Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-06
SAR' EMMER'S DEFEAT.

SAR' EMMER'S DEFEAT.
"Spec won't git to gol Jes spec WON'T"
These words proceeded, in violent accents,
from heap of purple cahco lying PROSTATE
under the currant bushes of Mrs. Crabtree's
trim back yard.
II low dey neber was SIGH mean woman
s ole Mis- Crabtree," pursued the voice, after
an interval of silence. "Here she's went an
picked all dem green tomats-wouldn't even
wait till dey was ripe-an' lowed she'd git
me to skin 'em dis yer day. Picnic In
Lumm's woods, an sh'n't git to go! Ow!
owl owl"
The sufferers wool was too short and pre-
cious to tear, SO she vented herself, as was
her won't, upon the queens English instead,
and glanced vindictively at the rows Of shin
ing pals on the back porch, filed to the brim
with plump green tomatoes waiting to be
peeled.
''Sar' Emmerr' called peremptory voice
from the kitchen door.
But Sar' Emmer chuckled and never
stirred. "Reckon rll be def dis yer time"
she muttered. "Hard O. hearin' an amt got
no trumpit."
Mrs. Crabtree wavered on the doorstep.
"Provokin' thingp she complainant; show
long does she mean to keep me here screechin
after herr Sar' Emmer! Sar' Emmer Mum
son!"
The currant bushes nodded with passing
breeze, and Mrs. Crabtree, her eye falling
upon them, merely speculated that they
would do better next year. "Here's all these
tomaters waitin' to be peeled, and that gal
traipsin' round, the land knows where2"
''Ke-ea" jeered the currant bushes, very
audible to the common ear, but silent as the
grave to old Mrs. Crabtree. "Won't she be
mad eff don't git back time to skin emp
for Sar' Emmer had evidently made a re-
solve. "Now dat woman she's jes' went an
picked dis day for servin' tomats count o de
picnic, SOS wouldn't git to go. Now amt
go'n' to let Mis- Crabtree go on dis yer way.
Only las night was week was de temprunce
meetin' in de chu'ch. Ebery chile in dis yere
neighborhood went 'cep' me. De presidents
an de vices dey set in de altar, an de joiners
all down In front. I lowed I'd be joiner
myself dat night, but Mis- Crabtree she set
dat number seben shoe O. hers down, an
clar'd niggers hadn't no business VII de
Christian temprunce-'lowed dey was goin'
crazy bout de subjeck-an' fetched out de
collick for me to Farm out de pray book. rs
been comm to dis yer state O. min rs In cher
sence dat night. Mis- Crabtree can't be
lowed to 60 on dis way no longer, keepin'
me out O. innocent 'musements, an maxim me
b'lieve dat pray books all de law an gospil. :"
Sar' Emmer gathered herself together, and
stood up cautiously. Old Sukey glanced
sympathetically toward her from the barn
yard, and half a dozen fowls clacked their
"a H. % o1e% CO, y
Emmer interpreted it.
81 low dis yer sprigged caliker's good
huff to go in," she assured herself, doubt
fully, recollecting the back stairs and the
perils that would attend her should she at
tempt to reach the storehouse Of her fnery.
'sLike's not she's settin' plumb up agin dat
star door, now jawin' de cat for lettin' me
git out. No; I'll hab to war dis. Hope to
goodness dat new boy fun Grifflth's sto'
won't be darl" and Sar' Emmer cast up her
hands coquettishly, as If exercising certain
charms which she knew how to operate, In
dependent Of all accidents Of raiment.
Then she walked slowly out of the yard,
and slammed the gate with defiant click.
Wagon loads Of acquaintance were al
ready on the way to Lumm's woods making
flashes of color along the dusty road, which
Sar OlatCAoo0 OA 4Oob Aca DUCA4po
O. green tomats, an she'll have to skin 'em
all herselfl" exulted the runaway. 'Teach
her lesson, better'n all the collicks in de
pray book, bout 'vokin' chillun to wrathI'
and here she caught sight of the new boy
from Griffith's store, arrayed in a jacket Of
red and buff flannel, with cap to match.
Gland O. lub!" thought Sar' Emmer, in a
transport of admiration, "ain't he good
boy hoL olo ~ =
| lem'nade bar'la'
| and watermelon juice, and flung it lavishly
into an adjoining field. Now that she had
| fairly entered upon the path of vice and
pleasure, she might as well travel it without
! limitation, she thought. She rejoiced that
in her flight she had still kept her hold upon
what she considered the climax of millinery
art; this was hat, abandoned by Mrs. Grab
tree, and given over to Sar' Emmer, who had
trimmed 1t according to her own devices
and the resources of Griffith's store.
sWish't I'd "a wore dat pink an white
stripe an Mis- Crabtree's man TILL" she
mourned. "Dis yer hat d go well vii dc
| man till"
Lumm's woods, when she reached them
were swarming with the kind of life il
which young person of color most delights
| Gay garments and outlaws of laughter per
colated through the trees, accompanied by
| the clatter of dishes and the odor Of CLANS
| set to roast in hot ashes.
$50 ole Mis- Crabtree's let yo' off ful
oncet," they congratulated her. claw
| chile, yo' ought to pitch In an Joy yo'self.
| They were all interested in the refugee.
| "Le' me-" said one 'duce yo' to de new
| G.;4 ~ Micfor4 Ric1yottc
| yer's Miss Munson. Hope yoll joy yoselves.
| and bowed low. "Glad to make yo'r quaint
ance Mistah Ricketts," she simpered. Ane
| ali, how far were "green tomats" from hel
| memory!
| Mr.. Ricketts, took Off his hat with one hant
and kinked his left arm at right angles will
his heart. He was light colored, with sof
| ewes. and was, as Sar' Emmer had remarked
very comely. He invited her to walk witt
him in the direction of the ice cream benches
and the pair were followed by admirini
ewes. Sar' Emmer's alert vanity could fee
their approval sheer through the purple cal
leo and the skirt "improVers" which she ha'
manufactured out of the hoops of eide
key.
a corduroy road" Mrs. Crabtree had re
marked, sarcastically, when Sar' Emmer ha'
triumphaptly exhibited this feat of her in
eetluity. But then Mrs. Crabtree was a
unapprectatiys In matters of dress as il
those of amusement, and Sar' Emmer pitie
her from tho bottom Of her soul
''How ole is dat Sar' Emmer, anyhowa
inquired spare little girl who had not.beel
escorted to the ice cream benches, and VIII
now stood, sharp and erect as knife, watch
ing Sar' Emmer with vivid expression c
countenance. 81 low she amt SO growed u
as she makes out"
asho, Rosy, don't yo' know gals grove
I'D when she gifts on long clo'es an does u
her harg' said the lady in rick rack waii
| and null bat. Who. had doae Ser Emmer ii