The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-17
HER LITTLE MISSUS.

She stood half way up the steps under
the white and purple trumpets or the
morning glory vine. her kinkly white
hair sparkling with the dew just shaken
from tho fragrant chaiices A quaint
little figure, bowed by many years, but
with eyes still bright and inquisitive as
a birds, as they rested upon the face or
the lady who camo out to greet her.
Good morning, 'Lizbeth. "
"Mawnin'. ma am"
81 will have you bring me some green
peas ana few tomatoes"
Bless dc Lawd -
IL they are quito fresh"
"freshy My vegetables? Wy. miss,
dey amt no sich tomatusus or pertatersus
no whar. at doy amt. ake L bring yo' !
Ian sake. Wen l was comm long do
ROAD dis mawnin' (yes'm) wen l was
jes comm long dc road who'd l meet
but de preachers own wife (yes'm) Miss
Wilson huhself. An she done draw huh
buggy up ysre right side o. mine an she
sez:
:" 'LiRbssh-l hope ter die IL she didn'-
Lizreth. dem : de fines vegetables i ever
see No' lis drive long TO de parsonage
(yes s'ml an leave 'em all.
She look right inter my eye dis n way
wen she sec dat; but / done shuck my
haid, solemn. like ! does in church. an
sez:
= Miss Wilson. yo' is nice lady foh
one DAT war brung up in de Moth, but
desc we're vegetables goes TO Miss Stone
count o huh bein' quality"
Very kind Of you Lizbeth, am sure,
said Mrs. Stone when the old woman
paused for breath. ''You might save me-
nice watermelon for dinner, too"
Praise dc Lawd."
'lf they are firm and cool. "
Cool My watermillonsY Honey. dey
Is cooler than de spring brook whar de
crosses grow, an dere hearts is like snow
an roses Is dey coolp'
A smile turned all the burrows in the
small, black face upward, and the vege-
table peddler leaned against the corner OF
the porch quite overcome by her own des-
cription.
Lizbeth had been slave in the family
OF Mrs. Stones father in ante bellum
days, and now lived in little cabin at
the edge Of tho Northern town aud sup
piled "a certain number OF families from
her garden. Full of the unquenchable
pride Of family to which she had been
born, che selected her patrons from
among those who were connected by even
the slenderest link with her past life, and
over these few she established herself as
sort of guardian. This morning she
fingered little after the business was
done.
Honey" she said at last, hesitatingly,
and drawing curves in the sand of the
path with her wide toed shoe. Il done
tux notice. deed / did, dat 20 didn't keep
no kerriage dis year, an $50 ben a-sayin'
ter myself, Lizbetb, is We gwine ter Tow
20 ole massa's little gal ter walk on her
own feet, like pore white trash, wen yo.
muffin nut ole no-count nigeah, hez
serriagoY' Yes'm, dem's do toughts Is
ben a-raslin wifi foh a week or mob. An
I told my old man to keep dem chickens
from roostin i'm dat kerriage aftor dis
case yod wanter take it fuh ter go calin'
wifp'
Mrs. Stone looked Mt the rickety old
cart drawn by the blind and sham bling
horse at the gate, and then at the black
face shining with neighborly good will
beside her.
THANK you. Lizbeth, she said, "I'll
be glad to borrow it tomorrow.
The woman chuckled with delight.
"Rastus " she called so shrilly that the
old man waiting suddenly woke up and
gathered the loose lines with mighty
whoa p' Don you go let dem chickens
roos' in dat kerriage no moh. 70 heah
me, san Dat conveyace Is gwine ter
carry quality l'-Chicago Journal.