Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-02-21
WINNING A HUSBAND.
BY VIRGINIA PAINE MADISON.


1t was the first cold night of the sea-
son. Without the north wind blew brisk
and cold; the heavy clouds overspread
the whole heavens, hiding the light of
every star. The rain fell in a slow,
steady drizzle, and but for an occasional
spark from the pipe of some passer-by
all was darkness. Winter had begun in
real earnest, and the sound of the rain and
the whistling of the wind sent shiver
through and through me.
| had been standing at the window,
but turned away tired of the dreary
aspect, seated myself at one end of the
hearth, threw a stick of wood on the
andirOns, and leaned back on my chair
waiting for Aunt Bcss. The fire blazed
and popped sending a warm, bright
glow over the carpet, wall and ceiling,
making the cheerful little room prettier
than ever. 1t was long before aunty
came hurrying in with pink-tipped
nose, rain-besprinkled face and her
bangs, which she had curled so nicely,
hanging straight and limp. She drew
her char nearer the fire and sat quietly
warming her hands.
"Aunty," said, "will you please tell
me why, after all your losses and fights
with poverty during the war, you are the
only one Of my aunts who married u Yam
kee?"
1t was the first time, no doubt, this
question had been asked in so direct
manner, and she looked up quickly, a
little surprised, gave me one of her sweet
smiles, fondled the broad gold band on
her finger, thought moment, then said
"My dearie [ could answer your query in
three short words if [ liked, and they
would tell you why marrieda Yankee
But these all important words might not
prove satisfactory to dear little maid
filled with 'loves young dream Besides
the curtailment would be so great that it
would destroy what to me is the sweetest
story ever knew. But then, every ones
romance is to them the dearest, isn't it
PETE" And when she glanced up shyly
from the corner of her eyes for an answer
I just looked down and replied, eyes,
'em," She reached over, gave my hand
a tender press, for my honest answer
and then began telling me why she had
linked her life with a Yankee soldier.
"You know, dear, there were ever SO
many Of us girls at home, and father
used to say sometimes, to tease US, that
he had good notion to put half Of US in
q sack along with other scraps and hand
it over to the first rag man that came our
way. But when he came in some nights
earlier than usual from the sugar house
he always depended on us girls to enter
tain HIM until bedtime. Many q night
he came at eight o'clock, and after the
accustomed kisses went round he'd light
his pipe, get in his round armchair, cross
his feet and say: Now, girls, I've the
blues again to night. This continual
talk of war wears me out. So get at antics
and didOs and amuse me till I'm sleepy.
Then if the war does come and frees my
negroes, why I'll keep every one of you
to hoe corn, plant cane and dig potatoes.
That'll be better than giving you to the
rag man
When we looked up in his face and
saw besides his tender smile shadow of
sadness which he had tried so hard to con-
ccal, we were inspired, as it were, almost
at once with hundred different devices
with which to dispel his melancholy. All
of us were some sort of musicians, at
least each one could play on a different
instrument and all sing 3 little. After
reading awhile and discussing the merits
of the subjects selected, father would
tell us some amusing incident of his young
days. Then we'd get Aunt Sue, who was
black as SCOT, but a real nice old creature,
to come in and tell us a story. She
knew a host of them, too, and when she
beCaR we became as mute as mice until
she'd ended her story, then ten to one if
not laughing in solid enjoyment, we'd
be, as father said. 'snitfling, but even so
we couldn't help it, for her stories were
often so sad.
"After our sniffies were dried our con-
cert began. Each one of us sang and
played alone, then all chimed in together
Our pleasures was so thorough that we
never heard the click of the clock or
gave thought to tiecting time. You
may be sure that Aunt Sue had her share
in rae musicale, too. No undertaking
at h. ne was quite complete without her
assistance. She knew the qnecrest little
songs one ever heard, and when accom-
panied her on the banjo she was the
happiest old colored woman in South
Louisiana
"Ah, those were happy, happy days
with lis all. I remember time and again,
after cutting up our 'antics and didoes,
father would jump up from his chair and
exclaim: Bless my heart, girls; bless
your sous! Here it is five minutes to