The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-26
BETSY'S FREAK.

L
was a big pine knot fire fairly roarin in de
chimbly, an Granny Betsy had all her
chilluns in dar an she had hol' oh Lige
an Prissy an was sousin 'em in a big tub
oh water, an a-scrubbin 'em same's if dey
be q greasy floor. Jake an Bill, dey was
done scrubbed an had on dair clean cloes,
an was stannin by lOokin on as solumn's
if massa done kotched 'em ridin dat colt
agin, an Lucy an Marian dey done all
dress up in dair hnery, wild red ribbon
bow at dair froats an dair Sunday head
hankerchers on. Dey nebber look roun
nor take no notice OBJ me, so JUS walk
rite IN an say For de Lawd sake, Granny
Betsy, what IS you doin std oh gittin
breakus for de white fOkesg When I say
dat, Granny Betsy, she riz herself rite
straight up an say: Il done cook my las
breakus for white foxes. De Lawd tole
me to git ready, me an my chilluns, an he
gwine sen a gold carrige by sun up to
take me up to hebben, whar we'll git
good breakus done cook for US. He say de
gates OBJ hebben gwine to Op'n wide for de
gold carrige to ride us straight froo, an
dc snow white garments is all made an
a-waitin for US to put EN- on, an walk
bout de golden streets wild muffin to do
but sing, jus like quality foxes.
Den she grab up Lige an gin to scrub
him agin, an got outen dar quick huff,
for seem like Granny Betsy done gone
crazy or de debbI's in her shore. Den
come to wake you up, mistis. !"
you did quite right, Tom Tell your
master to send Yellow Jane down to take
Betsy's place. "
This old negress' religious ideas were in
a fearful jumble She had doubtless heard
the Bible read, and the portions that made
most impression on her mind took such
hold of her vivid Imagination that the in
cidents became a part Of her life and expe-
rience. From the history of Joseph she
became an interpreter of dreams and was
considered an oracle among the other ne
groes She undoubtedly shaped her con
version by PauI's and Elijah translation
gives the olew to the freak which is the
subject OF my narration.
After q little while I went into mothers
room. She had begun to dress herself
hastily as soon as Tom had gotten far
enough in his story for her to understand
the state of things in the kitchen and was
now ready to 60 with Libbie, the house
servant, and superintend the cooking of
breakfast. My curiosity prompted me to
follow her into the kitchen.
When we entered the door, we found
Betsy and her family at the lower end of
the room. The youngest child was on her
lap and the others we're seated around on
chairs and boxes Well Betsy, said my
mother pleasantly, II thought your car
riage would have come before this -
The negro raised her head defiantiy when
mother began 20 speak and turned her face
half away from her, but the tone and words
We're so different from what she expected
that the rigid expression of her counte-
nance softened as she replied, de Lawd Il
take his own time, mistis. -
Mother said nothing more, but ordered
Ldbbie to replenish the fire and then moved
quietly around showing her what to do and
apparently taking no further notice of
Betsy and her family.
I took a stand in one corner Of the broad
fireplace and furtiyely watched the group
at the other end of the room. The older
girls seemed to be in perfect sympathy with
their mother, but the younger children,
who had been kept in subordination by the
novelty of their mother S actions, were now
fast becoming FESTIVE The youngest soon
yielded to the sopori6c effects of his warm
bath, but I could hear Bill and Jack beg
cling to be released, to which entreaties she
would reply: "Sot STILL won't yer The
carrige mout come; den whar wud ye bef"
When my mother had the breakfast
cooked, she very cOnsiderat ely left enough
hominy, potatoes and gravy for the hungry
children and from the rush of footsteps
toward the fireplace after we left the kitch-
en- we concluded that either the mutiny
was beyond control or Granny Betsy Was
not so far removed from sublunary things
as to refuse q savory ready cooked break
fast, even If it must be eaten outside the
gates of heaven.
Such was her faith that she remained
waiting at her post all day, but the chill
dren got beyond her control The girls
began to show signs Of doubt when dinner
was past and their mothers hopes not
realized. They became su1ky and at last
ventured to leave their seats and 60 about
their usual duties. By this time the
smaller ones had lost all trace of their
mornings additions. and with faces be-
grimed with dirt and grease and their
clothes soiled were in a sad plight to be-
gin a Journey heayenward.
My mother bore with Betsy s within with
the greatest patience. Yellow Jane came
and prepared dinner and did all the work
Just before the sun went down my brother
put his head inside the kitchen door and
called out, Say, Granny Betsy, how about
that golden carrige now" Betsy, who
never lacked an answer on ordinary occa-
sion, was not forsaken this time by her
ready wit. De Lawd has been tryin my
faith, Marse Jorge, - she replied; he's Jus
done it to see if I'Ee trus'in him
She sat patiently waiting till the sun
was quite down, and then, as I was stand
ing near a window through which had a
view Of her, 1 saw her rise hastily, pull off
her best clothes and quickly put on her
work dress and begin to hustle around I
heard her say to Yellow Jane, who had
commenced preparations for supper: " You
git Outsn dis kitchen, Niger. Dair's mo-
body but Betsy kin make coffee an biskits
ftten for marster supper. You kin cook
for niggers and pore white foxes, but I
dus de cookia in dis kitchen for shore "
And then 1 knew Betsy dream was over.
New Orleans Times.
Where Don Quixote Was Ekniehted.
The rf,ins vera of an iuanortant Venta