The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-12-15

when the peaceful valley was Sucn
a scene of human strife that the birds d
and bees. and even the sweet wild d
roses that thrived there in unmolesteo n
possession, disappeared, to return IN
after years and find picture OF utter
desolation. To be sure, the soil hao
been enriched by the blue blood OF the '
south. commiugled with that OF the a
brave BOYS in blue, as they fell To- Q
Cether, fighting, each for cause when
each thought right; but the record .,
the brave deeds of those who perished I
then lives in history.
1t was while sojourning for SNORT
time in the mountains overlooking the
Shenandoah valley that came across
one of those living relics. She was
only a poor old negro woman, who haa |
been q slave, and who, even after
quarter of a century of freedom. mad
almost fuiled to realize that she was
free. There was nothing particular to
recommend her to ones notice or call
attention to her forlorn situation. she
had been left all alone in the woria-
IN her own words: 1.-THE last of the
vardens.'' and. judging from the grand
air with which she announced the iac''
would have scorned the idea that she
needed sympathy or pity, as she STOOD
amid the ruins of what had been
grand old southern home. before tne
war-the home of the Vardens.
All that remained of the house, two
tumbling chilnneys, was overgrown
nv some kind of vine, which gave
sort of picturesque beauty to the 1or,
salxen scene. A little to the left and
lust in sight of where the house had
been was an inclosure, in the ceLter
Of which stood a tall monument sur
rounded by smaller gravestones, mark
ing the last resting place OF the var
dens. who seemed to have turned their
back upon their earthly possessions
and laid their joys all away beneath
the shadow of the great monument,
leaving but one poor, crooked, 1eeoie
remnant of .their departed greatness
70 occupy the rest of the estate ana
keep their memory green in her 1aitn-
full old heart.
II was warm day in June that
stood within the gates of Rocky Mead,
as the place was called, and listened
to part of the family history OF us
former owner from the lips OF Ola
Juliette, who invited me to seat un.
der large tree, then seating herseii
near by, after apologizing for sitting
in the presence of a white lady, sne
said: ..i'se powful glad to see white
folks cep'n de common trash wat HOS
down in de valley. De fus families is
all dade cep'n de Campbellses. Dey
Mace is mex to we alls. Our family
war de hes in Furginia." AS she saio
this she Strengthened herself as muct
es age and rheumatism would permit
nBut., she continued, sadly, "dey's al
zone: all but me. ] Ibis down at az
Gle quarters. do do ism much lef, one,
one cabin. OATS mon big cnuH TO me
mos, times. but wen / gifts de rang.
y, lecs an hans, den de WORT ain bll
anuff. But has to stay an look a1te
de place. lSase Use de las one lei
de family, an wen l meets ole Mars
= Richard in de mex worf he's ooun
ak me bote de ole place. Fns tnin
he pwine say: 'Juliette, you anu
would be de las one, but reckon VIC
= all torether now, an we unite In pra,
ar, les as he ulster cherry evenio
Marse Richard war mitey good maj
Ole miss. she de boss She ulster sa
nobody cher gwine conker her' a.
shore huff, nobody nebber did. 81
dona all de conlerin'. 1t war all Ion
3, her dat my Miss Mary war forced
,,arrv Marse Campbelfs son, an dc
all de trubble come.
"My marster hab two sons, Mar
Dick an Robert. Dey Jine de arm
one mornin' an Miss Mary tease
- life nearly outen me to go via
"a down de valley whar de fghtin W
cwine on. She say she Jis wanter :
-. der las OBJ Dick and Bob. All de IN
- know she was dyin' to see oal
Hunter. kase she dade in Tub via nj
an, me an Cap'n Hunters boy 10
Tin was cotin' too. But we
Lnoxved ole miss don sot her min
Miss Mary marryin' Marse VIII Ian
,,all He war orful rich, but be v
.,rlv as Satau-an OATS fac. NJ
Nv so sweet loolxin' dat all
younr men In Tub wild her an
d;an, cnre for none oh 'em. only "a
Hunter. and she say she gwlne ma
lack Hunter or nobody. Ole miss
de Hunters didn' b'long to dc 1ust u
Niles an, eff Cap'n Hunter tempted
stant;on to ary chile OBJ her n
,.sasad To interfere. So cose we da
~ her know at Cap'n Hunter
down dar in de cave under de NIL
T,ong Jim waiten for me to fotcn
= letter from Miss Mary, jes II
didn 4 know she gwine to orea1
mack Almost to see hlsseI. "a
Hunter war de grandes' loo3in mi
eber sot my eyes on. be eyes 70
dance when he saw US bofe comm
he les tux Miss Mary up IN ne
& and hole on to her and promise ~
let her 60 no more.
..But she blush all ober her iace
he saw Jim to take de horse ooWl
the stream and cool him on; SO we
de horse up in de woods BACK q
cave and tie him to tree. WINES :
and Jim sot down on the grass 2
bv we heard big rumhiin seun
WANDER and saw de smoke IN &c g !
and cap'n Hunter comm runnih ,
lzsIss - - =, xr;s. Mx.rxr la01yi in like 3 81