The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-16
One Girl.


Early one morning lady and sever
al young girls emerged from pleas
ant umnler hotel in q charming vii
lage to take walk before breakfast.
An old colored woman was scrubbing
the walk, but as she caught sight OF
the youn g girls she stopped abruptly,
exclaiming in a pleased tone: "Fo'
the land sake, Missie Treat, whar did
yo' come from? And whar's yo' ma?
.f's so glad to see yo', honey" and she
reached out her black hands toward
the Young girl. But her hands fell
prostrate at her sides, and the smile on
her goodnatured face died, for there
was no response from the pretty faced,
daintily attired "Missie Treat"
Old Dinah took up her broom again
and resumed her work, but her old
heart was heavy. The burden Of her
thought was, II didn't spec dat. l
didn't. What's de matter wild ole Di-
nah dat she amt fit to look at? l took
care ob dat child TO- six Years, and
when she was sick l rocked her in
desc arms night an day. Missile Treat
said dat child neber'd lib eff it warn't
for ole Dinah. But ole Dinah amt fit
to wipe her feet on now, she's an ole
scrub woman, but she dubbed da' chile
so,"and a long, quivering sigh escaped
her.
"Did you know that old colored wom-
au?" asked Mrs B., the chaperon of
the girls, as they passed on.
''She lived with us a good many
years." admitted Clara Treat.
"Why did you not respond to her
warm greeting?'
"She's only an old scrub-woman. 1
think it was out of her place to address
me at ALL" Clara said loftily.
II differ from you," Mrs. b. spoke in
a reproachful tone. II think one who
served us many years ought to be look
ed at as friend, even if a very humble
one. I regret very much that you did
not recognize an old friend.
Clara's face flushed. "You do not
know old Dinah, Mrs. B. If I had
stopped to speak to her, she probably
would have taken me in her arms.
Would you have liked that?"
eyes," said Mrs. B., heartily, Gun
der the circumstances | should have
liked it very much indeed. 1t would
not have injured you in the least, and
would have done her world Of good"
Another Girl.
The great piazza of the hotel was
full of gay people. Suddenly in the
drive in front appeared stylish phae-
ton drawn by two handsome ponies.
The driver was a lovely young girl;
beside her sat and old colored laun-
dress, whose basket of fine clothes re-
posed at her feet. In half hour the
phaeton and ponies appeared again,
but the young girl was alone. Throw
ing the reins to man who came to
wait upon her she jumped out of the
phaeton and approached the ho-
tel.
miss Baker, am surprised" said
young gentleman, laughingly.
"Conldn't you find any one save that
old colored woman to take out drive
ing?
II didn't try" she answered merri-
ly: II was-too glad to have her. / have
not seen her before in five years. She
was our cook at that time, and good
one can assure you. 1 would have
known her if 1 had met her in Egypt,
but I met her on the avenue with u
basket of clothes so heavy that she
fairly tottered under. the burden. So
gave her lift. 1 couldn't help it,
you know" and Gertie Bakers smil-
ing face disappeared within the door
way.
Just like Gertie Baker," eXclaim.
ed an admiring friend; "she is gentle
and courteous to everybody"
"One of the privileges of nobility"
remarked another.
In cabin a mile from the hotel sat
an old colored woman. The perspira-
lion was rolling down her face. but
her eyes cleaned with pride and joy
as she talked to her only child, Il mid
dle-aged woman, whose cough told its
own sad story. Gus tink, Lindy,
honey" she said, II was limpin' along
in de sun, my back most broke, when
who should 1 see drivin' along but
Judge Bakers daughter, Missie Gertie,
de lubliest picture rs seen in good
while, her face smilin' an, her blue
eyes gleamin' an her yellow curls fly
in.'Lemme see, she must be fO'teen
yehs ole, cause she war nine when /
leF dare, but she's de same child she
allus was. When she saw me she rein
ed up her ponies side OBJ de curb and
Calleu OuI, bo"dJ GuO, duuIiS. dI
den when she found was lame and
had q mile to walk wild desc beby
cloes, she asked me to git in, side ob
her, It almost TUX my breff away; but
J got in, an tell We Lindy, honey, 1
didn't git tired o. nothin comm, home.
An Lindy Missie Critics comm to
see yo', an she's comm to brin' yo'
fiowahs an nice t'ings to eat"
''Flowahs! did you say flowahs.
mammy?" asked Linda, look of de-
light in her tired eyes.
Eyes, honey, fowahs an fruit an q
spring chicken broiled," joyous
~. |
20 nanny what makes her so kind
and good TO u.s."
"De Lawd chile, she's de I,awd's
own chile, bless her!"