The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26

go long ter wait on dem when dey go
way, an dey gifts de silk an satin
dresses dey missus done git tired OBJ,
an de ribbons an all dem tings. Free
niger can't sociate wild quality wife
folks like dat Maum Dilsey she sag
dat her marster's body servant an all
dem wot stand behind de young ladies
chairs ter wait on dem while dey eats,
dey all wanter ter marry her, but she
done took de coachman what sit up
high on de top OBJ de carriage, wild de
shinin' buckles on he knees, an drive
de family wild four horses stead o one.
Dey amt never ISOLATED wild no free
niggers. Catch me bein' free niger.
Reck'n l kin wait on you an git your
silk an satin dresses an tings same's
granny done"
Miss Priscilla smiled at the thought
of her sober gowns and laces on the
girl before her, who, as she described
the coachman, had personated him as
he sat on the box handling the reins
and driving four-in-hand.
At the same time she had been struck
by the girls neglected appearance and
determined to go upstairs and hunt
among her old trunks to find some
thing neat and clean to put on her.
Leaving her to wash the dishes she had
used, she went first to her own room,
where she opened the letter that had
come with her strange legacy.
To her surprise she found that it was
not, as she supposed, in a revengeful
spirit that her brother had sent her the
girl. The letter was full of kind feeling
and gratitude to her for past kind
nesses, with request that she do one
! thing more. Being impressed with the
feeling that the time was coming when
slavery would be abolished, her brother
said he could not help wondering what
would be the best and the wisest thing
to do for the colored people then.
He had wanted to make some expert
mentS among his own negroes, but felt
that his time on earth was short, and
as he had long wondered what would
be the result If treated from her stand
point, he had ventured to send her a
girl on whom she could experiment. She
might free her OF not, as she chose; all
that he asked was that she would keep
her under her eye and have her brought
up and educated according to her ideas
of the fitness of things.
He would not live TO see the result
but it might enable her to help others
more intelligently when the proper
time came.
She is fair specimen of intelli-
gence,' he wrote, but perfect limb,
and you will have your hands full at
first"
How long Miss Priscilla might have
sat and pondered over the letter it is
! impossible to say, for her thoughts
were quickly dissipated by sounds be-
low that caused her to descend the
stairs more rapidly than usual
Again she pinched herself to see if
she were really awake, for to her horror
! she saw suggestive pile of feathers
on the kitchen floor, while her pet hen,
her beauty, her pride, was in AXle'S
hands. shorn of all the beautiful feath-
ers from it's neck and head 1t was
the rebellion of the hen that had
reused her.
Child" she said. excitedly, what
are you doing2 How dare you?''
Axle looked up surprised, and, seeing
Miss Priscilla's look, answered in a
contemptuous tone:
Dat one mean, emery, CROWN henr'
She's the handsomest hen [ have
Let her goi''
Il amt burnt off de pin feathers
yet said Axle, still clinging to her
captive.
The pin feathers! Do you mean to
say you would burn off the pin feathers
of a live hen? Who told you to touch
her. anyhow"
Granny; she makes me do dat ter all
de CROWN hens, case eff yer don't.
someone gwiae die in de house. sure. .
Now, child" said Miss Priscilla. you
must forget all such foolishness as that
IL the good Lord means us to die. he'll
take us whether the hens crow or not
Take her to the door and let her CO.
and don't ever do such a thing again
not if all the hens 1 have begin to
crow"
III.
Misc Dr.; 1,o<5 ,,Io,ro7