The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1890-05-13
PAULINA'S VENTURE.

Aunt Betty was slave, the cook in
family, living, forty years ago, in n
village on the borders of Southern
State. She was one of the most strik-
ing figures among the negroes when
they gathered in the evening under the
great oak trees by the spring-a tall,
lean mulatto, with little piping voice
and n timid rcsolute face. She always
wore huge clean apron of bed-tick-
ing, and red bandanna kerchief about
her white hair. She had one child, a
girl of five, who had the singular beau
ty so often found in quadroons.
They belonged to DIR. Blake. His
only daughter, Elsie, had no other
playmate than little Polly, who was to
be her maid when both girls were
grown. In the meantime, Polly, who
was as fair as her young mistress,
wore her cast-of clothes, ran and rode
with her, sat beside her when she took
her lessons, and even slept on a cot in
her room. In consequence, when the
war was over, and Aunt Betty, much
to her dismay, found herself free and
obliged to earn wages and buy clothes
for herself, she had young girl of
fifteen on her hands, beautiful, full of
energy and hope, and with the tastes
and habits of a refined white child.
DR.. Blake was dead his widow and
daughter going down to Louisiana to
live.
"You will go with us, of course,
Aunt Betty" said Mrs. Blake. 81
cannot afford to pay Polly anything;
but she will have her home with us
until ytal teach her to cook as you do,
and thea she can earn high wages in
New Osleans."
..Tanx you, Miss Laura" said Betty;
"goodn ass knows it takes load off'n
my miEi. / dunno muffin bout money,
N neber bought q plcayunc's wurf
foh de chile in my life. Paulina, You
suttingly go into de kitchen dis day!"
"Miss Laura, doan want to be a
cook" said Polly coming up to her
mistress, her voice hoarse with fright
at her own temerity.
Mrs. Blake stared at the girl, who
was usually gentle and timid. 1t was
as if mouse had started up to stop
her path. t.Nonsense!" she said. "Do
as your mother bids you"
"Mar,ma," said Elsie, "I do not see
why Polly must be cook. She could
earn as much money as a laundress or
lady's maid"
al dcn't-know," said Mrs. Blake,
thoughtfully, al think not"
=" am free now!" gasped Polly. We
hement!y, "Doan go way, Miss Laura.
Just listen to me. You are making all
my life foh me in this minute. Lem
me speak just once. can read N
write same as Miss Elsie. l can do
sums IN play on the piano-all her
tunes. She taught me-"
Yes; you learned quicker than
did, said Elsie, laughing.
They say there'll be big school for
us now. Why can't 1 stay here IN
learn, N be like white folks? Why
must be cook?"
She held out her hands trembling.
For the first time Mrs. Blake noticed
that the girls face was fine and strong,
and her eyes full of intelligence.
al have nothing to say in the matter,
child" she said with a yawn. "You
hardly EXPECT me to support Won in
your collepiatc course. t.Now you
see. y she Continued. turning coldiv TO
Elsie. nthe imprudence Of teacbino
these people anythinp!n
Polly. alone with her mother. terrified
the old woman with the vebemence of
her protests.
awe are. free % she repeated n
hundred times. "There is to he a
school where can learn inst the same
things as Mis-, Elsie. If She was poor
she wouldn't have to be cook. Why