The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-02-21
The ANTe-BGLLUN SOUTHERN WOMAN

cent dialect stories have made familiar to
our MISUNDERSTANDING neighbors. Although
the peculiar relations of things made this
intimacy less close than that between mas
ter and man, lha love which began III their
early youth ripcneO generally into n hearty
affection, which usually was lifelong, be-
ginning, as 1t did with their childish games
i'll the negro quarter.
Unconscious Trninln: of the Negro Quarter
1t is doubtful if there was ever a terre
defendus so attractive to child as tins
same quarter, Il collection of small dwell
ings built on each side of a street. and in
habited by children of a larger growth who
were prodgal of stories favored by the
faith of the raconteur There were friendly
yellONA dogs; chickens, PULLED. muhied ana
duck-legged, which answered to names;
with callOW broodS racing after them, ana
wonderful hens tests full of eggs III un-
| frequented corners. fires i'll the open ar
| with fat sweet potatoes roasting iii tnelr
| ashes; doll baby gardens planted ana torn
! up at once by IL multitude of little co'lc"-
c0lorcd playnat,s who Scalnpered about
| little miSsus' in q frenzy of delight
| Mistress and maid conhdcd everything 70
| each other and their mutual affection S'9p e
the mistress in good stead in her a1t Ter. ii ne
| and enabled her often to penet:atc the IN
| tcrcsting but bewildering tan@le OF Ter
| Civersations.' which the plantation negro
| calls his thoughts. Experience taught hef
the habit of their minds and opened 10 heT
idioms which she would afterWard
slaves Slave It It also initiated her into the A.
rican standards of right and wrong by
which she gaused the depth oil the oHehder
| cupabiiity. ,.,..
There, too, she learned the potentially
| Of sarcasm in dealing with a race so alive
80 a sense of the ludicrous that an appeal
| to it's risibles will often answer the purpose
! better than punishment.
An instance of this kind is given of a
| southern woman who cured her negro
| marlletman of bringing the family turkey
| daily for dinner because he had Speculaten
| in them and they were cheaper than other
mcot. She invited him to stand on the
gallery and gobbIe a little. This udcrouS
performances deferred him from n repetition
| of his offensc when more serious Temon-
strances had proved trutless.
| How sl,e Absorbed dousewifery.
| The little girls were present mt all the
mililinSS, cummings, SauSaGe-cuttlGS, co"il-
stockings and even the grinding oil meal on
the place and 80 became familiar with the
+, miniI:ae OF these Industries.
When the young mistress was married the
superntendencc of these duties deyolVed upon
hrr-the curing of the meat which was 10
| form the staple food Of the white and black
| family throughout the year, the recipes Tor
which We're handed down from m0thef
| to daughter for generations AS there We're
| no markets. chickens and turkeys and ducks
| and geese mast be reared III plenty; butter
| must be churncd; good vegetable garden
/ scCulously cultivated, the fruit trees and
berry vines persuaded to bear fruit after
| their kind 70 overlook the weaving room,
where the cotton clothes well as woolens
| used to be made, was also her duty and III
| all these things our grandmotherS and
! mothers were as proficient as the chatelalncS
| Of th, middle ages Much of these arts the
| southern child absorbed without special
| instruction. Also part of her education
was the cutting and sewing of all kinds of
! carmens the cooking and serving OF all
| sorts of dainties and the intelligent care OF
| the sick
| Well Read Plantation Women.
| This practical education went hand i'll