, 1889-09-26

DARLIN' FOUND.

! A few days ago, in company with
some friends, was travelling In the state
Of Georgia. On the way from Macon to
Atlanta one Of the gentlemen of our
party received u telegram which nude 1t
necessary for him to stop over few
hours en route ut little village.
After holding 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. ] was the last lady to
leave the car, and as was IN the act of
ascending the steps which led to the
depot felt someone pull my sleeve, and
pathetic voice, so tearful that 1t
startled me. asked: "Is you seed darlin
anywhars?" On turning around, I saw
very tall negrcss, not stout, but thin,
only well proportioncd, standing before
me. She was scrupulously neat and
clean, was clad in II blue and white
checked dress of coarse cotton cloth and
wore white apron. Her head was or
namented with red and yellow bun-
dana, arranged somewhat in the style of
tue old-timc turban. In her ears she
wore immense hoops of rcd gold, per
haps an inch and "a half In diameter.
Her face was black and smooth with not
u wrinkle to indicate age, and the hair
on her temples, left exposed by the tur-
ban, showed white as cotton against her
cbony-likc skin. To describe the ex-
preston of her large dark eyes Is entirely
beyond me. 1t was that of an eager,
anxious expectancy, mingled with one
of intense longing and sadness,
"Who is.dnrlin' ?' asked.
"Dat my chile, honey, what been gone
away to de Fluridy so long" Then,
with disappointment in her tone, she
added, 'En you haint sced her no.
wharsY
"No, auntic, / haven't seen her" |
replied, and turned away, for felt that
il | looked In those sad eyes one moment
longer | would myselfburs into tears,
The ladies OF our pnrty were Interested
in this STANCE creature who had accostcd
me in so singular u manner, ana we de-
termiped, II possible, to sec ler again
and learn something of her history.
A colorcd porter led us TO one of the
incest little hotels III the state, kept by
two widowed sisters. They made us feel
y
riencc with the strange woman at the
depot One of the ladies spoke up;
"Oh, yes; that's poor old nam ma
June; she goes by no other name in this
place"
II imagine she has sad history from
her manner and the question she put to
me-" said.
"Slc has" was tho reply. sand II you
would like me to do so, ! will give IL to
YOU"
expressed my desire to hear it and
she proceeded as follows:
About twenty five years ago Mr..
Johnson came to this place and went
into business. one summer he attended
the commencement exercises of the
Wesleyan female college at Macon, and
when he returned he surprised us all by
bringing his bride who lad Just grndu-
ated from that college with high honors.
She was a beautiful young creature,
scarcely ~ years OF age, and by her
amiable disposition and gentle manners
won the hearts of all who came In con-
tact with her. The newly welded pair
brought with them u comely negrcss, APP
parcntly about 40 years old whom RS.
Johnson always called "Mammy June"
The lady was AN heircss and was an
orphan, her, father having died before
her birth. When she was but 3 days
old the mother placed her in tho arms
of this faithful negress and badc her
guard her with her life. Having done
this she calmly passed away. SO
NANNY June brought up the doubly
orphaned babe and loved fer tendcriy
But Mr.. Johnson's Happiness. was dcs-
tined to be OF short duration for In less
than two years his fair young wife
placed her fair young daughter In the
arms of the weeping, stricken nogrcss.
saying; "Mamny June, 1 know how
! carefully you watched me, and how de-
votedly you loved me. DO the same for
my baby and may God bless YOU and
prayer on her lips she died, and little
Vundclla was motherless.
Nanny June" seem now to open
wide her heart and pour out all of its
wealth of flovo into the life Of this help
less babe. Sho watched her while she
slept, hours ut time, Will, all the love
the fondest mother could bestow. As
the child grew older the doting womnn's
love increased. Tho dainty eiibroidcrcd
garments were all the work of '.Malniny
June's" nimblc fingers. She suffered no
one to minister to the childs wants save
herself. In fact, she seemed to live and
breathe for this child alone. Whom the
cation, her old nanny walled with her
every morning to tho schoo-room door,
and noon found her waiting to take
dnrlin home. She was never known to
call tho child by uny other name. Four
times day "Mammy juno and her
darlin' walked through the village to and
from school.
vundella developed into a most lovely
character. Gentle, atiectionnte and
undetermined, she won the love of all
who knew her. She was the pride of the
village--this beautiful mothcrlcss girl.
At the age of IL, to the regret Of every
one in the place, she mnrried Mr.. james
IAyenby and went to his home in Flor
ida. Both the young wife and "Mamnly
nS s to their ns sme bnt