The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-21
EASTER.

q HE was named Easter because she
was born on Easter Sunday, a
save, many years ago on southern
plantation. How she drifted to Chicago
would be long story, but she had been
there so many years that the old sunny
home is no longer regretted.
The progress and culture which had
left their mark upon the colored people
of Chicago leave Easter unchanged. She
is still the typical southern negro and
En spite of her 81 years is as simple
hearted as the child that played in the
fields and ate hoecake down in "Ole Vir-
.giny." The once 1.-THE figure has grown
stout, but the round, good-natured face
lis untouched by the lines of care. What
so another woman would have been
overwhelming sorrows have only been
incidents in Casters life, forgotten as
the child forgets the broken toy of yes
terday. In her blue print dress, with
checkered apron and red bandana kerr
chief around her head, Easter is a pic
r1Uresque figure whose authority is I'M
disputed in the house where her young
mistress lives alone since her brother
went away with his regiment. If East
or bad a mission in life, in the under
stood sense of the word, it would be to
take care of Miss Carrie while Mr.. Ben
was away.
Easter is never so happy as when she
can dress up and go out for the even
In" and on such occasions she tries to
'uRtvie even the lilies of King Solomon's
day. One favorite dress is black satin
skirt lined with violet hued silk, which
rs worn with a bright red waist. A
wide brimmed hat garlanded with flow
-ers and a few rings with settings of
various stones give to Easter an air of
distinction that few aspire to and none
achieve.
Easter has many "reminiscences of the
past and if entertainment is lacking
in the parlor they send for Easter-or,
properly speaking, she is generally
there. Her marital experiences have
been varied and in keeping with the rest
OF her strange career.
She has had three husbands and may
some day have a fourth one, but she
has never been called upon to mourn
their death, nor has she ever figured in
n divorce suit. Her husbands are liv-
Eng and well and she is on the friend
Hest terms with all of them.
Poor Easter was grossly deceil ed by
her first husband. The young colored
person who held her head so high
laughed at love and poverty. every
body can marry for love that wants to-"
she said. Use goin' to marry for mon
ey." What's love without money!"
she asked with a worldly wisdom far
beyond her years and experience.
One of her suit.rs took advantage of
this aspiration after wealth, and. veri-
flying the old saying, "All is fair in love
and war" converted himself into
strategy board, with results more sue
cessful than any yet achieved by our
eminent strategists in the present war.
He talked boastfully of his big bank
account. and when Easter asked for the
proof showed her the book. The CDR.
" savings bank in account with
George Lewis" was followed by long
Hist of dates and columns of figures
that, to Easter's excited Imagination,
seemed to represent untold wealth She
got ready trousseau worthy rich
mans bride, and dreamed of the new
house to be built, and the high place she
would occupy in the colored swelldom
of the city.
The wedding day came When the
ceremony was over Easter whispered to
George and asked if she could be al
lowed to carry the precious bank book.
'George handed it to her. and as she re-
ceived the congratulations of her
friends Easter proudly exhibited the
bank book as the visible token of her
future grandeur.
Seems to me, Easter" said one of
the guests, there's somethin' wrong
with this here bank book. It's lust
written in ink up at the top and all
the balance is lead pencil writin'.
Hooks mighty like George been foolin'
sou, Easter. Sure!"
Casters hopes fell, but she tossed her
head proudly and said: That's all
right. What do you know about Il?
George done got bank account sure
'.uouf"
But as soon as she was alone with
George she told him what the wedding
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