The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-08-10
THE SOUTHERN TANNER.
One Who Was Proud of Her Lofty
Occupation of Fly
Chaser.

1atlonS over which they marcneu. Lug
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 conquerors; 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 quartered
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 mulatto girl,
with brown curls and oriental looking
eyes. When the good Samaritans who
looked after the welfare of these flee
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 low yo' to
call me Ten'see Washin' ton"
They asked: "Can you cook?"
The young girl seemed to grow two
inches as she Strengthened herself to
her full height, a trick caught from
her mistress, and looking at her pretty
hands, answered in a low. sweet voice,
as if talking over the cradle of a sleep
ing child:
cookin', Arnt Sally's the cook; Arnt
'Mandy's Rhody an Judy tend to SHOW
elm Goals, liftin' lids, DRAWN water. an
sech like; while Amt Sally sets her
black bones on the chair, smollin' her
pipe for dear life, doin' the bossin' low
in she's tranin' them gals"
When the girl stopped to take fresh
breath, they asked: "Can you do
laundry work?"
The reply came quickly: "S'pose We
means washin' an i'nin'? Baby I'M
born know mo- bout sech truck: an
what's mo-, eff it's this kind o freedom
that's come by burnin' cabins down.
gwinter find once we're safe in Wash
n'ton (judgin by last question it must
be the washin' town.. sooner sech no.
count places get famed out, better
twill be for sech as we. III AK EN-.
please tote me on Decline to mistis
without no mo- delay
A 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 a
question. and asked. as soon as posi-
BILE: Were you in the dairy?"
The colored girls sense of humor
was keen, and she had been having a
game of hide-and-seek with her ques-
toners. The answer came:
Pears yo'-all amt much acquaint-
ed bout ways bGongin' to white quail
churners come from cotton patch for
change when they've been chilled from |
malaria, an cotton bags got too heavy |
to tote. with sun fiji to briIe yo' head off |
yo' shoulders
At last the secret was out. Why had |
they not thought of it before? She was
a housemaid! "You waited on the
table,"
With a broad grin and shake of her
head, she answered.: Didn't lif' han
10 table. Liza Ann, sisted by Nettie.
waited on grown folks; Jane an Liz
beth saw to chillun, with muses. help
n 'em on all sides, too"
This had gone on long enough An
Did deacon grew desperately impa-
tent. and asked, in a loud, sharp voice;
in the name of Heaven, what did you
do?"
Turning to face the company, she an
bounced, with the air of a queen:
Use the fanner!'
The deacon asked: "You-are-the
-what?'
The oriental eyes sparkled as she re-
Piled:
Farmer! Tanner! Keep flies off
mistis when she takes nap. Fan 'er
when she plays the peanner; fan table
while everybody's eatin'; fan till maids
come from kitchen to clear off; fan ole |
marse (marse's pa, yo' know); fan
presidin' in the house; some
times fan baby to sleep jes' to 'bleege
its nuss. l amt no washer, or no SENS
ter, er no nothin' else; but eff yo' wants
fannin', sho' can keep yo' cool. Use
tanner since knec-high to a duck, an