds and ends full OF associations which
accumulate as life goes on, / came upon an
old pair OF half-moon earrings; they were
very large and of old gold. "Oh." ! ex-
'claimed as took them out, these bring
Tay back TO tho life,
NY little girls, who had boon looking on
layer eyed, for mammals old trunk had
Always possessed mysterious charm for
NFloy and Grace, enhanced since the au-
tumn, when after they had given up all
hope OF having new cloaks for the winter,
and heroicly resigned themselves, ! CHANGED
to see a stray advertisement for Confeder-
4 ate bonds and succeeded in finding enough
OF them in my old box TO supply them
with cloaks and other needed things.
"Who was Tay?" they both exclaimed.
felt a sense OF self.rcproach at the ques.
/. ton and ain sure to Tay herself the idea
\ that one Of her 'chillen's chillen' could
have reached the mature age OF ten years
and never had heard OF her existence,
would have seemed incredible. II was
not from lack OF any kindly memory OF
the old woman that ] had not told the
children of her, but my life had been
very busy one with many invalid times,
Y .uhen the rcverses OF life pressed very
kNeayily, and shrank involuntarily from
kpcaking Of my childhood's days, which
were 10 different from theirs and besides.
he children Of the South today, whose
<nothcrs were half-gIown girls at the
; time OF emancipation, belong TO
u a new order Of things, and are
out Of sympathy with their parents on
many subjects. They do not understand
their elders feelings about the negroes.
They look with very unpreiudiccd eyes,
and rs they see the succession OF careless,
indifferent cooks and housemaids come
and 90, they are not partial TO the race,
and cannot understand the Kindness and
blindness 10 their faults which are natural
10 those who remember the tender nurs-
ing Of the dear old mammas. But 10 re-
turn to Tay.
'who was Tay?" l repeated. "Why,
one Of the best women. and II is high tmo
you should hear about her and love her
memory, so ii YOU will get your knitting
aud be- very quiet ! will tell You her
sIory."
Her name was Kitty, but we children
always called her Tay. When your grand
mother married she was given TO her as
her maid, and n most accomplished one
she was, besides being skilled soamsircss
and clear siarcher. When ! first rcmem-
Der her younger woman had taken her
place as maid and she was upper servant,
always carrying the KEYS and taking
charge when your grandmother was III or
absent. She WIS mt least six feet tall her
waist claimed half her length. or looked ~
II Il did She was quite n light lemon
color with large black eyes that looked az
II a milestone would be no obstacle 10 her
vision. ] assure YOU her appearance
WIS calculated 10 inspire ave IN
our childish breasts. Her great hight
was OF itself impressive AVID her cos
tune enhanced IL. She always wore q
black dress with tight body; very full
skirt, and nm enormous hustle. which was
moi worn in thoso days, white handkcr-
chief pinned over her bosom; white apron,
and TO cap the climax n very stilly
starched white turhan, TALL the worn mus.
lin dresses went TO keep up the supply
She always tied her turhans on block To
hNNlf AittNs EfUfNMiN HAhAhh t'NNINlfl
in the top 10 keep the shape, and when
the finally deposited one on her head the
effect was very tremendous. Her pride In
her gold earrings was great; she always
wore them aud kept them rs shiny M
could bc. With the basket Of keys on her
arm she did not look like person To be
trincd with, nor did we ever venture.
Her devotion 10 us all was very great
''miss, NAUSEA and the chillun" bounded
her horizon. Her great idea was 10 econ.
omizc, "ior NAUSEA, she would say, sis
10 free handed. and six chillun Is house.
ful."
TO M children she showed her regard by
great slcrnncss Of dcmcanor. but compcn.
sated by the beautiful tucking she did on
our drcsS.s-thc only sewing Zee ever did,
and your grandmother had no respite I'M
les she supplied the material that Tay
thought necessary. Your grandmother was
No sure Of her trustwonhincss that she
never intcricrcd with her management
We never thought Of demonstrating
though she mortified us sometimes by her
treatment OF our friends She had no
patience with too many visitors, she al
WAYS presided nj our tea ana served "a.
our cups Of milk aud bread and trcacle
We had some little friends Who were yer,
apt IN run in iusl at the tea hour One,
thcN came steadily lot week. We saw
the clouds gathering ON fay's brow, and
werr not surprised when one evening after
she had helped NJ all, She turned 10 GU
friends and said: Tomorrow take YOU
supper before You come; NAUSEA can
afford 10 support two families" II brok
up our tea paHicA
Tay had husband ~ remarkable In hi
way W. she was In hens. lie WAS iallo
and simmer even, aud ~ black In com
pcxion M she was light. lie was q YER
prosperous negro for those days, q coopc
by trade. aud belonged 20 two maidc
ladies. and piled his trade, paying then
wage. IL finally concluded tu buy hi
freedom. and asked your grandfather I
become his guardian In ease OF his accoT
plishing his purpose, aud also to be y
kind NJ 20 aek his msttcsscr what the
would ask ior him. Your grandfather VA,
the ladies' who fixed ~ moderate a pric
a. they could When he told Daddy Sai
the result Of his negotiation. instead oi b,
ing gratihcd. he was very angry. and sail
"My mistrcsscs have no idea ol how wall
able am, ! thought they would ha,
asked at least 500 mofc they can't aflui
10 part with me for less, aud ] mean TO ~
H." The ladies were not obdumic NJ
no doubt had an increased idea Of Dad,
Sans worth.
This worthy pair had no childrc
Daddy Fam died not long before the va
l.aetns, Tav anita a ltflo ann al fnona