The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-03-04

any sauce lessen she have orn a veil
| clar ter goodness she exclaimed with
sudden laugh, ''Sis Mericky PriIler-
man sho' did look droll an commecal
dat time Brer 'Poleon ceasted, up
'mOngst de congregation wild DIES a
leetle bitter black bonnet settin' up
orn top 'er haid. | spec she think she
was in mo'nin', POI creeter but don't
call it nothin' but seconty mo'nin' les
sen you has orn veil"
The cake-making was concluded in
due season, but cakes were by no
means the only things to be prepared
for the collation. to be held in Mount
Zion meeting House Immediately after
the solemniZation of Brer Wyatt Cla-
ters funeral. There We're sandwiches
to be made and chickens to be fried,
and the air about the kitchen was
redolent for days with the odor of
these good things. Indeed, so extern
sive and varied were the preparations
made that when Brer Isle drove up to
the cabin door for the purpose of es-
corting the widow to the church, so
piled up with baskets and bundles
was his old-fashioned carry-all that
the reverend gentleman and his fair
companion were obliged "des to set all
scruched up in de fur cornder OBJ be
kerridgen
The funeral, if l may be pardoned
this worldly expression in describing
so solemn and awful an occasion, was
grand success. Mount Zion Meeting
House had never held a larger CON
course of people, even when the wife
of Brer Isle had ''ceasted,n and sob,
Meh Sister, Dontcher Grieve Arfter
Me-" begun by deep-voiced brother
when the widow entered the church
and taken up by the entire congrega-
ton ere she reached the high seat in
the synagogue reserved for her, had
unsealed the fountain of her tears even
before the more narrowing ceremonies
had commenced. Brer Isle himself
was in his choicest mood.
"Clater halter be berried like he
oughter be berried TO l." the widow
had murmured brokenly, as he held
her hand for one brief moment before
parting in the churchyard ; and this
sentence, incomplete as it was, had
fired his enthusiasm like a torch.
Never had he uttered so eloquent, so
impassioned a eulogy never had his
red bandanna been brought into such
constant requisition, while his audi
ence, catching the spirit which inspir-
ed him, greeted each sentence as it fell
from his lips with such expressions as
Oats sop SDat DIES zactly pre-
scribes Brer Clater," and ''Po, Sis Cla-
ter, she amt never gwine meet up wild
nair mother sech man as Brar Wyatt"
"Dis would be a proud day for POI |
Brer CIater eff twas SO as he could be !
here" one sister said.
He is here" superannuated |
brother, who had sat silent all this |
while, his chin resting upon his stick, |
gazing before him with the fixed, pain |
full smile which one sometimes sees
upon aged cOuntenances, suddenly |
burst forth; ''he sittin' right closte up |
'longside O his defiicted pardner."
When the benediction was pro-
nounced and the orator, hopping his |
streaming face with his flaming hand |
kerchief, descended from the pulpit, |
the congregation swayed to and fro in |
the violence of their feelings like the
ocean dashed into fury by mighty
wind.
The afternoon was fading into twi-
light when the party at the church,
composed of ''de nighes' kin an
p'tickler frien's of Brer Wyatt" who
had been invited to remain to the
feast, separated for the evening. Brer
Isle and the widow, exhausted by the
part they had played in the days per-
formances, sat silent as they pursued
their way homeward. Presently a
sudden turn in the road brought them
i'll sight of the semicircular lights from
the farm buildings shining like a cres-
cent through the darkness. Then the |
minister started and leaned forward
He berried like he oughter be ber-
ried now, ain t he, Sis Clater p he said |
softly.
Yes" she murmured family.
Then his arm stole round her waist,
was lost in a cascade of Grape, came
out again, was lost again, and finally
clasped itself close about her rounded
form. His head bent lower, lower, till
it, too-but why attempt to paint a
scene which better artists have failed
adequately to depict
''No, indeed Calline said, emphat-
ically, in reply to a question put to
her by Mrs. Wexford, the morning
after the wedding exception" which
took place just six days afer the events
recorded above.
''Brer Isle don't hole with no SIGH
carryin's orn as dancin' 'mongst |
church members, an l got all SIGH as
dat weaned off'n meh mine reckly |
come up os1t'n de water l is hear
folks say" she went on, "dat faint
gwine do you no harm lessen you
crosses yo' foots, but faint worth
while to be taken SIGH rists an drivin'
right sprang to de eedge O. de preci-
pice O. sin. So,n she said, taking up
the dishpan and moving with it to-
wards the door, ''we des had 'Ketch
yo' Pardners; 'Jine, jine, who'll jine p
an SIGH kissin' plays as dat for de
Christians"