Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-12-20
Mrs. Lee sad. still Sharply.

IL Une luSSlnS, IOJ GLo luSSluB,
ma objects to-" Lucy said through
her laughing, "but that does not mat
ter Ibelieve Mr.. Pasco wants to marry
Nicely"
"He do" said Meely's mother, "but
she done sot her min on dat ar owda-
cious Pete Meacham, who've got no
'ligion tall, is des always wh;stlin
reels an potillions an singin bout
ooh, Master Rabbit, yo' years mighty long.
Yes, my dear, dey are sot on wrong.
Dat's what make me try SO hard ter
git her fix up nice fer dis yere time. I'm
gwine git all de things an den tell 'er
she CANT have um 'dout she'll gree
ter take Mist Pasco."
Lucy's eyes flashed, but before she
could speak her mother said:
"Well, hope you'll succeed, but it
does seem to me that when girl sets
her heart Oh trif1ing, no account fell
low there is no use trying to change it.
I didn't know Nicely was like the rest,
but I'll help you all can"
$50 will l." said Lucy. running
away, with scarlet cheeks. Nicely case
was her own. Bert Wilmer had her
heart and her troth plight; rich Dave
Allen, the backing of her parents. Pos
sibly it was this fellow feeling that
made her so wondrous kind to Nicely.
Possibly also the fact that Pete had been
postman for the lovers ever since Bert
was forbidden the Lee house had some
thing to do with the Gaze.
Then. too, the Lees were a habitual
providence to the poor blacks about
them. Love for the merry, careless,
simple-shrewd race was in their blood,
comprehension likewise. They saw I'M
der the grotesque extravaganza of the
"queen Of Christmas" a germ of self
reliance and furthered it accordingly.
When at last it came to pass, Lucy,
with her brother and dozen more young
folks, stood outside and looked on
through the window back of the pulpit.
The church was big log structure, lit
with kerosene lamps in faring tin re-
Electors, and fairly crammed with dark
humanity.
Besides the country negroes for miles
around the Sons and Daughters of I
Will Arise were out in full regalia, a
hundred strong. Each brother wore a
red sash crossing his breast, with tin
star over the heart, green apron turned
up with yellow, and q blue and white
rosette upon the left lapel. Each sister
was gorgeous in purple cape, long
white, freely ruffled apron, deep red sash
about the waist and orange turban with
green plumes They marched to their
allotted places, droning out weird,
wordless chant, and vainly tried to
maintain an attitude of solemn criti-
cism. The crowd was dotted with smil-
ing familiar faces, the savory scent OF
barbecue was in the air, and Brudde1
Paschure, otherwise the Rev. Mr.. Bar
ker, shook hands up and down the
benches with fervor that almost set
them shouting.
| Presently the deacons hustled and
squeezed the crowd back from the aisle,
and Mr.. Pasco came through with Nee
~ LII Ills drluS. Dl6 WAS u Slllu sup VI
girl. but he staggered under her weight
and would have fallen when mounting
to her chair throne if Pete Meachan,
had not sprung forward and relieved
him of his burden.
"Umph My Lord wouldn't have
dat niggor fer soap grease eff he cain't
tote no better'n datp' exclaimed the
foremost Daughter of I Will Arise,
while one of the country lads murmur-
ed; "Lordy! Wouldn'tI des lSk ter see
'im put 'ginst Pete at er log rollin! He
done stay dar in dat school ouse twell
he amt no stronger'n er skeeter. -
| Nicely reached her throne about equal.
| ~ crumpled in clothes and feelings.
While the speeches and dialogues went
on she sat trembling and half blind,
only kept from running iacontinently
away by the knowledge that her moth
er's eye was on her. She knew what Wa
expected of her--that she would choos