The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-02-25
Selected StUrp.
POlly's Venture.

POlly's Venture.
Aunt Betty was slave, the cook in
a family, living forty years ago, in
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 biz spring-a tall,
lean mulatto, with little piping voice
and a timid, irresolute face. She ALWAYS
wore huge, clean apron of bed-ticking,
and red bandanna kerchief about her
white hair. She had one child, girl
of five, who had the singular beauty so
often found in quadroons. They be-
logged to DR.. Blake. His only daugh-
ter Elsie Lad no other playmate than
little Polly, who was to be her maid
when both girls were grown. In the
mean time Polly, who was as fair as her
young mistress, wore her cast.off
clothes, ran and rode with her, sat be-
side 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 refined
white child. DIR. Blake was dead; his
widow and daughter left the village,
going down to Louisiana to live.
You will go with us, of course,
Au,t Betty" said Mrs Blake. 81 can
not afford to pay Polly anything; but
she will have her home with us until
you teach her to cook as you do, and
then she can earn high wages in New
Orleans"
"Thank you, Miss Laura" said Betty,
goodness knows it takes load off n
my mind. l dunno muffin bout money,
n nebber bought a picavune's wort
foh de chile in my life. Paulina, YOU
suddnly go into de kitchen dis day"
Miss Laura, l doan want to be a
cook" said Polly, coming up to her mis-
tress, her voice hoarse with fright at
her own temerity.
Mrs. Blake stared al the girl, who was
usually gentle and timid 1t was as if a
mouse had started up to stop her path.
NonsenseW she said, "do as your
mother bids you.'
" Mamma" said Elsie, " l do not see
L
earn as much money as laundress or
a lady's maid"
Il don't know" said Mrs. Blake,
thoughtfully; 6" l think not"
" I'm free, now," gasped Polly, vehe-
mently. Doan go away, Miss Laura.
Just listen to me. You are making all
my life fob me in this minute. Lemme
| speak just once. l can read aud write
same as Miss Elsie. can do sums and
play on the piano--all her tunes. She
taught me.'
Eyes; you learned quicker than l."
said Elsie, laughing.
"They say there'll be big schools for
us now. Why can't l stay here and
learn and be like white folks? Why
must be COOKE"
She held out her hands, trembling.
For the first time Mrs. Blake noticed
that the girls face was strong and hel
eyes full of intelligence.
- / have nothing to say in the matter
child" she said with yawn. " You
belong to yourself, now. But you Car
hardly expect me TO support you in
your collegiate course. Now, you see,'
she continued, turning codly to Elsie
" the imprudence of teaching these
people anythingp
Polly, alone with her mother, terri.
fled the old woman with the vehemence
of her threats.
We are free-freel" she repeated a
hundred times. There is to be a
school where can learn Just the same
things as Miss Elsie. If she was poor
she wouldn't have to be a cook. Why
must l? Why can't l be like white
folks, mammy?"
Aunt Betty cried and scolded, and
then fell to kneading her bread and
praying at the top of her voice, to quiet
her soul, But she was sorely shaken.
Her child was, after all, her child, and
to see her like white folks
Eff you go with Miss Elsie, she Glib
you her cloes," she interjected with
her prayer. Glow yoh gwine get
frocks and silk apuns, to school, hey?'
1.-The more | knows the more can
earn!' said Pauline. "There are hun.
dreds of ways of making money when
you have been to school,"
Betty, of course, yielded at last Mrs.
Blake and Elsie departed to return no
more. Betty, who was famous as a
cook throughout the country, went out
as an expert to weddings, parties, ETC.,
and made marvellous pickles, jams and
jellies, which she sold at high price.
With the money thus earned Polly was
sent to one of the universities estab-
lished for colored people. She studied
faithfully; the teachers were compe-
tent. AT the end Of four years She
came home. Aupt Betty looked with
awe at the quiet, eatly-dressed girl.
"Yoh look like white folks, fob
shuah; dough l dink you ought to weah
some jualry. l kin afford it. Dere's
some pink diamonds in de drug store
| windah-"
" Never mind them now," said Polly.
All | need now is something to do.
There was no place as teacher vacant
But l want to begin at once. / want
to see you at rest, nanny. You've
worked for me long enough. Now
10 he 4