The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-01
A NEGRO WEDDING IN 1863.

Clara Minor Lynn IN the Literary Northwest.
NOW, Miss May. il you'll jest fix me up
dis time TO git mar'd clar ] won't neber
bodder you no more"
"But," said I. "Violet we've fixed you up
nicely and you fooled us. and there is moth
ing to do so with now, as we can buy moth
ing but homespun; and besides you are not
to be trusted
But. Miss May said she. you know
t'warn't my fault fore, was willin' but de
man war'nt dar."
THIS humiliating confession was made
with a smiling face by notorious flirt and
the belle Of the plantation. But as nanny
said, "Vilet was Jest dat split she did not
think none de men was good huff for her
to wipe her feet on
"Lor', Aunt Katie" said Violet, with
toss Of her head, ''yur Jest say dat cause |
amt gwtne hab your Jem, and tole him be
alters look like he droppin' corn when he
he don't tote no malice"
Whereupon nanny went of grumbliuR
something about desc sassy gals and dat
fool Jem."
OF course we consented to make another
effort to launch this sable coquet on the
sea Of matrimony. A dress that had seen
its best days in a ball room before the war
that dusky bride. How her worries CLEANED
at the perfect fit; for. as she said, Miss
Nannies dresses alters did fit me zactly -
Il was popularity Of these most delightful
of ladies' maids that our dresses always
fitted them be they long or short, fat or
thin.
The ceremony was performed In the
parlor. favor accorded only 90 favorite
house servants. The groom, arrayed In an
ante-bellum suit Of my brothers, descended
to him by right Of inheritance, sorely tried
our gravity by his frantic search through
she numerous pockets for the fee. No mar
riage was considered lucky that had not been
paid for by the groom. My father had to
send five miles for this minister, as our own
pastor was in i'll repute amongst the negroes.
They said 'all ole folks what he raar'd, fit
fore six months wasen't"
The supper was served In the ser wants
hall. Violet is still my mothers faithful
friend, and not long ago heard her telling
my children Of her wedding.
''Chillun," said she, you all aint neber
see a real niger weddin'. Desc here free
niggers don't know how to hab one. When
l was mar'd in de war times TO Julius
Caesar, my husband fore l mar'd George
Washington, what got now, ole marster
| gin us a reglar set-out. He sot a heap OBJ
store by Caesar, your granpa did. So he
let him cotch de biggest pig IN de pen, and
L Lcll YOU ne lOOk nice, via q dig red
apple in he mouf, settin' up at de head OBJ
de table. De night fore all de hans went
huntin' and cotch de biggest kind OBJ pos
sum. Aunt Renh had made plenty OF 'lasses
cakes, cause you know, folks did not hab no
sugar in de war. Tho ole mistiss did gin
her a leetle white sugar dat she was
savin' up, TO put some whitenin on
one. Nanny made real good coffee
outn wheat, rye and chestnuts, and
dat was de kind OBJ coffee dey used on
de house table in dem war times. Ole mis-
tiss gin me a leetle OF her shure huff coffee,
Jest for luck. she said, dat she KEEP for Merse
VIII when he come home from de army.
De boys had filed de chimbly wild light
wood torches. Your granma would have
gin some candles, but dey was $500 box,
and dey could not git no ile Dey all Iarf
at Uncle Sancho's prsr. but did not mine
IL, cause eberybody knowed Aunt Ester
KEEP him strait so he Jest talk big
bout women when she war'nt dar
% lord he said, you know we done
met here TO jine dis man and oman in de
holy bond OF Wedlock- o, Lord let UNI be
jined so tight dat muffin can't buss UNI sun
der. And. o, Lord help dis man 10 hold
dis oman secure, cause you know. Lord, dat
sext amt to be trusted no MORN kickin'
mule; so, o, Lord, please keep your eye on
her.
"Arter supper We drunk simmon beer
end dance till most morpin'. tell you
what, chillen, desc niggers don't hsb no sech
doins now"