The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-05-24
BLACK pENNEr,s srSkrN rEELrs..
Some of the Characterization of q Colored Cook
Accurately Portrayed.

Some of the Charscteristics of q Colored Cook
Accurately Portrayed.
Memphis Appeai-Avalanche
Where is the custard that was In this
bowl. Penney" / asked. as. looking into
the stove. | missed half that / had prepared
for dinner.
Miss Kate.n she said. ewing me firmly.
do you think i would slip your custardf'
Il do not say SO, Penney; / only ask what
has become OF 1t since l gave 1T to you to
cookf"
you know. Miss Kate. dat right don't
slnkin' feelin' here" she answered. placing
her hand over her belt. IAN has to eat
somethin'r right away. My ole man dun tole
me 1 must always do 1t, an l kn0wed you
didn't have no use for more thar half that
custard. SO 1 cooked . little of 1t In dis here
very pan'-she lifted the pan and shook it
at me-"to eat fer dat sinkin'. nit dun
cured me-"
No symptoms of remorse or guilt dis
turbed the serenity of her co~untenance as
she spoke. aud it was really with some en-
oarrassment that / said: We'll. Penney. l
do not wish you to divide my food before
you send it to the table. You must never
do 1T again without asking me-" | rather
lamely concluded.
1 had found nv first Ieaf-embowered
guinea nest the week before. Persons who
have ne yer had this pleasure have no idea
how exc uisite 1t is. The clean eggs were
piled In tiers In the dainty cavern, that
must not be touched under penalty of the
hen abandoning her nest. The next day
Penney. again oppressed with the sinking
feeling. had gone. with my permission, into
the orchard for fruit to make her q pie. i
thought of my treasure trOve as she re-
turned. AID. throwing On my hat. / hurried
to the nest. only to find it entirely empty.
"Penney,"I wrathfully exclaimed, as l
reached the kitchen door. Ibid you take
those eggs that were under the apple treeF"
An iDscrutable, fortified expression spread
over her face.
miss Katie. L luther die than tell you a
lie: OATS de way my ma raised me. i felt
like l couldn't wait to cook no pies fer dis
sinkln'. an l thought de aigs would do just
as we'll. l didn't know it was your nest,
cause you don't make no practiceler hndin'
nests. an put de Last one er dem aigs
right in dat ar pot er green's to bile. an If
you don't bleve me you can look IN dar an
see fer yosef. But please. Miss Kate, don't
think AS tryin' to slip. My ole man say
he would ruther fer me to quit than fer you
settled in his mind bout stayin' here. no
how
Her calmnes and mystery of the situa-
ton completed my discontinue. and after
a rebuke that was tame. indeed. in proper
ton TO the offense, i left her in possession
of the field and my eggs. Her sinking feel
lngs would have become mOnotOnous II
they had not alternated with a hard feel
in':" especially after gorging herself on
drop dumplings." In snch an event she
insisted that she needed strong medicine"
and remained In bed all day. This occurred
SO often that my father. whose experience
with such cases was limitless. suggested a
remedy which he called balm tea. He pro-
pared it of a powerful emetic. disguised in
sugar and peppermint. Penney complained
bitterly that. after taking it. she could not
keep nothin' on her stummick." but 1T
always effected q cure.