Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-01-27
SJJGY-HONEY'S WORK


There was no pomp or ceremony at the
christening Of Sugy Honey; neither would
the most visionary astrologer have en-
lowed her with mission.
Her mother was the favorite maid Of
pretty Georgia girl before the days of Sc
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 IL honey, en- dc
baby is sweeter dan elder, en- so Tze
named her fer bofe.'
Mary Henson laughed at her servants
fancy, but she was an indulgent mistress
and made no real objection, so that Han
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 the first gun of Fort Sum
ter sent it's thunderous echoes round the
world, it found Mary's father already the
colonel of regiment on his way to join
his command, leaving his plantation to
tho care of his wife and daughter and
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 in the world and all
I love leave in 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 heap of ruins,
and it's ashes had been trampled by sway
ing lines of men grappled together in the
deadly struggle for victory. Another i'm
pressive symbol Of the family lnisfortunes
was newly made grave in the little fam
lily burying ground, where an inscription
on 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.
''Dese here is quare times, Sugy- Honey,
tell you. Eberybody gon off dc place but
YOU en- me, en- yer daddy, en- POI ole miss
daid wild heartbreak, case Miss Mary went
en- marry dat Yankee capting. Fin what is
I gwine ter tell marster when he cum? l
jes lax ter know dat!'
Sugy Honey. did not essay to solve this
problem, but, giving her scrubbing brush
an extra dig, she said:
''Mammy, does you reckin marster will
tax on bout Miss Mary gittin married lax
ole miss did,"
'tSho, chile, ole miss didn't keer SO much
for herself She done give up ter take
whatebber de Lawd SEN. Twas jes' case
she knowed how marster wus gwine rar
when he git home"
The clicking Of the little gate broke in
on the conversation, and turning they saw
Colonel Henson standing at the door.
He had been a 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. III sho is glad ter see you back. Take
dis cheer by de fire. busting that article
with her handkerchief the while, though
it was already spotless "Set dar en- warm
YER no.. tired feet on lem me git yer sum
supper
Hannah knew he had heard of his wife 6
death and Of the destruction of the house,
but no one had told him of the detection
Of his daughter, and she was seeking with
hustle and clatter to nut 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
snot where his home once stood, and at
the grave lust beyond the box borders OF
the garden. showing reddish yellow in
the last RVS az the setting sun,
His face. though sad. was not hopeless,
for. despite the issues of the war and the
desolation surrounding him, he was OK.
pecting each moment to hear his daugh-
ter's voice and to feel her arms around his
neck. He had been alone in his sorrow SC
lonrl WHY did she not Gomez At last he
turned to Hannah and said, "Where is
Mary?,
ooh. marster. who il ter tell YOU bout
datY / can't" And throwing her apron
over her head she rocked to and fro, shak
Ing with sobs.
HSpeak. woman p said tn o colonel stern.
iv ttTa she daaap,,