Saint Mary's beacon., 1899-12-07
THE wIsDOm or
AUNT MlnERvY ANN =

Joel Chandler Harris is too we'll
known for praise to mean anything
to him nowadays. His place il as
sured among the writers OF this
generation. The inimitable negro
stories reflect the real humor. pa
thos and absurdity Of the negro
character.
sThe Chronicles Of Aunt Minervy
Ann is the title Of Mr. Harris's
latest book. (charles Seribner's
Sons: Tbs storY ! told II the
drst person b ] man Who parporfs
to have lived at one sine in Halcy~
ondale. Middle Georgia, the home
Of Aunt Minervy Ann, and Of her
master, Major Tnmlin Perdue.
Aunt Minervy Ann and Hamp, her
husband. went down to Atlanta to
the fair one year, aud the wiry lit
tie negro woman called npon her
old friend. She found the family
in domestic difficulties. The lady
of the house was IN the kitchen.
SIS she in de kitchen now?' Aunt
Minervy AIMS tone vas a curious
mixture Of amusement and indig-
nation. 'Istarted out not ter come,
but | had call. sho' did; sump'n
toP me dat you mought need me
out here With that, she went in
to the house, slamming the screen
door after her, and untying her bon.
net as she went.
'Now, the lady Of the house had
heard of Aunt Minervy Ann, but
had never met her, and wac afraid
the characteristics OF my old time
friend would be misunderstood and
misinterpreted. The lady in ques-
tion knew nothing Of the negro
race until long after the emancipa-
ton, and she had not been able to
form q very favorable opinion of ite
representatives. Therefore, has
tened after Aunt Minervy Ann,
hoping to tone by explanation what
ever bad impression she might Gre.
ate. She paused at the screen door
that barred the entrance to the kit
cheh. and, for an instant, surveyed
the scene within. Then she cried
out:
'You des ez we'll come out'n
dat kitchen You amt got no mo-
bizness in dar dan o new born baby
Aunt Minervy AIMS voice was
80 loud and so absolute that the
the lady gazed at her. in mute as
tonishment. You des ez we'll come
out . she insisted.
Are you crazy?' the lady asked
in oil seriousness.
I'm des ez crazy nov as ever
been ; and i tell you des ca well
come out'n dar.'
'Who are you, anyhow?
Il am Minervy Ann Perdue, at
home an abroad, an in dish yer
great town whar you cant git mig
gers ter cook fer you.'
well, il you want me to come
out of the kitchen. you will have TO
come in and do the cooking
Dat xactly what I'm gwinc ter
do ! exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann
She did cook q dinner, and
monumental one. Afterwards she
said TO the lady of the house.
.Mistiss, wharbouts in Georgy
Euz You born at p
Il was not born in Georgia I was
born in Lansingbnrgh, New York. >
Il knowd it!' Aunt Mineryy
Ann turned to me and nodded her
head with energy. Il knowd it
right pine blank
you knew what:' the presiding
genius Of the household inquired
With some curiosity.
Il knowd I'm dat you wuz o Nor
thern lady,
= don't see how you knew it, |
remarked.
We'll, sub, she talks like we.all
no, an she got mighty much do
same ways. Bnt when I went out
dar dis mornin an holler at her in
de kitchen. | knowd By the way
she turn rom on me dat she amt
been brung up wild niggers. Ef
she'd been Q Southern lady, she'd
o laughed aud said Come in here
and cook dis dinner yoself, yOu ole
vilTun, er she'd q come out an
crackt me over de head With dat
iron spoon what she had in her
han r
Il could perceive vast amount
Of acnteness in the observation
Amt MinervT had her nnininn