The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-19
SUGY-HONEY'S WORK

Thore was no pomp or ceremony at the
christening of Sugy- Honey; neither would
tho most visionary astrologor have On
dowed her with mission.
Her mother WAS tho fnyorito maid of n
pretty Georgia girl boforO the days of So
cession and had given to her baby this
queer sounding namo, because, as she ex-
planned to lor young mistress:
Sugar Is sweet, en- so is honey, on DC
baby is swootcr dan cider, on SO I'ze
named her fer bofo."
Mary Henson laughed Mt her servants
fancy, but she was an indulScnt mistress
and made no real objection, so TINT Han
nah's baby WAS hcnccforth known to IIa-
gel Dell farm us Sugy-Honey.
To mistress and maid, as to mothor and
child, the happy years went by without pro-
saSo Of tho horrors of war in store for that
summer land and that sunny hearted peo-
pie Yut when the first gun of Fort sum
ter sent its thundcrous echoes round the
world, 1t found Mary's father already tho
colonel of u regiment on his way to join
his command, leaving his plantation to
the care OF his wife and daughter and a
few trusted servants. These had proved
themselves faithful in days of peace and
prosperity. They wero now to DO found
not less SO through years of advcrsity and
peril. Hannah, with Jake, her husband,
and Sugy-Honcy wcro tho main house
servants. "All l own III the world and all
l love / leave in your hands, " were the
last words of Colonel Henson rs he rode
away, and events proved that he know in
whom he could trust.
Tho day cano ut last when tho 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
tho hearts OF tho people, Tho Henson man
sion. which had been built in colonial
times, of stono brought as ballast from tho
mother country, WAS now a heap of ruins,
and its ashes had been trampcd by sway
ing lines of mon grapplcd together in tho
deadly struggle for victory. Another i'm
pressivo symbol OF the family misfortuncs
was Il newly mado grave in tho little fam
lily burying ground, where an inscription
on slab of white pine told to those who
cared TO read that tho mother of the house
hold had closed her eyes to tho SORROWS OF
time. Hannah was making ready for her
master q little room in tho corner of the
yard called an Office, which, with her own
cabin, wcrn tho only buildings left stand
ing. While thus occupied sho Was cxpound-
ing her troubles to Sugy Honey, who was
diligently scrubhing the floor.
Desc here is quare times, Sugy- Honey,
tell YOU EbGrybody gon off dc place but
you Oh mo, en- yer daddy, en- po olo miss
daid wild hcartbrcak, case Miss Mary went
en- marry dat Yankee cnpting. En- what is
l gwino ter toll mnrster when ho cum?
jes' lax ter know dat'
Sugy-Honey did not essay to solve this
problem, but. giving hor scrubbing brush
an extra dig, she said:
" NANNY, does you rccisin mnrsser will
TAX on bout Hiss Mary gittin married lax
ole miss did?"
"!Sho, chile ole miss didn't kcor so much
fer herself. She done give up ter take
whatcbbcr dc Lawd SEN. Twas les case
she knowed how maYster WIS gwinc rar
whom he git home"
Tho clicking Of tho little cato broke in
on the conversation, and turning they saw
Colonel Henson standing at the door.
llo had been IL handsome man, but hard
ship and slfiioriEg had left their mark
upon him, and no looked old and worn.
"Thani dc Lawd, niarstcr," said Han
nah. 9 | sho is glad ter sec you back Take
dis cheer by &c firc"-dusting that article
with her handkerchief the while, though
1t was already spotlcss "Sct dar Ell 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 the detection
Of his daughter, and she was seeking with
hustle and CHATTER to put off tho evil mo-
mcnt when tho i'll tidings must be told.
Colonel Henson made 10 reply, but
looked through tho window mt tho vacant
spot where his homo once stood, and at
tho grave just beyond tho box borders OF
the garden, showing reddish yellow in
tho last rays of the setting sun.
His face, though sad, WAS not hopeless,
for, despite the issues of the war and tho
dcsolation surrounding him, ho was OK
pccting each moment to hear his daugh.
tcr's voice and to feel her arms around his
neck. He had been alone in his sorrow so
longl Why did she not come? At last no
turned to Hannah and said, "Whore is
Nary"
"Oh, mnrstc., who is ter tell you bout
dat? l can't And throwing her apron
over her head she rocked To and fro, shal-
ing with sobs.
Speak, woIndnn' said the colonel stern
ly. is she dnad?'
Hannah uncovered her face and looked
at him. When he looked and talked like
that, sho know sho must obey.
'Sho is married. on when she heard you
WIS in prison she en- her husband say dcy
gwino git you out.
'Marriedp And to whom?"
Ter dat Gaping whar cum long hero
wild Gincral Sherman. He tool, lloer oh
her en- olo miss Whom dc house wus burnt,
On though she Satcd Ia Yankee like piZcn
love is strong0 dan hate, en- slio loved
him."
Colonel Honst.., said nothing, but no
looked like II niau who had received his
dcauhblow.
unnnnh knnlt 1t his foot nn,,rino, ont