The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28
UNCLE MnRouRY.s "Mov1w."


negro quarters. There they had lived all
through the war, when she was a bounc-
ing young woman with carded, gayly rib
boncd locks, the best dancer on the plan
tation, trick of easy movement, probably
inherited from her father, who had been
nicknamed Mercury by his master because
in his youth he was so swift footed when
sent on an Grand, and the name stuck to
him, the one his mother gave him never
coming to light, except when he deposited
his vote at the polls on election days as
John the Baptist Randolph" lie was
an aged man now; known all through the
neighborhood as cold Uncle Mercury over
at the Randolphs" His wife, "Aunt
Pomona" had been dead for some time;
she too, without herself being aware OF it,
had called upon the 0lympan dynasty for
name for her daughter. This contest
chile" was named Flora, nor was she very
well pleased with the selection. "Flora
amt nothin' but dog name nohow," she
declared on one occasion when a shooting
party came to stay at the mansion, and
one OF them had fine setter named Flora
Now that her dancing days were well over,
she developed in her middle age an unus.
ual spirit OF thrift and enterprise for one
of her race, saving the pennies she earned
until she had dollars enough 10 buy n
piece of land and build a cabin on it.
Standing over her wash.tub she gave me-
one day graphic sketch OF her efforts and
successes.
"You sec, | tell yo' how II is. Mis-
Randolph she mighty good 10 me, she glib
me all dc clo'os 1 war, an dc Gin'l he glib
US plenty to eat, an father gifts some o. his
old clio es; though dey's heap too big for
him; you could put two 20 him into ono o.
de legs o Gin'rs pants but makes 'em tit
well 'nough. | don't have TO put none o.
dc money ! makes on Inc nor in me. so
save 1t and Euy'd two acres o. land from
Mr.. Symc. ills pother side o. dis farm, an
done build me a cabin o my own, whar
me an father kin spen' dc res o. our days,
an git our things all together. We got
more things n yo' ever seen, all pile up
roun u.s. under dc bed an everyGhar-
them what grandmother 'qucayc 10 us, an
mothers things jis like she lcf 'em when
she die, an what dc ladies' gibs me |
washes for. | got elegant yaller silk
dress wild long sweepin' trail dar in dat
trunk. Mis- Mabel Tayloe she glib me dat
yaler silk cause done flute her ruilrs so
nice My ilutin' don't squash none / tell
yo'. Il ! married. been married oncet:
dey don't catch Flora agin-burnt chile
dread de fircl / ain gwine 10 sport no
more good.for-nuiln' men. Why, dat
Jim,-nuiin' warn iitlin' fur TO tech
inc when he war courtin'; but after
We was married he was war
---rin' agin me from mornin' till
night, an irwin to keep my nose 10 dc
groun. Mans Tub do change 70 quick
At las he glib way to his wicked temper so
oncesslnt dat lac token crazy. an dcy
had TO take him away an put him in dc
paloon [asyluml for fear o. We alrs lives.
Jim done gone 10 dc Jedge now, an
glib him real nice funeral. wouldn'
slabe for nary nuvyer Niger in ole Fab
ginny. Dat ain sayin' II dc right man
come long wouldn' marry hints or.
dnin Oh dc Lord, you know, mss; tain
for us 10 be wiser'n lie IL, an ! keepin'
dat yacr silk for my weddin' dress
Flora too ole 10 war white; de gals d
laugh at me. | borrow some o. dc money
20 buy dat land an build from Mis- Ran
dolpl; got II mos paid now. tell her
dis summer she ought 10 take dccdin'
an n trustin' on my land I'LL she git il all,
but she say neber mind, kin 20 on dom
upde clo'es for dc family till II git paid.
What do father do2 lie jis watch dc
Gin'fs walcrmiion match; he war de like
lies servant ole marstcr had oncci, but he
amt good iornutiin' no mo- but smoke hc
pipe out at dc do, an so down to dat
patch twice day 20 look after dem water
millions. aud thump 'em to sec II dey
ripsnin' fas', an keep dc boys from steal.
in 'em. AK him today how dc millions
comm on, an lac say, Pretty pcarl, ct We
don have mother wet spell.
Flora had firm, thick.set figure, with
powerful muscles In her arms, disclosed
by rollcd-up sleeves, as she gave these
items In her family chronicles over the
washtub, her bright pink calico dress con.
trasling hncly with her dark shiny skin
and keen black eyes. She had quick,
D. restless glance, u hasly toss OF the head,
y and one could not help suspecling that In
the warfare with Jim before "hc token
crazy" and was sent TO the saloon" hci
weapons may have been quite rs sharp a
bis. 40 she was nj least able 10 defend her.
self crcdiiably.
"Yo' ought 10 a. been hcah TO the
groun' clcarn' TO we build de cabin.
Twas grci time. tell yo'. We wife dc
hands on all dc plantations roun'. an doy
cut de trees down on my land '-cxplain
ing this custom with vigorous wiring o
somebody's garment; she disdaincd the
use OF patent wnngers -"dey WIS In dc
way somehow" 81 baked de biggcs din
ner for 'cm / cher seen, 81 ! do say IT,
Dcy don't tx no wages for clcafin' dC
groun; We iis feeds EN- all we'll wild do
hes dc country 'forls, an make froliS
oh IT, | had cabbage an pork, an pos.
sum, an buiicrmilk by dc gallon, an gre
cakes o. bread. all brown, 80 dcy look like
pouncakeS oh, twas momable day
sho, miss. Now dc cabin all ready fol
us; We gwinc 10 move day after tomorrow
got beautiful patch O corn down dar
an a pig an some chickens, an sunhow
ers planted in dc front yard, an dc do 4
all painted white till you can mos se'
your face flnnin' in Il. Is you gwino {,
be hcah 10 dc movin' in2"
A couple Of days after this there was
great hustle In front Of the quarters whcr
Uncle Mercury had lived longer than any
servant now ON the farm could remember
the old ones having died of, and many o
the former slaves having gone TO tn
Nofth.and Of promise after the war, 10 tr,
their fortunes.
mule wagon was drawn up at tn
door, and Flora was running back an
forth, giving her orders TO several small
h negro boys who had been pressed into he
service, aud were now "lotng" sundr