The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-05-20

twas nigh dinner time twel we hear de
quarter horn blow to call folkses in from
de feel; an den see lfP ole black Dilsey at
de big house come to de dinin' room do
an ring de dinner bell.
+. dat was a sassy liz niger gal! She
sho was black, but she think case she stay
in de VIII folks house she white as de
viii folks, an hilt her head high when de
fief hams pass by her.
'De silo was good ole days. But dem
times can't come no mo-, kase ole mis-
she done gone, an dee amt nobody TO take
her place. L chOkes up whenever L thinks
of ole mis-, an sometimes de tears 'bleege
to drap. 1 thinks bout dat time when
mammy's lrP baby died; when ole mis-
come over to mammy's house an sot .dar
an gin de baby medcin, an work wild
it plum twel de chickens crow for mid
night. Den Lame Torn, he hilt &c pine
torch for her, an she went on home, an
we all thought ole mis- was done in de bed
'sleep. But bimeby, bless yo' soul, we look
out-de do an see a light steamin' cross
de quarter yard, an dlr was ole mis- an
Lame Torn comm over de stile. An she
come in, she did, an sot dar an sOt dar
plum twel de bref lef' de baby.
Den she say to NANNY: God bless you.
Minervy; de Lord give you de chile, an de
Lord tuck it away; blessed be de name or
de Lord
81 mus go now, hun. I could STAN
here an talk all day eff 1 didn' have muffin
else to do, but l don't have de time now
like when me an you use to play toSedder.
Dem sho was good ole times!
'Goodby, hun. L be back SADLY after
my frock; den I stay longer wild you, an
l fetch you dem hicl<'y nuts an long
string of popcorn, too. Take good keer
yose'f. honey. God bless 70 liz soul twel
L sees you ag'iR!'
Her dark shadow passed out of The
doorway and left me to rumnatc over
those dear good old times long gone.
Hubby was right; doubtless those were
her happiest days-they certainly we're
mine.
'De mex fus' Sunday, &c day sot apart
for de fun'al" came, and Hubby, arrayed
in her new black calico froclE, the mourn
ing she had considered proper for the sol
emn occasion OF attending her husbands
first wife-s funeral. looked quite compla-
cent and diSniied as she walked with a
satisfied air up the aisle OF the little
church and took "a seat with the chief
mourners on the front bench.
The husbands sria for tine wife whose
religious obsequies they had come to at
tend seemed TO have been mitigated and
his loss fully restored in the possession Of
the bride OF three weeks a. has side.
The funeral vas well attended. One
year had given sufficient time to advertise
was uncomfortably packed.
If there is any one occasion more than
another THAI has peculiar charm and at
traction Tor, the 'cOlored person, it is that
of the funeral and burial services. / have
known men. to leave their plov-s stand
ing in the field and women To- leave their
dinner partly cooked with possibility of
its burning TO 4 crisp, and so on mo-
mcnt's notice 10 attend the funeral of one
| OF their own race.
In a town on the Alabama river once
knew a little black girl. about fourteen
years OF age. who, Uleu she hired TO d
| lady friend of mine. stipulated IN the
| agreement That she must always release
her from duty whenever there was "A III
neral in tine ucighborhOod.
The proposition was accepted. a few
days afterwards as the girl was sweeping
the front hall she happened To near =
bell tolling. Stoppic@ suddenly in the act
OF sWet pliS- ahe HSte.l'i z iac!ilt!tl, lhsii
as suddenly dropped thc broom i'm the mid
die OF the floor. left IL. together WiLn
| pile of trash, ami rushed 70 the kitchen
seized Ier hat and said TO the cook as Sh
ran rapidly out oI the back door.
! Tel Miss May am done some to
.ior on dar. ealr' said the cook &c
! YOU gwine? Whose fUn'al is DAFT
| The excited cirI replied in
from outside the gate:
| Don't be sJopn.n me now
! IN hurry. I dunno who's DE-
/ you hear dat bcll CIR t0nin?"
/ The custom of preaching the
! mon one year after death is kept
: day among the cOlOred people IL
I sections of the southern states.
/ ON The occasion of which we write
funeral of ''Brcr Eurls fus' wife
4 seats. the Rev. Noses Cunningham.
''J-nc' Nose Cunuycin.' MS he IS femiliarl
called. q venerable old black man. arose in
the pulpit and after going through with
] the usual preiminaries of drinking great
! deal of water and clearing his throat sew
eral times. took his text and discoursed in
. 4.assfrar at4
4 half without once touching Unou the text
or abiding 10 the deceased sister.
At the close of the sermon the brothers
/ and sisters OF the church. with other mem
beers OF. the large cnnpra--f tiou. eagerly
/ pressed forward ana offered cCnG~a tlla-
the newly married couple had taken their
The inconrrutv Of the situation never
/ once scored 10 occur To any one OF tnat
J happy assembly.
/ riouS green earth. the rCeTocs. take them
under any and all circumstances. are the
/ hauuiest
The last time 7 saw Hulav she assured
me that she eninvad herself nightly the
dav of the funeral. AMI hadn't forgotten
i me for m:kiD= fhe nice dress she wore
on that suspicious occasion- ,r---,..->-
Auburn. Ala. May II. 1895.
sam JoneS on Prinnin'.
A young lacy who heard sam Jones
. preach recently tells The following, which
is but characteristic of the man, Before
+ beginning his sermon he proceeded to re-
/ buke his late ComcTs- Now what makes
. YOU women latc2 I'll ten you-primpin'- All
I the late Corners who Didn't stay at home
i nrimalu' stand up." 40 one rose but q
. very ugly woman SAM looked at her a
/ moment and remarked "NcU God knows.
sister you need primpi1' and il makes no
+ difference how late You come hereafter
F.. I'll make no fuss"