St. Landry democrat., 1891-02-14
A COLORED PICTURE.

A COLORED PICTURE.
LAKE CHARLES La, Dec. 26.-Early in
the morning of the day before Christmas
I started out to look up one Mrs. Coomos'
said to be magical manipulation of linen
I stopped to inquire the way at very
humble cabin with considerable patch OF
ground around it hedged about with hlgh
board fence, the boards running up ana
down like pickets. In the back YARD q
great iron kettle swung over q blazing
fire, and over it presided the very genius
of the wash-tub, in high turban, with
bare, black arms. Half a dozen bare
legged, bare headed children were playing
about and q man in his shirt sleeves was
lounging against the cabin, smoking. a
Young girl was drawing up water out OF
an old windlass well near the gate. put
my question to her.
ri doan' know" she answered, and
called to the group in the back yard, Say
dar any you uns know whar Mis- Coomos
hbf'
The woman in the turban left off punch
ing the clothes in the kettle and moved
msiestically forward. q take it that when
a large body moves slowly and ponder
ously it moves msjestically.)
"Am she cullud ladyf' she asked.
said eyes"
"Name Mis- Lucy Coombs?'
YES" again.
"Weil, she lib way ober yandsr bout or
mile fun hyer."
The children had all come up and ranged
themselves on the other side of the fence ;
ditto their father. The girl at the well
set down her bucket and stood arms
skimDo. I fatter myself we formed q
picturesque company. And we were all
very much interested in the subject in
hand.
Lucy Coombs doan lib no mile fun
hyer," remarked the head of the house,
deliberately taking his pipe from his lips.
His wife turned upon him: "Well, she
"she doan nuther. Use tell yo', Missus, "
he addressed himself politely to me, "she
done jes' moved into or little new house
clost to de Baptis' chu'ch. Yo' kin see de
spire OBJ de chu'ch fun de cawnah OBJ de
yawd hyer."
Sure enough could, and it seemed only
q little way off. But by the time l had
threaded the narrow streets and lanes and
the paths "across-lots," concluded the
woman was right. But it was not of Lucy
Coombs I intended to write. might add,
while am on the subject, however, that
I found her literally surrounded with
clothes. The picket fence round her little
abode was covered with them. The big
iron kettle hung over the outdoor fire,
full of them, and heaps lay on the ground.
It seemed as If she must do the washing
for half the town. Iasked her if she
could do mine. She threw up her hands,
rolled up her eyes and exclaimed. 20, lawd
OBJ hebbm See wat got to do nowp'
81 see," said, "you are great favor
lite. l am told you are the best washer in
Lake Charles"
She laughed and gave her rather fine
shoulders an inimitable shrug. She is a
bride of few weeks standing. Her lord
and master sat outside the door in the sun
playing with his dog.
''Well, Lucy" he remarked, "she want
q answer. reckon"
Thus prodded, Lucy came to terms. 81
can't do it TO- Christmas, no ways" she
said, '"kase Ise got huff on han to day,
an / doan' low to wuk on Christmas day.
But I'll gree to do it befo' Sat'day night.
assured her that would be satisfactory.
1t was of the little Baptist church in
tended to speak. 1s,opped to again in
quire the way to Mrs. COMBS, this time
of young man who stood ringing an I'M
musical bell in the dingy vestibule. He
was a good looking mulatto, smartly
dressed, with pink cotton handkerchief
folded mufaer-wise about his neck. He
was ringing up his colored school. He
hiss only been here few weeks. He came
from "away up MORT" to teach the little
piccaninnies, and their parents gave him
the use of the church. All unaided he
had set up Christmas tree, and exhorted
the people to bring in their gifts for each
other and join in general good time
Christmas eve, exactly as white folks did.
He got up program for himself and his
little pupils, and expectation was at high
pitch.
We, that is, Mr.. and Mrs. Pope, Isabelle
and myself, decided to witness the result
of his humble efforts rather than the more
pretentious displays in some of the white
churches.
We did, however, just peep into the
Episcopal church, on our way, to admire
the beautiful holly tree, with its shining
green leaves and red berries, much love
lier than any of the artificial decorations
with which it was loaded.
When we reached the colored church
we found it half filled with women anG
children, in their best clothes. The mel
and boys waited outside till time to begin
and then filed in and took their seats qui
city.
The Christmas tree, a tall, gaunt
spreading evergreen, was stripped of ever.
leaf to make way for the presents, which
consisted of paper parcels, silvered glass
vases and dolls The latter were very fair
blue-eyed, red checked and with long
faxen hair-or perhaps fax hsir-stream
ing down their backs. Not colored dol
among theml
The place was but dim1y lighted, ane
the picture, on the whole, was dusky
one. Ours and the dolls' were the ONLY
white faces In the assemblage. I thini
our presence put slight damper on tn,
proceedings.
They were Q long time commencing
The school-master moved about nervousl,
with mote book and pencil In his hand
Once or twice he sat down to the cabine
organ and played sort of overture. 81
handled the squawking old instrumen
with some skill, Of which he was evidentl,
very proud. Finally he took a bold stan,
on the platform and faced the music.
Iadies an gem mems, ne began, CPS
jes' 5bout plum discouraged. My bet
song sters an my bes' speakers, pears lik
dey don't turn up. / ken q waitin, an