The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-11
BETSY'S FREAK.

an Prissy an was sousin EN- in a big tub
oh water, an u scrubbin 'em same's If dey
be IA 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 kotchcd 'em ridin dat colt
agin, an Lucy an Marian doy done all
dress up in duir finery wild n red ribbon
bow at dair froats an dair Sunday head
hankerchers OH. Doy nebber look roun
nor take no notice oh me, so jus walk
rite in an say, For de Lawd sake, Granny
Betsy, what is you dom Std oh gttin
brcakus for dc white fokesy When | say
dat, Granny Betsy, she riz herself rite
straight up an say: | done cook my las
breakus for white foxes. De Lawd tole
me to git ready, me an my chilluns, an he
gwine sen gold carrige by sun up to
take me up to hebben, whar we'll git II
good breakus done cook for u.s. He say dc
gates OBJ hebben gwine to op'n wide for de
gold carrigc to ride us straight froo, an
de snow white garments is all made an
a-waitin for lis to put 'em 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 debbil's in her shore. Den l
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 negrcss religious ideas were in
fearful tumble She had doubtless heard
the Bible read, and the portions that made
most impression on her mind took such
hold of her vivid Imagination chat the in
cidents became "a part CT her life and expo
Renee 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 Pauls, and Elijah translation
! gives the clew to the freak which is the
subject of ily narration.
| After lutte while l went into mother S
room. She had begun To dress herself
hastily us soon as Tom had gotten far
enough in his story for her to understand
the state of things in the kitchen ard was
now ready to go 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 ard her family at the lower end CT
the room. The youngest child was on her
| lap, and the others were seated around on
chairs and boxes "WUll, Betsy" said my
mother pleasantly, Il thought your car
riage would have come before this. -
The negro raised her head definntly when
mother began to speak and turned her taco
half away from her, but the toLe and words
were SO different from what she expected
that the rigid expression of her couutc.
nance softened as she replied, DE Lawd'll
take his own time, insists"
Mother said nothing more, but ordered
Libbie to replenish the lire and then Il o> Cd
quietly around showing her what to do and
apparently taking no further notice vi
Betsy and her family.
l took II stand in one corner of the broaC
fireplace and turtively watched the groul
ut The other end OF the room. The oldgl
girls seemed to be III perfect sympathy witt
their mother, but tho younger children
who had been kept in subortiination by the
novelty Of their mothers actions, were low
fast becoming FESTIVE. The youngest soor
yielded to the soporific effects of his warm
bath, but could hear Bill ard Jack beg
ging to be released, to which entroaties sh,
would reply: "Sot still, won't yc! III,
carrige mout come; den whur wud We bel?
When my mother had the breakias
cooked, she very CONSIDERABLY left enough
hominy, potatoes and gravy Tor the hungry
children, and from the rush of footstep,
toward the fireplace after we left the kitch
en- we concluded that either the muffin,
was beyond control or Granny Betsy WA
not so tar removed from sublunary thing.
as to refuse savory ready cooked break
fast, even If it must be eaten outside tn,
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 girl
began to show signs OF doubt when Dime
was past and their mothers hopes 10
realized. They became sulky and at las
ventured to leave their seats and go abou
their usual duties. BY this time TIN
smaller ones had lost all trace OIL the
mornings additions, and with faces be
grimed with dirt and grease and thei
clothes soiled were in sad plight to be
gin u journey heavenward
My mother bore with Betsy's within Will
the greatest patience. Yellow Jane caln
and prepared dinner and lid all the work
just before the sun Went down my brothe
put his head inside the kitchen door ant
called out, say, Granny Eetsy, how abou
that golden caIrige now" betsy, whit
never lacked an answer on ordinary occa
sion, was not torsaken this time by he
ready wit. de L.wd has been tryin IN,
1aith, A4arse Jorge" she rel lied; hes JUS
done IL to see il re trusin him."
She sat patiently waiting till the sui
was quite down, and then, as 1 was stand
ing near "a window through which had
view OF her, J. saw her rise hastily, pull of
her best clothes and quickly put on lie
work dress and begin to hustle around.
heard her say to Yellow Jane, who ha'
commenced preparations for supper: "Iol
git outen dis kitchen, Niger. Dair's no
body but Betsy kin make coffee an biskit
fifteen for murster's supper. You kin cool
for niggers and pore white foxes, but
lus de cookin in dis kitchen for shore
And then knew Betsy dream was over
New Orleans Times.
Where Don Quixote Was knighted.