The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-18
SUGY-HONEY'S WORK


dowod her with mission.
Hor mother was tho favorite maid Of
pretty Georgia girl before tho days of So
cession and had given to hor baby this
queer sounding name, because, Us sho OK
planned to her young mistress:
Sugar is sweet, en- SO is honey, on do
baby is sweeter dan cider, on so I'zo
named her fer bofe.'
Mary Henson laughed at her servants
fancy, but she was an indulgont mistress
and mado no real objection, so that Han
nah's baby was honccforth known to Ha-
eel Dell farm rs Sugy-Honcy.
10 mistress and maid, rs to mother and
child, the happy years went by without pre-
sage of tho horrors of war in store for that
summer land and that sunny hearted pco-
pie. Yet whom tho first gun of Fort Sum
ter sent its thundcrous echoes round tho
world, it found Mary's father already tho
colonel of II regiment ON his way to join
his command, leaving his plantation to
tho caro- of his vito and daughter and
few trusted servants. These had proved
themselves faithful in days of peace and
prosperity. They woro now to DO found
not loss so through years of adversely and
peril. Hannah, with Jake, her husband,
and Sugy- Honey wore tho main house
servants. "All own III tho world and all
love leave in your hands," wcro tho
last words of Colonel Henson rs ho rode
away, and ovonts proved that ho know in
whom no could trust.
The day camo Mt Inst when tho war
with al its changes, was over; and Han
nah had heard that her master was coming
homo.
-Four years of civil strife Ind left their
impress on hillside and valley, as well in
tho hearts of the people, Tho Henson man
sion. which had been built In colonial
times, of stono brought rs ballast from tho
mother country, was now heap of ruins
and its ashes had been tramplcd by sway
ing lines of mon grapplcd together In the
deadly struggle for victory. Another i'm
preSSivo symbol OF tho family misfortuncs
was newly made grave in tho little fam
lily burying ground where an inscription
OH n slab of white Pine told to those who
cared to read that tho mother of tho house
hold had closed her Dyes to tho sorrows of
time. Hannah was making ready for her
master little room in tho corner OF tho
yard called an Office, which, with her own
cabin, were tho only buildings left stand
ing. While thus occupied she was cxpound-
ing her troubles to Sugy Honey, who was
diligently scrubbing tho floor.
Desc here is quare times, Sugy- Honey
tell you. Ebcrybody gon off do place but
you ell me, Ell yer daddy, on POI olo miss
daid wild hcartbrcak, case Miss Mary went
on marry dat Yankee capting. En- what is
l gwino ter tell marster whom he cum? 1
jcs' lax ter know dat''
Sugy-Honey did not essay to solve this
problcm but giving hor scrubbing brush
an extra dig, sho said:
Nanny, does you rcckin marster Will
TAX Oh bout Miss Mary gittin married lax
olo miss did,"
'Sho, chilo, olo miss didn't tccr so much
fer herself Sho dono give up ter take
whatebbcr dc Lawd sem. 'Twas les case
sho knowod how mnrstcr wus gwinc rar
when he git home"
The clicking of tho little cato broke in
OH the conversation, and turning they saw
Colonel Henson standing mt the door
lilo had been II handsome man, but hard
ship and suffering had left their mark
upon him, and he looked old and worn.
Thank do Lawd marstcr," said Han
nah. 81 sho is glad ter see you back. Take
Ills cheer by dc flre''-dusting that article
with her handkerchief the while, though
it was already spotless "Sot dar en- warm
yer po, tired feet on lem mo git yer sum
supper
Hannah knew he had heard of his wifc's
death and of tho destruction of the house,
but no one had told him of tho detection
CT his daughter and sho was seeking with
Dustlo and CHATTER to put off tho evil mo-
mcnt when tho i'll tidings must bo told.
Colonel Henson made no reply, but
looked through tho window at the vacant
spot where his home once stood and mt
tho grave just beyond tho box borders of
the garden, showing Il reddish yellow in
tho last rays of tho setting sun
His face, though sad, was not hopeless,
Tor, despite the issues of the war and tho
dcSoation surrounding him, he was cx-
Dectiup each mOmnpt N brnr b;e ,l,,,,,I
tcr's voice and to feel her arms around his
neck. Ho had been alone in his sorrow SO
long! Why did she not come? AT last no
turned to Hannah and said "Whcre is
Nary"
ooh, marstcr, who is ter tell you bout
dat? can't" And throwing her apron
over hcr head she rocked to and fro, shak-
ing with sobs.
Speak, woman" said the colonel stern
ly. lis she dcad?'
Hannah uncovered her face and looked
at him. When he looked and talked like
that, sho knew she must obey.
''Sho is married, en- WHEN she heard YOU
WIS in prison she on her husband say tlcy
gwinc git you out
Married? And to whom?''
Ter dat capting whar cum long hero
wild Gincral sherman. He took kcer oh
her Oh ole miss when dc house wus burnt,
en- though Sho hated IL Yankee like pizcn
love Is stronger dan hate en- she loved
him."
Colonel Henson said nothing, but he
looked like u man who had received his
doauhblow.
Hannah knclt at his feet, pouring out
from her heart protcstations of loyalty and
affection and from stocking she had TAX
en- from her pocket 5000 in gold She
begged hin! to sake tho money; she had
lni,lI IN