The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-09-30
BETSY HAMILTON.
"DAT QUARTER"
I'm Ebony CrarOH Sketch.

as touching To me as IL was amusing ana
characteristics.
rho old woman who did my washing
generally brought the clothes in at Il reg
ular hour on Saturday mornings; but one
day she failed To come at the usual time.
Late that afternoon very black little
girl. with very white teeth, ana very
flashing eye. entered my room unceremo-
nicusly, advanced to the center and stood
gazing about her as though trying to make
sure she was at the right place.
A large white oak split basket full of
freshly Numbered clothes lowered high
above her, and poised steadily upon the
top OF her soft, woody head. She set her
arms akimbo, leaving the basket UNI
touched, but balanced as easily and grace
fully as a feathers weight and turned
to me, showing those two rows Of white.
shining teeth as she inquired:
is you de white oman what granny
washes fug?"
i recognized my own clothes, of course.
ana told ner to lay them out of the
basket. With the same ease and grace
that kept the bulk upon her head it was
lifted on aud deposited on the floor. The
arms like wax figure went alsinlho
again; and 0ae bare foot set out firmly in
front Of her.
Granny say" said she. dat her was
sick today, an couldn't fetch de cloze,
an she sont ne wild 'em, an her say would
you please glam sen her dc money by
mcG'
Scventy-flye cents was the amount due
granny" fc" the wash and rot having
the change. ] handed the girl dollar bill
to get changed at the cOner store not far
away. She bounded off so rapidly 1 thought
she would soon return; but she staid SO
long I began to wonder what had become
OF her, and # il were possible that she had
skipped out with the whole amount. |
began also TO regret that l had so thought
lcssly put temptation into the hands Of 4
yodng ana ignorant child. when presently
she came saun.ering in swinging her arms
and smqcBing her lips ami chewing
chestnut most gcrousiy. Her manner was
as nonchalant and unconcerncd as though
she had been gone bur a few minutes.
why did yor stay SO long, l asked.
Dem show : ks was a-llaYin de pan.
an de liz oil monkey he was a-daucin
up dlr on top Of dc ban wasgin, an
a whole heap o bosses was oEwiae long dc
road an rs ch;l'.n follered EN-, an heard
&c ban play"
with two or three chestnuts tightly
clasped in one hand, she held out the other
uttte dark palm to me showing three sill
yer quarters. Eycng ner suspiciously for
a moment, / incurred where the other quar-
ter was.
pats all no gimme" she replied.
locked at her closely without a word.
II des dcelar dat's an dc man gimme
"NEat MANI
DE stu' man.
what store?'
'Dat sto' UP Oar So town"
,,,I a. ~, ti,
"Nhore did you get thsse chostnuts."
My uncle, lac ell o. me.
where is your u
we UP To-" .,,
Wh" -,
E'iN =,
90 H. a,,,n
me
- ,'.
i'l ~ l. ,....1. -..
i-'' "''NS AVIS 80" - -
hE "f'"h @''''' 90 |
empty tAo emma t''"'i-''S "'''''
''"I wa 4
you ken sareh me Ell you wants 10,
'dds' but e45 o1''@' 4" -'"''U' am
cot dal quarter.
nave not accused !ou 81 ME -,
money saio l. as hI"ulS a.
o"lS want you 10 ~" "-C 49, - ,,,,,
have spent H. say So but you i"u5. "e-
An expression OF strong defiance came
into hcr dark face. She shifted her feet
ana stood rcsoIutely chewing the chestnut
- 81 49,. l,i,,, tal,. ,.o,,
P"4l, '"''"' a@i0 ''''G ~ ~ - ~! >,
.I l,,ono le man. dunno who de man
e., ., 49,, ;,,,r-,,,tad
~ -. ~, .+,,,. ., enid .o,d
-u1 you M" - - -, "a 60
the policeman can take you thcIt anu ma
the man, and"
II dunno de MIN. 1 dunno de stO'; dunno
what sto' it was biting another chestnut
A., .,.o, ~ do- deeIa,.' 10 Goodness. white
!" e''' - IA ,,,,,,.,o,.. 90 nm 5ro,,
oman, ! iltt sou u't 2"'l Wa - -" i'l
C,aG Amt got dat quarter, an II utn
..,yi.. "a bc huns / amt got DAT qutrter,
f, 49,, tia in nv tracks | ain't rot dat
81" ~
quarter. ,,,, ,+
D hardly knew what 10 40 co"iu mo-
TRUST her 20 take money TO her grand
,r.tnrr nor Was IL altogether right TO let
b,r co without accounting Tor the missing
80 -. 49,. ,,,.tt,., ,ariot,4t,-. over
piece. lhouait i''' '''', "a =.
a moment lHth q"tHg C'"Seu li'c UVoi az"
locked il.
..verv wen. then" said l. 81 don't care