St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-10-03
as you SEED DARLIN' ?"


state of Georgia On the way from
Macon to Atlanta one of the gentle
men of our party received a telegram
which made it necessary for him to
stop over few hours, en- route, at
little village.
After holding a consultation on the
matter the entire party decided to
stop, as there was no need for haste.
About noon we arrived, tired and
hungry, at the little station. l was
| the last lady to leave the car, and,
as was in the act of ascending the
steps which led to the depot, | felt
some one pull my sleeve and pathet-
ic voice, so fearful that it startled
me. asked: as you seed darl1n any
whars ~ On turning around saw
a very tall negress, not stout, not
thin, only we'll proportional, stand
| ing before me. She was scrupulously
neat and clean, was clad in blue
and white checked dress of coarse
cotton cloth, and wore a white
apron. Her head was Ornamented
with red and yellow bandanna, ar
ranged somewhat in the style OF the
old-time turban. To describe the
expression of her large black eyes IS
entirely beyond me. 1t was that OF
eager, anxious expectancy, mingled
| with one of intense longing and sad
ness.
WHO is darlin' ~ | asked.
Dat nv chile, honey, what been
gone away to de Fluridy SO long"
Then, with disappointment in her
tone, she added, "En you haint seed
her nowhars ?"
NO, auntie, | haven't seen her, L
replied, and turned away, for | felt
that if looked into those sad eyes
one moment longer | would myself
burst into tears.
The ladies of our party were inter
ested in this strange creature, who
had accosted me in so singular a
manner, and we determined if posi-
bic. to see her again and learn some
thing of her history.
A colored porter led us to one OF
the incest little hotels in the state,
kept by two widowed sisters. They
soon made us feel quite at home, and
| spoke of my experience with the
strange woman at the depot. One
of the ladies said:
"Oh, yes, that's my poor old Nam
my June; she goes by no other name
in this place"
Il imagine she has a sad history
from her manner, and the question
she put to me" said.
She has" was the reply, land II
YOU would like me to do SO, l will
give it to you"
Expressed my desire to hear it and
she proceeded as follows:
About twenty-five years ago, a
Mr.. Johnson came to this place and
went into business. One summer he
attended the commencement eXer
: cises of Wesleyan female college at
Macon. and when he returned he sur
} prised us all by bringing with him
r his bride, who had just graduated
from that college with high honors
She was beautiful young creature
: scarcely seventeen years of age, and
bv her gentle manners, won the hearts
of all who came in contact with her
5 The newly welded pair brought
with them a comely negress, appar
emily about forty-hve years old
: whom Mrs. Johnson always calico
) Nanny June" The lady was ar
, heiress and was an orphan, her father
! having died before her birth. Wher
she was but three days old her moth
l erplaced her in the arms of this faith
full negress and babe her guard he
: with her life. Having done this sh
calmly passed away. So MANN,
June" brought up the doubly orphan
ed babe and loved her tenderly. Blu
, Mr.. Johnson's happiness was destln
ed to be of short dura ton, for IN les
q than two years his fair young wife II
{ her turn placed her infant daughte
| in the arms of the weeping, ,str1cke1
l negress, saying: NANNY June,
know how carefully you watched
= over me, and how devOtedly yo1
9 loved me. Do the same for my baby
!, and may God bless you and sem
great. With this unfinished pray
eron her lips she died, and little Var
della was notherless.
Nanny June seemed now to ope
wide her heart and pour out all it
wealth of love into the life of tn
helpless babe She watched he
i while she slept, hours at time, wit
e all the love the fondest mother cOul
n bestow. AS the child grew older tn
,e dOting wOman's love increased. LII
daintily embroidered garments wei
all the work of Nanny June's min
i BILE fingers. She suffered no one t
II minister to the child's wants say
> herself. In fact, she seemed to l1N
~ and breathe for this child alOn
When the latter was old enough
begin her education, her old MANN
j. walked with her every morning
III found her waiting to take DARN
II home. She was never known to ca
ia the child by any other name. Fot
times a day Nanny June and Da
h lin walked through the village
II and from school.
III Vandella developed into a mo-
# lovely character She was the prlt
lie of the village-this beautiful, mOthe
he less girl. At the age of seventeen,
IN the regret of every one in the plac
Sc she married Mr.. James Layenby al
went to his home in Florida. Boz
ur the young wife and Nanny Jul
10 fully expected the latter to accor
er panv the couple to their new HON
a. but on the morning of their depar
he ure Mr.. Layenby objected, saylr
IN when they paid their first visit to b
of wife's native village that the o
n woman should return with the1
an This almost broke the hearts
Nanny June and Darlin', and DO
wept bitterly at parting.
- When Vandella had been lit
- more than one year away, on
&c warm afternoon in July the postms
~. ter recalled Nanny June, who happe
We ed to be passing, and said:
nd mere ieltei iieie II IN