Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-07-26
THE TANNER.
oae who Was Proud OF Her Lofty
Occupation OF Fly
Chaser.

When the battles were being fopgkl
between the north and the south, desc
lation followed the armies on the plan
tations over which they marched Log
cabins were torn down; horses and
mules were pressed into the service;
fields were devastated; crops de-
stroyed: and those happy-go-lucky
children of the soil. the negroes, found
they must either starve or join The
march of the eonquerors; as the white
house" OF the plantation, around which
clustered all the life memories of those
dark-skinned daughters and sons of
toll, had been abandoned by their mis-
tresses just in time for them TO escape
the sight of federal officers CHARTERED
in their best rooms relates Gorilla
Banister in Youths Companion.
Many OF the negroes went to Wash
ington, where kind men and women
found employment for them. Among
them was a beautiful. tall mu.atto girl,
with brown curls and oriental looking
eyes. When the good Samaritans who
looked after the welfare Of these fee
ing refugees piled her with questions
concerning her ability TO work, they
asked: What Is your name?"
The girl answered.: "Yo' questions
powerful Fostering: but Use born in
ole Ten-see. an Use come to Washin'-
ton TO freedom. so | may Tow yo' to
cali me Ten'see Washin'ton."
They asked: Can you COOKE"
The young girl seemed 10 grow twa
inches as she Strengthened herself to
her full height. a trick caught from
her mistress, and looking al her pretty
hands. answered in a low, sweet voice.
as If talking over the cradle of d sleep
ing child:
Nom. don't know nothin' bout
cookin'. Amt SaIy's the cook; Amt
'Mandy's Rhody an Judy tend TO SHOW
elm Goals. Iiftin' lids. DRAWN water. an
sech like: while Arnt Sally sets her
black bones on the chair. smokin' her
pipe for dear life. dom the bossin'. low
in she's t~rainin' them gals.
When the girl stopped TO take a fresh
breath. they asked: Can you dc
laundry work?"
The reply came quickly: "S'pose We
means washin' an Tnin'? Baby IN
born know mo- bout sech truck: an
what's mo-. eff it's this kind O. freedom
that's come by burnin' cabins down
an lettin' on how much Of il We
gwin1er find. once we're safe in Wash
in'ton Gudgin' by last question. it must
be the washin town.. Don sech no.
count places get famed out. better
twill be for sech as we. I'll ak 'em.
please tote me on a Decline to mistis
without no mo- delay"
\ kind little mother asked, gently:
Can YOU sew?"
"Se'mstresses was trained by the
ove'seer's wife an this yaller gal never
had no trifin' po' trash back-breakin'
bendin' over a needle"
Another lady had been thinking Of g
question. and asked. as soon as posi-
BILE: Were you in the dairy?"
The colored girls sense of humoI
was keen. and she had been having q
game of hide-and-Seek with her CUES
TONERS. The answer came:
Pears yo'-all amt much acquaint-
ed bout WAYS belongin' TO white quail
ity. if 0 don't know mixers an
churners come from cotton patch for a
change when they've been chilled from
malaria. an cotton bags got too heavy
10 tote. with sun fiji to brile yo' head of
yo' shoulders. When miIkin' was goin'
on. l never got nigh COW pen. cause
dinin-room was holdin' fast on my
'tention bout that time.
At last the secret was ont. Why had
they not thought of II before? She was
a -bousemaid! You waited on the
tabIe?~
With a broad grin and shake of hel
head. she answered: Didn't If a han
20 table. Liza Ann. sisted by Nettie,
waited on grown folks: Jane an Liz
beth saw TO chiIlun. with muses. help
in EN- on al sides. too"
This had gone on long enough. Ar
old deacon grew desperately impa.
tient. and asked. in a loud. sharp voice:
In the name of Heaven. what Gid you
do?"
Turning 10 face the company, she an
nounced. with the air of a queen:
Use the fanner."
The deacon asked: "You-are-tb.
-what?"
The oriental eyes sparkIed as she re
piled:
Farmer! Tanner! Keep flies of
mistis when she takes nap. Fan 'e1
when she plays the peanner; fan table
while everybocy's eatin': fan till maids
come from kitchen to clear off: fan ole
marse (marse's pa. yo' know: fan
company presidin' in the house: some
times fan baby TO sleep jes' TO 'b,eege
its nuss. Iain't no washer. or no SENS
ter, er no nothin' else; but ef yo' wants
fannin'. I sho' can keep yo' cool. Use
tanner since knee-high TO q duck. an
muscoby duck al that"