The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-25
NANCY'S STORY.

Yes, honey; she was ''poor little Lena"
then, and she was only little black mig
ger; but it sure was sad day for her,
and for all of us, both black and white on
the old plantation, when old Aunt Hala
(that the white folks called "Mammy'o
died. The mistress CHATS Mrs. Armour)
stool by the bedside holding Aunt Hala's
brown hand in hers, and softly singing,
"Jesus, Lover of my Soul" when she
suddenly opened wide her eyes, as il she
was already looking into glory, and
said:
"rm almost there, Mis- Lizzie Good
by. I'll take care OF the childrenl' You
SEE, all Mre Armour's children were dead,
and it seemed they had come to meet
the ir old black nanny. Then Mis- Liz
ze that's Mrs. Armour) folded her dead
hands, and cried over them, because, she
said, "dhey had served her 30 faithfully
and tended her own little ones until one
by one they were taken home to heaven,
where Nanny knew they we're wait
ing for her."
But was going to tell you about little
Lena, whose mother was Cresy the cook;
but she didn't care for Lena, because she
said "she had no business here, and was
always in the way" And 1 can tell you'
that little niger had nard time, until
one day Mis- Lizzie saw Cresy strike her
for crying and hanging on to her dress
SKIRT was but wee, toddling thing
and then Mis- Lizzie went right
straight and took the little smutty thing
up in her arms, with all her tears and
dirt, and carried her into the great house,
where Nanny was sitting on the back
porch Smelling peas for dinner; and she
popped Lena right down among the peas
in Mammy's lap, and the old lady she
yelled OUT
Gracious sskes, Mis- Lizzie, what you
bring that black Niger here for?"
But Lena was laughing and clapping
her hands, so proud to be toted by the
missus; and Mis- Lizzie gave her big
red apple and said to Aunt Hail.
Keep her, Nanny, and tend her as
you did my little once, who are now in
heaven; and you will get your reward
both in this world and in the next"
"Well," said NANNY" I'll nuss and
tend her for their sakes and yours, Mis-
l. zzie, for Cresy do give her hard
time; but she shan't call me Nanny
/ amt Nanny to mono but white folks;
and 1 amt got no use for niggers no.
how
But by this time Lena had nestled her
little woody head down in the old lady's
arms; and after that no "nigger" dared
to say cross word to Lena, for if they
did Aunt 'Hals would box their ears or
scoid at 'em, and, If they made Lena cry
just to worry NANNY" she would call
Mis- Lizzie. And 80 between Mis- Liz
zis and NANNY" Lena was in fair
way, as Pete the house boy, said, go for
get she ever was Niger"
So she grew up to be seven years old,
when old Aunt 'Hals died; and prettier
smarter little darkey you never see till
that day, when her poor little heart
seemed like it would break. After the
fur eral was over and Mars Gilbert and
Mis- Lizzie walked arm in arm from the
grave SO slow and withtheir heads bent
down, Lena walked close by Mis- Lizzie.
holding on to her black mournin' dress;
and me and Pete had waited, too, to
come on back with the marster and mis-
sic.
When we got most to the kitchen
Lena ran in to where the rest OF the col
oIed folks were sitting and talking
about Aunt 'Hals, and how nice and Ia
dyfed she were and how she wouldn't let
ole OF us colored folks call her "Mam-
my when all OF a sudden, Lena disap-
let red. She couldn't be found nowheres
till we see Cresy leading her by the hand
fOIt Of gentle like to where Mis- Lizzie
were sitting crying on the south porch
followed on to sea what she was going
to do.
Here, Mis- Lizzie" says she, "Lst dis
niger stay in here wild you. can't do
nothin' wild her, Aunt 'Hala done split
(spoiledD her so. greet mind to wear
her clean out wild hickory"
But Mis- Lizzie just said: "Come here
poor little Lena, You and can grisve to-
gether, for we have mutual sorrow.
Then she set Lena down on a little
stool and told her all about how MAN.
my was gone to live with God and the
angels" until Lena went fast asleep, and
Mis- Lizzie laid her down as careful as il
it had been her own little Bessie, who