Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-10-26
SUGY-HONEY'S WORK

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There was no pomp or ceremony at the
christening of Sugy Honey; neither would
the most visionary asrologer have en-
dowed her with mission
Her mother was the fayorite maid OF
pretty Georgia girl before the days OF SCI
cession and had given to her baby this
queer sounding name, because, as she ex-
planned to her young mistress:
Sugar is sweet, en- so is honey en- de
baby is sweeter dan elder, en- SO TIE
named her fer bofe.
Mary Henson laughed at her servants
fancy, but she was an intlulgent mistress
and made no real objection, so that Ham
nah's baby was henceforth known to Ha-
eel Dell farm as Sugy Honey.
To mistress and maid as to mother and
child, the happy years went by without pre-
sage Of the horrors Of war in store for that
summer land and that sunny hearted peo-
pie. Yet when Sle first gun of Fort Sum
ter sent its thunderous echoes round the
world, it found Mary father already the
colonel of "a regiment on his way to join
his command, leaving his plantation to
tho care of his wife and daughter and a
few trusted servants. These had proved
themselves faithful in days Of peace and
prosperity. They were now to be found
not less SO through years of adversely and
peril. Hannah, with Jake, her husband,
and Sugy- Honey were the main house
servants. "All own i'll the world and all
/ love leave III your hands, were the
last words Of Colonel Henson as he rode
away, and events proved that he knew in
whom he could trust
The day came at last when the war,
with all its changes, was over, and Han
nah had heard that her master was coming
home.
Four years Of civil strife had left their
impress on hillside and valley, as we'll in
the hearts of the people. The Henson man
sion. which had been built in colonial
times, of stone brought as ballast from the
mother country, was now a heap Of ruins,
and its ashes had been traInpled by sway
ing lines of men grappied together in the
deadly struggle for victory. Another i'm
.pressiye symbol of the family misfortunes
was a newly made grave in the little fam
ilyburying ground, where an inscription
oIEa slab of white pine told to those who
cared to read that the mother of the house
hold had closed her eyes to the sorrows of
time Hannah was making ready for her
master little room in the corner Of the
yard called an office, which, with her own
cabin, were the only buildings left stand
ing. While thus occupied she was expound-
ing her troubles to Sugy Honey, who was
diligently scrubbing the floor.
ADese here is quare times, Sugy-Honey,
l tell you. Everybody gon off de place but
you en- me, en- yer daddy, en- po' ole miss
daid wild heartbreak, case Miss Mary, went
en- marry dat Yankee capting. I'm what Is
l gwine ter tell marster when he cuinS |
jos lax ter know datl'
Sugy Honey did not essay to solve this
problem, but, giving her scrubbing brush
an extra dig, she said:
Nanny, does you reckin marster will
tax on bout Miss Mary gittin married lax
ole miss dido"
"Sho, chile, ole miss didn't keer SO much
fer herself. She done give up ter take
whatebber de Lawd sem. Twas jes' case
she knowed how marster WIS gwine rar
whom he git home.
The clicking Of the little gate broke in
ON The conversation, and turning they saw
Colonel Henson standing at the donr.
He had been handsome man, but hard
ship and suffering had left their mark
upon him, and he looked old and worn.
"Thank de Lawd, marster, +" said Han
nah. ~ sho is glad ter see you back. Take
dis cheer by de fire''-dusting that article
with her handkerchief the while, though
twas already spotless. "Set dar en- warm
yer po', tired feet en- lem HE git yer sum
supper. =
Hannah knew he had heard of his wife's
death and Of the destruction Of the house,
but no one had told him of the detection
CT his daughter, and she was seeking with
hustle and CHATTER to put off the evil mo-
ment when the i'll tidings must be told.
Colonel Henson made no reply, but
looked through the window at the vacant
spot where his home once stood, and at
the grave just beyond tho box borders of
the garden, showing a reddish yellow in
the last rays of the setting sun.
His face, though sad, was not hopeless,
for, despite the issues Of the war and the
desolation surrounding him, he was ex-
pecting each moment to hear his daugh-
ters voice and to feel her arms around his
neck. He had been alone in his sorrow so
long! Why did she not come? AT last he
turned to Hannah and said, where is
Mary?"
"Oh, marster, who is ter tell you bout
dat? can't" And throwing her apron
over her head she rocked to and fro, shak-
ing with sobs.
"Speak, womanH said the colonel stern
ly. is she deads'
Hannah uncovered her face and looked
at him. When he looked and. talked like
that, she knew she must obey.
"She is married. en- when she heard you
wus in prison she en- her husband say dey