The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-10-18
FROM the PLAINS.
An Old Nanny Visits In The
City.

business trip up the Mldian0 roao
when my attention was attracted to
q couple who boarded the train at
the "Plains." I had reused myself
from my comfortable position to
see if any passengers should get on,
and my curiosity was satisfied when
l saw Captain Billy Payne, the well t
known conductor, assisting an eld-
erly colored woman, laden with
parcels which outnumbered those
of Peter Magnus, to scramble up
the steps. She was followed by a
small boy, so black that his skin
was dull, but with a face intelligent
and bright. After considerable diff
ficulty this interesting couple select
ed the seat in front of me, and, as
is usual with travellers of their color,
proceeded to eat peanuts.
At that early hour of the morn
ing the country looked very lovely,
but the conversation of my neigh
bors distracted my attention from
the beauties of nature.
"Mammy," said the small boy,
with his mouth full of peanuts,
"what makes dis yer train go2"
"S6methin' pull it, chile" she
said, and complacently smoothed a
wrinkle out of the bandanna hand
kerchief she carried by the exact
center.
Mamma, what pull it?" Her
expression changed from thought
ful to severe as she replied:
at is de Lords will for dis yer
train to go, an it 60. Doan you be
questerfyin' of what de Lord see tit
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 and l settled myself
for nap.
| Alexandria |" shouted the con-
ductor, as the train Stacked, and |
expected my friends to leave me,
but they evidently had no idea of
it. Turning around to me the old
woman said:
"Mister, kin you tell me how fur
it is to Washin'ton?"
"Seven miles," answered.
"Ain't we goin' to Washington,
mamma?"
"Yes, honey"
And when we arrived there
helped her out with her numerous
bundles and bade her adieu.
That afternoon as l was on my
} way home from the office I saw the
, same couple, with all the bundles
and some more peanuts, on the av'
enue, 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 good Presiden.
. "How you know dat?"
. Cease he's a publican, and de
. 'publicans is de friends OBJ de cul'
lud folks. Why, niger, dis yel
. Presiden am such a good fren and
: such a good publican you might
- almost take him for cullud pus.
:, son. He amt no low demo-'Fo
,. Gaud !" she cried, and | involunta
: rily turned to see the cause of this
- emphatic ejaculation. She was
pointing her finger in astonishmen
e at a stylish little turnout goin(
= down the avenue driven by a very
# pretty girl-the footman seated be
= hind her.
y "'Fo' de Laud Look at dat
. Chile, hearn tell O. uppish mig
: :. gers-niggers what thinks they
! got book learnin' like white folks
y - but l never 'spected to live to se
- dat black niger settin' in a ker
- :. rige an sweet young white lad.
= for his coachman De Laud hav
!. mercy on her. Why, my old mar'se
- would turn in his grave if he sus
- - picioned anything like dat?'
- / smiled and passed on by, leay
% . ing her shaking her head over sucl
~ ~ q state Of affairs.
= | saw them once more. 1t wa
"a u at the circus. They were eatin
- peanuts as usual.
~ ~ The boy was delighted with tn
~ ~ horses and seemed carried ava
=, ~ with the riding of a certain youn
~ person gauzily attired.
~ - "Ain't dat gram mammy?' b
~ ~ said, just as my own boys clappe
~ n their hands with delight.
~ ~ "Yes, honey, dis is 'markab
I" place. l don't know as l likes {
- way dem ladies dress, but city fas
at ions amt like country fashion
x Ladies don't dress dat way at
)r. Plains"
ed And now comes forth the gre
or iuggler who could do all manner
,ol things, and in answer to the repei
lie ed inquiry of show kin dat gel
ne man do dat?" came the reply, III
ief Lord 'nable him."
lth Finally a letter from the pock
lie Of a man in the audience was Civ
ms to the performer. This letter
read, word for word, through thr
ne blankets.
de, The old lady watched him wi
:~o-oae;rn ;ndiun ati0r