The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-02
F. ED. sPooNER.
Copyright, 1861
LILLY.

By that strange law Of contradictions
the baby, born OF parents of the purest
negro blood and herself almost as black
as a human being is ever found in this
country, was named after the fairest
flower. At the time in her career about to
be described she was well along in years.
She had been born a slave, and until she
was we'll into the twenties she had been
the property of this and that master, and
she knew what 1t was to be owned. body
and soul. Thirty years of freedom had left
but little impress on her memory of the
slave days. but when she entered the fam
lily of Rev. DR.. Carter as maid Of all work
she had a quality that had chung to hef
from the earlier time, a quality Of devQtinn.
COUPLED with another which bespoke free
dom and which, in everyday Ternacular.
might be called freshness rShe was very
humble when she first came to take service
with Rev. Mr.. Carte, on a street not over
a mile from tnS monument, and she was so
wen treatedE hat she became thoroughly
interested IN the family. She often sug-
gested TASKS for herself to do. When Mrs.
CarteY would come in the house some mud
dy-8ay after walking. Lilly would beg her
TO take of yo skut and le'me clean ut
Should the young daughter want a dress
washed In the middle of the week in order
to go to a picnic or party, Lilly begged to
be allowed to do it up. Should the minister
want his breakfas st ready for an early serv-
ice. Lilly would demand that the rest of the
family rest as long as they pleased and she
would arise early. get the breakfast for
the Doctor and take Y to his door. 1t was
such acts as these that made them all like
Lilly and made them willing TO overlook a
few of her deficiencies. Her kitchen was
rarely in immaculate order and there were
soiled dishes and spattered papers on the
pantry shelves and dust swept behind the
door. but she was a real old-time Southern
cook, n whatever materials she turned
into a pan. IAN JUS stuhed up was bound
to be well worth eating.
Lilly had been living In the family for
a little more than two years when she was
taken i'll. She begged TO be taken TO the
hospital for she had "such a misery in
side, 1 JUS know I'm gofn' to be sick and
mebbe die" She was removed to the hos
pital and surs enough she was sick for
weeks. and still other weeks getting well.
but soon after she left the hospital she was
herself again. strong and ready for work.
She went to see Mrs. Carter. but Mrs. Car
ter had a maid with whom she was well
satisfied. She was a colored girl who had
done so much better than Lilly in many
ways hat Mrs. Carter did not want to
send her away in order to take Lilly again.
Lilly went away much grieved, and she
was not seen for about seven weeks. One
morning Mrs. Carter was upstairs in her
room. getting ready to go out. The door
opened and in walked Lilly, who seated her
self on the floor. Before Mrs. Carter had a
chanc to say a word. Lilly opened with
well. Mrs. Cartah. what yo goin' to hey
for dinnah?"
why. Lilly. what do you want to know
for. are you hungry"
mo. but Nv cum back heah to wuk. I
done went In de kitchen. and / JUS tole dat
on'ry niggah down there dat dis is my place
and she might JUS as we'll go git huh rags
and git out. and she's dun gone. Please
Mrs. Cartah, wat yo goin' to hev fob din
nah?"
1t was too true: the other girl had been
driven out by Lilly and had picked up huh
rags and gone" There did not seem to be
anything that could be done. and SO dinner
was ordered. Lilly was reinstated In the
kitchen.
One morning Mrs. Carter asked Lilly
where she had been living and she gave the
name of a prominent family on North Della
ware street.
What made you leave there?' asked Mrs.
Carter.
They could'n pay me wages I wanted
said Lilly.
Gould not pay you the wages you want
ed? Why they are well of. Surely they
could pay"
Not what I asked 'um." persisted Lilly.
Not pay you s. q week"
IT charged 'um 50 a week and no washin',
no sweepin' and no washin' windows"
"Wha was the matter with you? i
never paid you but So n week and you did
all OF those things here and ironing be-
sides?"
With this Lilly fired up and said. ''D'yo
spose Use goin' to hev anybody think
yo'all could'n pay that much-ard hiah
'xtra?" There was nothing more TO be
said about that.
Among other duties Lilly had to answer
the bell. and one day her breath was near
ly taken from her at the arrival of a most
distinguished statesman and his wife TO
make a call. Lilly knew that Mrs. Carter
was washing her hair and was unpresent-
able, but Lilly would not ask TO have her
excused to such quality folks" and so