The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-02

age and condition heard the cry OF FREQ
dom to the Slave" but for Aunt Mahaly
it sounded in vain Not the faintest echo
of its message reached her. She was deaf
and dumb from birth.
She was born a slave. No conception
of any other condition had any lodgment
in her brain Her deafness had in "A
measure separated her from the social ele-
ment of negro life even as a slave, and
now the change in the condition of her
race passed into existence unknown, and
unnoticed by her. There was no method
by which to make her understand tho up
heaval of established lines. and the mean
ing OF emancipation. Her life continued
simply that to which she had been BON,
and the war and all connected with it was
an unknown, uncomprehended tragedy to
her. The only signs and symbols she I'M
derstood were those used by the family,
and her mistress in teaching her the cook
ing, washing and ironing and kitchen
work, and the signals of love that hailed
her from the sweet faces of the baby chill
dren and the girls in the Southern home.
So there was one old slave for whom the
gospel of freedom was preached in vain.
The planter and his family could not
but enjoy the situation. They continued
for years to have that which few in the
South possessed, faithful. unchanged
cook and house servant. While other
homes were terribly upset by the new
condition of the servant question, in this
one at least the domestic affairs contin-
ued in the same old Southern style.
Aunt Mahaly had never visited away
from home and she knew few other ne
groes II was some years after emapcipa-
ton before the colored part of the COM
munity thought OF the old soul, and Won
dered then If she knew freedom had been
youchsafed TO her.
The more ,hey talked OF II the more
manifest 1t became that she was living
still In the gall of bondage and ignominy
of slavery.
One after another of the coored folks
went to interview Aunt Mahaly but she
was shy of strange niggers'
She could not understand their visiting
and running around. Her lifelong habits
of steady employment were second nature;
she had no thought OF being permitted 20
put aside work, aud entertain like white
folks. She paid little attention to the In
truding negroes, but kept on her usual
labor, and tho visitors utterly falled 10
make any impression upon her wailed-in
brain.
The oftener, however the subject was
mentioned among the "colored folks the
more they felt that something must pc
done, and heated talks were had about the
best method TO reach Aunt Mahalys be-
nighted faculties or course. the white
family did not aid or abet the colored pop
ulation in their efforts at Liberation. Tney
| had every reason TO be well satisfied WIN
the situation. and how Aunt Mahaly, -wno
had plenty 10 eat, drink and wear, and a
good home. could be prohted by eating OF
this tree OF knowledge was not apparent
| to them.
At the colored prayer meetings. at the
Sunday services. the picnics. the hsh fries
| and cuttings the subject OF Aunt Ma
haly's peculiar situation became the con-
suming theme OF Conversation.
dat ole fool niggah. cookin' an wuckin
herself TO def fur dem white folks its
plum scan lous. Some un onghter take ae
ole fool oman bandaciously outer de
house," exclaimed old Mary Johnson wnc
barely made a living washing every day
Uncle Pete Robinson. a bright light 10