Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-03-19

One bright, crisp morning about the
middle Of October Pocahontas stood in
the back yard surrounded by large
flock of turkeys. They were handsome
birds of all shades, from ightish red to
| deep, glossy black. The sunlight on their
plumage made flashes of iridescent color
green, purple and blue, and that royal
shade which seems to combine and re-
feet the glory of all three. Their heads
were bent picking up the corn their mis-
tress threw from the little basket in her
hand, but occasionally the great COB
blers would pause in their meal and
puff themselves out, and spread their
tails, and throw their crimson heads
back against their shining feathers, and
proudly strut forward and backward, to
the admiration doubtless of their mates.
Turkeys were the young lady's spe-
cialty, and on them alone of all the deni-
zens OF the poultry yard did she bestow
her personal attention. From the thrill
ing moment in early spring when she
scrubbed the date of its arrival on the
first egg until the full grown birds were
handed over to Aunt Rachel to be fat
tened for the table, the turkeys were her
particular charge, and each morning
and afternoon saw her sally forth, armed
with pan full of curds, or loaf of
brown bread for her flock.
| Her usual attendant on these occasions
was little colored boy named Sawney
the last of line Of Sawneys extend
ing back to the dining room servant of
Pocahontas' great-grandmother. The
economy in nomenclature on q southern
plantation in the olden time was worthy
| 30 nonIio ninTnN1 hiy1nsalf Tho Saw
ney in question was grandson Of Aunt
Rachel and an utterly abominable little
darby, inky black, grotesque and spoiled
to degree. He was devoted to Poca-
hontas and much addicted to following
her about, wherever she would allow
him. At feeding time he always ap-
peared rs duly as the turkeys, for Poca-
hontas never forgot to put biscuit or a
lump of sugar in her pocket for him.
With the largest black gobbler Sawney
was on terms Of deadly enmity; for on
more than one occasion had his precious
biscuit been plucked from his unsus-
picious hand and borne away in triumph
by the willy bird. Half of feeding time
was usually consumed by Sawney in
throwing small stones at his enemy,
who, as he was never by any chance
smitten, would raise his head from time
to time and gobble his assailant to
scorn.
On this particular morning there had
been a lull in the feud. SLwney had de-
voured his biscuit unmolested and had
offered no gratuitous insults to his foe.
Pocahontas having emptied her basket
was watching her flock with interest
and admiration, when Berkeley made
his appearance on the porch with let
ter in his hand. He seemed in hurry
and called to his sister impatiently.
"Look here, Princess" he said, as she
n Joined him, "heres letter from Jim tc
i old Aunt Violet, his nanny He tolG
. me he had promised the old woman tt
r write to her. 1t came with my mai
It this morning, and haven't time to &c
@ over to Shirley and read it to her;
wish you would. She's too poorly tx
come after it herself, so put on you
bonnet and step over there now, like {
good girl"
"Step over there, indeed" laughed
\ Pocahontas. How insinuatingly yol
put it. Aunt Vi'let's cabin is way ovel
at Shirley; half a mile beyond jim
= Byrd's line fence"
General Smiths line fence, you
mean. wish you'd go, Princess
There's money in the letter, and don
want to send it by the negroes. Iprom
ised Jim we'd look after the old woman
for them. The girls want her to com
to Richmond, but she won't consent t.
- quit the old place. She hasn't any chill
dren of her own, you know"
Pocahontas extended her hand for tn
letter. "She ought to go to Richmon
II and live with Belle or Nina" she said
10 slipping it into her pocket. "She'd di
of inconsistencies way out in Californi
with Susie. l wonder whether the neN
p people will let her stay at Shirley
"Oh, yes. Jim made every arrange
ment when he found she wouldn't cor
sent to move. He had an understandin
n with General Smith about the corner {
d land her cabin stands on; reserved it, c
leased it, or something. It's all right.
Always kind, always considerat'
thought the girl wistfully, even ami
the pain and hurry Of departure-tf
sundering of old ties-hnding time
care for the comfort of his old nurs
Good, faithful Jim.
Have the new people conner she cal
ed after her brother, as he disappeare
within the house.
II 81 don't know. l rather think the
have" he answered. al noticed smol
rising from the kitchen chimney tn
morning. Ask Aunt Rachel-the n
groes are sure to know"
Pausing a moment at the kitchen do,
to request the servants to inform h
mother that she had walked over
Shirley to read q letter to old Aul
vi1et, and would be home IN an hour
Zee. Posehontae apt ont on her axpsditio