The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-02-15

warm anu SOU, anu al hOOONlllc was
excited over the coming Washington
birthday celebration. There was to be
a procession of the military and civic
organizations, and the eloquent young
lawyer. Howell Marion. of Richmond,
would deliver a eulogy upon the great
patriot and soldier.
There had been no commemoration
of the day since the war. and the Wood
villeites felt that it reflected upon the
patriotism of good Virginians to suffer
so important an event to go by unno-
ticed. All the neighboring towns mani
tested lively interest in the coming
ceremonies, which promised to be of
exceptional Importance.
This is why old Mizraim Temple was
moving about so restlessly over the
plantation of his former master, Col.
Elton Temple. The orator of the day
was to be the guest of the Temples,
who lived but two miles from the vii
lage, and Mizraim, who had Loyalty re-
mained upon the old place after eman-
cipation. felt that all the responsible
tiles and duties of the coming event
rested upon his shoulders.
Old Mizraim, his wife Dinah, who
later passed to her reward, and his
daughter Piney were the only ones of
the cid servants who lived on with
their master, the hundreds of others
scattering in every direction after they
were set free.
''Marser needs me, n 1 ain gwins;
nuther's you, Dinah."
''Who done said l wuz?" demanded
Dinah, Indignantly.
Piney grew up under her mothers
care, was taught all the mysteries of
her sl1illful cookery and succeeded the
old woman when she died. Piney de-
spised the "Lincoln-freed niggers," as
she termed them, and as there were no
others thereabouts she had remained
single.
AS Mizraim and Piney stood under a
big magnolia that grew near the kitch-
en- door, the old man scratched his gray
locks and said: "Piney, huccum dey
meek sich er furse erbout Ginrul Wash
in'ton's bufday?"
The daughter endeavored to explain
the part taken by the immortal hero in
the struggle for independence, conclud-
ing with:
HE was the Father of His Country,
paw"
"De farder of all dis yere country, po'
white trash an all? Den, lawsamussy,
eff 1 wuz him I'd be p'inted ershamed er
myself. ] don see no use er bufdays
nohow. Dey just naterly keep on err
'mindin' yer dat yer's ergittin' older
all de time, n my achin' bones done
tells me dat. Whuh Ginrul Washin ton
lib?"
"Why, paw, he's been daid jamby er
hunnerd years"
''Glong, gal! Den white folks is
bigger fools den 1 fought. Waiter
good gwine do ter him n he daid?"
Its to larn the ivin' how good he
wuz an how he fou't an saved this
country NJ"
Look er here, gal, does yer teck me
fer er fool? Did he do all er dis yere
on his bufday? Den whatter dey
wanter hab it on datter day? But
jisser don meclxin' myself sick worryin'
ober de foolishness er white folks. Shet
up, Piney, shet up. Oar come Miss
Gracey now"
The old negro pulled off his some
what battered hat and began to bow
and scrape in acknowledgment of the
presence of most beautiful and charm
ing young woman, who smiled pleas
antly upon him and his curtseying
daughter.
''Now, Uncle Mizraim, you know we
do have to depend upon you. Can't you
get US some nice fish and game? You
know we shall have company on the
Twenty-second."
"Yaas'm, Miss Gracey, yaas'm, l
know, but yer see hits pooty soon fer
de shad n hurrin' n ruther late fer a
fat viii tuckey. 1 mOught git"
Il knew you would, Uncle Mizraim.
lam especially anxious that everything
shall be pleasant and nice and am sure
you will make an extra effort to please
me-"
''Datter de way" grumbled Mizraim,
when the young lady had passed on.
''Hit's Mizurm dis n Mizurm dat, n
Mizurm tother," and he went off NUT
tering.
La, paw 'ould be mis'able eff he
couldn' complain. S eff 1 didn' know
he druther be in a muss nur eat, >
laughed Piney, as she entered her
realm.
Elton Temple was an old-school Vir-
ginia gentleman, whose blood was blue
as indigo and ran unsullied back to
noble lords in old England. He was
disposed to regard with great favor the
marked preference shown his daughter
by the gifted young lawyer who would
be his guest il . day or two. Marion S
family was as ancient as his own and
more than once the blood of that line
had blended in marriage with that OF
the Temples.
Col. Temple was a very proud, yet
very worthy and upright man. He
had served the south faithfully during
its secession struggle, and at the close
OF hostilities surrendered in good
faith, becoming obedient unto the
laws Without repining he accepted
the results of battle, bearing up brave
~ under the loss OF negroes, stocks,
bonds, notes, depreciation in land val.
ues, etc, and resumed his planter life
under the changed conditions, dealing
justly by the freedmen as he formerly
had acted humanely to his slaves.
Washington was his apotheosis. One
of hSs male ancestors had married g
Washington and he gloried in the con
nection. 1t was largely through his in
fuence that the celebration of the hero's
natal day was determined upon, and il
was upon his advice that young Marion
was chosen orator.