St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-10-03

The next day Mr.. Johnson's large
fashioned mansion was IN a state
of commotion. Dusky forms were
hurrying to and fro at the bidding OF
Nanny June The darkened cham
bers were thrown open Ito air, as
the old woman said, though that
was done every morning with as
much regularity as if each room had
a constant occupant. The brown
linen covers were removed from the
furniture and fires burned in each fire
place to dispel any dampness which,
perchance, might be lurking in some
corner, ready to seize upon Darln
baby the instant it entered the house,
and choke its little life away with
that fell destroyer, Group. The beau
tiful cradle in which she had rocked
Darlin' to sleep so short time since
it seemed but as yesterday to the
happy woman-was brought from
it's hiding place and spread with the
dainty, perfumed linen she had so
loved to keep fresh and sweet. Her
happy heart kept singing all the day
long, "Darlin's comm! Darl1n's
comm ~
The 25th of July dawned clear and
bright. Not cloud o'erspread the
beautiful sky; no thought OF sadness
touched the happy heart OF the old
negress.
The latter was famous for culinary
proficiency, and the best dinner she
could plan had been prepared, and
she stood on the platform of the depot
more than an hour before train time,
much to the amusement OF the by
ISLANDERS, impatiently eXcla1mlng:
81 dunno what makes dat train so
mons'ou late dis mornin', 'cep'1n'
hits case Darlin' comm -
am sure the entire village enjoyed
Nanny June's happiness that day,
as she walked to and fro, her face
beaming with Joy, while she talked
necessarily of her idol. In regard to
the baby she let her imagination
have full play. She told those who
stopped to chat with her what beau
tiful eyes and hair, what soft, white
skin, what rosy checks, what tiny,
dimpled hands and feet it had, and
how it ''looked zactly lack Darl1n' y
At length the train can't IN just on
time, and Mr.. Lavenby, with bowed
head and faltering step, left the car
alone.
Nanny June caught him by the
arm and shrieked, rather than asked:
80, God! Mars Geems! where's
Darlin? What you done wild my
child ?"
Dead, dead, dead.'
With one long, loud, piercing
scream the stricken woman sank to
the ground in a swOon. Kind hands
tenderlv raised her and she was
borne, in an unconscious condition,
to the home she had left but few
hours before so full of hope and joy.
Brain fever resulted and for many
DAYS and nights we thought she
would die. The ladies of the village
took turns in nursing her, and all
seemed to feel much pity for the at
flicted negroes 1t was heartrendlng
to hear her cries in her delirium for
her lost Darlin'. Her life was spared
but reason was dethrOned.
Mr.. Layenby, with his family, lett
home one dav earlier than he expect
ed, and, in a railroad accident, his
wife and child were killed. So, after
being delayed one day, he brought
| NanQelld, W1IIl HeI D6tOS OH HSi JUS
ON, home in her coffin.
They buried her in the village
churchvard by the side of her young
mother.
This happened, about one year ago
and Nanny June has met every VI
train since she got well, always ask
ing of the passengers that same sac
question::
us YOU seed Darlin' anywhars ?"
A few wears after our visit to this
little place | was again travelling
with friends and relatives over Thu
same road, and as we expected tt
stop at -, | told the sad story o
NANNY June and "Darlin' " t.
nv friends, who seemed much affect
ed thereby and expressed a desire t.
see the negress. When we reached
the station the red-and-yellow tur
ban of the poor woman could be see1
! towering above the heads OF the wi
5 layers, but she was greatly changed
: Her checks were hollow and temple
r sunken, and her poor form so emac
I ated that her hands resembled tn
claws of some lower animal, Will
e the expression of her large eyes ha
E changed to one of utter hopeless
e ness. She asked of us the same oil
: question, rs YOU seed Darlln any
, whares ?"
e A little girl of our party offered he
e a basket of oranges, but she shoe
:. her head sadly, saying: NO, nc
D honey, do want no oranges; hit
Y Darlin' l wants; l wants Darlin' ,
o and with the tears streaming dow
n her withered black cheeks she wake
= away, followed by stout young III
II gress.
+ | learned that her old master, M
: Johnson, fearing she might not |
o kindly treated, would not hear to he
being sent to an asylum, and so
It employed this woman to attend tt
e faithful creature who had so trul
r loved the two idols of his life.
O Ihave recently learned that on Jul
:, 25, 1885, the poor, dementcd cree
d ture went as usual, to meet the u
h train, which by reason of an acc
lie dent, was on this day detained mo
l. than two hours While awaiting i
arrival she walked restlessly up ar
t. down the track, and no amount
e coaxing could induce her to leave 1
is The day was intensely hot, and b
d ing overcome by the heat, she fell
4. sensible on the track. She was ca
Of ried to her home, when, at sunse
h with a smile of recognition, she di'
with these words on her lips: 'Prai
lie God, | sees Darlin' now p'-l Ne
a York Mail and Express.
s.
n PRESS COMMENTS.