Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-05-13
A SOUTHERN STORY.

There ls p Sllldll LOW IL Ill NOTIU CdEO-
lima, near the boundary line of Virginia,
that is noted as railroad junction,
seven different roads meeting there.
Doubtless people are born, live and
die in Weldon with independent his
tories, but the outside world only
speaks of the town in this way, ''Did
YOU make the connection at Weldon" 2"
There was q disjointed period when
Il seemed exce"tional to make this
necessary connection promptly, In trav-
eling South, and it was my lot to
miss it by half an hour. They told me
at the depot that there was nothing for
NE to do but TO wait twenty-four
hours at the hotel. The one / hit upon
proved very dreary, having the barren
air of a restaurant in which no one has
stayed long enough to make it feel in
habited To add to the loneliness, the
rain was pouring down in great tor
rents outside, and the only books |
could discover in the hotel parlor were
apOnderous gilt-edged Bible, moth
eaten copy of "BurtOn's Anatomy of
Melancholy" "Baxter's Call to the
Unconverted" and some old census
reports.
| cherished my fascinating illusions
about the South; its romantic social
life beckoned to me invitingly through
the perfumed vistas of orange groves
to come on and get initiated into the be-
quilting ways of dark-eyed women with
soft speech, and a strong under-tow of
easy-going men, whose chivalric dalli-
snce formed but a light coating for the
volcanic energies Of Ceur de Lion. |
loved this land of extremes, but it
might be Great Tropical Delusion'
today, for all that was visible of it at
Weldon. My tour must be short
one. Delay was irritating. Could
nothing be done to make this day
count?
Glancing at the negroes who were
waiting on me at the table, | had 10
confess, that, though attentive, they
were far from picturesque. There ap-
peared to be great many of them.
Judging hastily from this dining-room,
one might infer that the staples of the
South were negroes and flies !; the latter
charging at me in battalions from their
ambush in the fringed arsenic-green
papers attached to the chandeliers. The
fried chicken and corn bread, however,
we're compensating.
When embowered in my Folitary
bedroom / began to count the hours TO
be spent there-twenty-three; and it
would be impossible to sleep away
more than eleven of them.
Hark! Somebody was grooming
matches of a qUaiat tune in the back
premises.
An idea broke in upon me-I dis
robed my banjo from its .'traveling
ulster"
Why not spend the time learning the
'ongS the negroes were singing over
heir work down in the yard and
kitchen? In all the accounts of South
srn life | had read in novels and maga-
zines the negroes were represented as
always singing merrily, except when
hey were drowsy and nodding.
tuned the banjo; then the song
stopped. Not another note did hear
tor an hour; there was plenty of
noise, but it came from the clatter of
fishes, the slamming of doors, the
steady rainfall and the shrieking of
he locomotives on the seven roads.
was not to be baked in my project.
rang for the chambermaid, and asked
her to get some colored man who could
nng and play the banjo to come up and
uve me lesson-I would pay him
we'll
She first gazed at me vacantly for a
moment, as if her brain were busy en-
arglng TO receive a bra a1d-new idea;
hen she grinned from ear to ear.
"1es, miss, I'll see eff | kin find you
ne OF de good singahs; eff you had
'nly sOnt word fo' YOU arroye, and
got 1t norrated roun' dat you want
structions in de banjer-dat would a
oeen de bcs' way. But Louvinia III do
le tes' she kin for you. | gwine ter
De a real good darkey TO you while you
aeah-dat lis; you can put 'pennance
IN dat, miss"
She talked to herself all the way
Town the hall about what she meant to
10 Tor my comfort while | was at thu
lOtel.
imagination now began to work; l
expected to see lively young fellow
Win laughing eyes and dancing feet
4Snered into my room. 1t would be
ollyi he should teach me all he knew.
PRESENTLY muflled knock came al
ny door.
Come inl'
"A large. middle-aged negro, with a
'cry grave and very black face, stood
'n the threshold, making a low bow
'Slth all the "deportment'' of Turvey-
Hop' hat in one hand, banjo in the
'uer. lie wore a shabby blue tweed
,Il'' MS toilet getting poorer as it went
"Wh' the coat still attempting to
make an impression of style, with its
iouDIe row Of white china buttons,
he pants well patched about the knees
'nu threadbare in spots, and the shoes
ToEen into gaping holes, and tied
Win red twine strings.
Yes, come right in. sent for
'ou. WHAT'S your name?
simon Barona, dat's my proper
zane, man; but dey mostly calls me
Noy (Royal) bout heah, 'kase L come
'ut o de Roy'l family in Fahginy fo'
come 10 Weldon"
nope You are well, Royal?'
Fretty well, man, cep'n | subtle
Vphold fever and consumption;
r'ien gets het up is attacted wild de
ever an eff gets cold, ! breaks out
"iu de consumption; but I makes out
Keep goin'; my health is tol'able
sood now m am"
ao-m I'm glad to hear it; sit down