Arizona republican., 1901-06-16
AVID, Mister Lary! If I ever git shed O Mister Weliins. sho
 ain't gwine ter hitch on to nary
By Annie Lowry Berryman

ain't gwine ter hitch on to nary - nother."
 The speaker, an old fashioned darkey. past the prime of life, was standing in | our back yard, gazing at the retreating | form of her venerable husband. her plump arms resting "akimbo' on her ample sides. Her honest affection for her white folks" made her a favorite fwith us all. and as my uncle appeared | upon the scene she proceeded to pour her tale of woe into his sympathetic ear> "Old Aunt Mary" had long ago | won the confidence of our family, and was a faithful servant. Her liege lord was named Henry Wellins. and we often spoke of him as Uncle Henry" but occasionally we jokingly adopted | her style of calling him Mister We'll l ins." The outburst with which Aunt | Mary" comes upon the scene was caused by little dispute which had arisen between her aged husband and herself, and he having gone off victori- | ous, she was thoroughly indignant, and | most sincere when she said 'T-sho ain't gwine ter hitch on ter nary nother! | She did not then foresee the sudden l demise of poor old Uncle Henry" who passed away a few months later. After his death she moved to the 1 country, where she lived at ease upon | the small farm he had left her. Here she was supremely happy. in her rude | cabin, with her cotton patch, her corn, l her garden and her chickens. Chick ! ems, I believe. are always found where l there's a garden.) She made a good ! support and frequently came to town | to call upon us. On such occasions she | always brought an offering of fresh | eggs, chickens, or bottle of wine her own excellent make-and. in re- turn, she received bountiful supply of old clothes. ribbons, etcetera.
 ! Rumors of my approaching marriage | having reached her, in her rural re- | treat, way down wander in Jones county" she came immediately to see us. My flance and I were in the sit ting room, having tete-a-tete, when in walked Aunt Mary"
 She was arrayed in a new nome spur" gown and fresh white apron. and a gay "bandana" crowned her dusky head. Her sable countenance fairly shone in its excitement. Bless de Lawd! Honey, wha's he? Is don heered about hit. an Is come ter see l if hit wus de truff!" Then she espied Mir. B. and hastened to introduce him, and, scarcely pronounced his name, when she began;
 No, you ain't gwine ter have dis chile! She belongs ter me, an I ain't gwine ter give her ter nobody. Dis here chile is my pet. an nobody cant have her, cause dees lackin' of my con- sent"
 Mir. E. told her that she had deserted her charge. and while she was out in the kentry" looking after her farm, he had come and won me. and he meant to keep me- After that she seemed ap- peased and she was quite interested fir the wedding preparations, and was heard to remark to one of the servants "Yes, l was right smartly disturbed but time I laid my eyes on 'em and seed how happy de chile wus. I give up den and dar, and dees sho got my blessin','
 She returned to her farm. and after two weeks of cotton pickin.'' she came again to see us, and finding me sick with fever she began:
 "Yes, of cose, you'se sick! Chile you'se perishin'. A perishin to death! Here you is Twin in de city, an nt room no wha to keep nothin t'eat! seed what you calls de pantry" but wha is de smoke house wid all de hams an de meat? Dat little pantry ain't big enough ter git more'n q bari el flour an a bari CT sugar in hit. an der hits full. Wha you gwine ter keep dt meat? Tse been 'iowin' yer all hat bst tier stayed on de plantation wha yot gifts plenty ter eat. Chile, you is shc perishin' to death. Oats what aili you. Better come on ter de planta' ton wha dars room fer everything an plenty ov hit! Dis here whole lot. dt front yard, de house an de back yarC all could git lost in de front yard ou
 wander, Honey. yer Aunt May don,
 brung you some aigs right fresh iron de kentry. an she gwine ter stay her, en nuss you, too. Dee done tol' me no
 ter talk much in here, but is sho 'bleeged ter tell you about hit. Why
 honey" she said, as she sat in rocl ing chair and swayed to and fro. Why
 honey! I had done give out de idea o'
 marvin since l got shed of Miste
 Wellins, but when I was here de othe
 day. and seed you and MT. Berry yo
 all did look so happy l said to myself
 hit sho' is good thing to be lovir
 of somebody and to have somebody
 lovin' you, fur I seed de glory a shin l in in yo' eyes, chile. l just went hom
 a thinkin how happy you an MT
 Berry looked, an honey Sunday nigh
 just went an got gagged, too. An dat's de Cords truf,
 Imagine my surprise, when only
 short time ago she "sho' wasn't gwin
 ter hitch on ter nary nother."