Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-20
Written for THE EVENING star:
FROM sTHE PLAINS"
An Old Nanny and Her Pickaninny
Come 10 Town.

was recently returning from q business
trip mp the Midland road when my attention
was attracted to q couple who boarded the
train at THE Plains" had reused myself
from my comfortable position to see il any
passengers should &c, on; and my curiosity was
gratified when saw Capt Billy Payne, the
well-known conductor, assisting an elderly
colored woman. laden with parcels which out
numbered those Of Mr.. Peter Magnus, to
| scramble up the steps. She was followed by
small boy. SO black that his skin was dull. but
with face intelligent and bright. After con-
| siderable difficulty this interesting couple
selected the seat in front of me, and, as is usual
with travellers of their color, proceeded to eat
peanuts.
try looked very lovely. but tho conversation of
my neishbors distracted my attention from the
| beauties Of nature.
Nanny" said the small boy, with his
mouth full OF peanuts, "what make dis yer
''Somethin' pull it. chile" she said, and CON-
placently smoothed a wrinkle ont of the ban
danna handkerchief she carried by the exact
| center.
Nanny. what pull it?" Her expression
piled:
1T is dc Lords will for dis yer train TO go.
an it so. Doan YOU be qnesterfyin' OF what
de Lord see Mt to do. You eat dem peanuts"
As the peanuts had all vanished the small
| boy was unable to obey this command. but he
subsidized temporarily andI settled myself Tor a
| nap.
Alexandria" shouted the conductor. as the
train Stacked, and ] expected my friends to
leave me, but they evidently had no idea OF il
Turning around to me the old woman said:
Mister. kin you tell me how fur it is TO
Washin'ton?"
"Seven miles" answered.
amt we goin' to Washington, nanny"
yes honey
| And when we arrived there helped her out
with her numerous bundles and babe her
adieu.
That afternoon as / was on my way home
from the Office saw the same couple, with all the
| bundles and some more peanuts, on the avenue,
| not far from the White House. and overheard a
| fragment OF their conversation.
Yes, honey; dis is a good house; dis is the
Presidents house, so dey tell me. and he is a
| good Presden."
How you know dat?"
Case he's a publican, and de 'publicans il
| de trends OBJ culled folks. Why. niger, dis
yer Presden am such good fren aud such a
good publican you might almost take him for
| a culled pusson. He amt no low demo-Eo'
| Gaud"' she cried, and Involuntary turned
to see the cause Of this emphatic ejaculation.
| She was pointing her finger in astonishment ut
a stylish little turnout going down the avenue
driven by very pretty girl-the footman
| seated behind her.
go de Laud, Look at dat, Chile. hearn
| tell o uppish niggers-niggers what thinks
! they's got book learnin like white folks-but
never 'spected to live to see dat black niger a
| settin in a kerrigc an a sweet young white
lady for his coachmani De Land have mercy
| on her. Why my old inars'er would turn in
his grave If he suspicioned anything like
| datr'
| l smiled and passed on by, leaving her shak-
| ing her head over such state of affairs.
| AT THE CIRCUS.
saw them once more. 1t was at the circus.
They were eating peanuts as usual.
The boy was delighted with the horses and
seemed carried away with The riding of GER
tain young person gauzily alfred
| Amt dat gran, mammy?" he said Just az
my own boys clapped their hands with delight
''les, honey, dis is a 'markable place. / dom
know as likes de way dem ladies dress. bu;
city fashions amt like country fashions Ladies
| don't dress dat way at dc Plains"
And now come forth the great juggler. who
| could do all manner Of things, and IN answer
TO the repeated inquiry OF how kin dat gem.
man do dat came the reply, The Lord 'nable
him."
Finally letter from the pocket of man in
| the audience was given the performer. This
letter he read, word for word, through three
| blankets -'--
The old lady watched him with increasing
| Indignation.
.'Mammy. dat man got good eyes"
! "Ies, honey" she said, rising and gathering
her skirts around her with digniied wrath
he have dat, and Use gwine. Use gwine
Come on chile. Dis amt no place for Us Is,
| Cuinen