Arizona republican., 1901-06-16
M Old Aunt Mary. -a2i==l -- A CHARACTER
 By Annie Lowry Berryman SKETCH


 crous. Why, who is it, Aunt Mary?' I inquired. Hes a well-ter-do nig- ger," she replied, "an' his Ian tines on ter mine; an Tse gwine ter mary him sometime 'twixt dis and Christmus. But. Law, honey. sho' is got him skeerd. He sho' Is skeer'd he ain't gwine ter git me, an fse gwine ter keep him dat away, too, case dat's de way ter keep up dee interest"
 I then asked her his name, where upon she replied, Honey. I'se gwine ter git you an'nur Uncle Henry!'"
 Some one came in just then, and fearing that Aunt Mary might excite me. she was banished to the servants hall.
 Weeks passed-six or more of them and We had returned from our wedding trip. One cold, crisp afternoon We were grouped about the fire, telling jokes and waxing facetious, when. close after a tap upon the door, Aunt Mary entered unannounced. She wore a huge sun-bonnet that completely hid her face, but when she turned toward us we saw the gleam of it's ebony hue WHiSu SnOut dS II lICSUiy tohc dt once removed this feminine piece Of headgear, and with "Howd'y!" ac- companied by a courtesy so well exc cuted that, by the dexterous twist of her body, all of us were included in the greeting, she advanced to the fire, and after the custom of darkies, proceeded to warm her hands by sticking them in the cheerful blaze.
 How is the bride today?" inquired thinking the nuptial knot had been se- curely tied by this time. and that Uncle Henry No. ?" was duly en- sconced as her liege lord. Honey she said, ignoring my question, and eyeing me approvingly. Honey, Mir, Berry must a bin mighty good ter you an he's a takin' care Ob you. too, an mighty good care. too, case you favors yO'self yit!"
 After assuring her of his kindness and many good qualities, she gave a satisfactory "Um hump! I tole yO' so.' Which didn't care to dispute, all though recalled her violent opposition to my marriage when she first heard of it.
 Her dexterity in changing the sub. ject, and in thus waiving my question made me all the more inquisitive.
 50 how's the bride?" I repeated with emphasis. Go way frrm heah. chile wid yo' jokin', I ain't no bride, an ain't gwine ter be till I see how da' nigger look when he gifts outen da' bald! l got ter see how he gwine tel git about, 'fo I has him.
 Seeing our astonishmert at this in. telligence she continued- "Ain't yo all done heerd about hit? How he don, fell offern de wagin an broke his laig He is a mighty peart man. an he made eleven bales O cotton dis year, an h. was a-comin' ter town ter sell hit. an he was ridin' on top ob free bales on d. wagin, an he fell off an one ob d, bales fell off, too. an hit lit right ol top ob him, an hit broke his laig il two or free places, an de doctor wha come Che ain't got no sense) he so hit, but hit pear like he don know hi business, an anyother doctor come. an he say de laig is pizen an hit have te come off. an if de don take hit off, h, gwine ter die; so we-alls How'd wet Ut lOSt ht idiS udih hiS sNihs S we tole dem ter cut hit off; an dee did an I ain't gwine ter mary him 'lessii he kin git about when he gifts dat pe laig, wha' he gwine ter git. Tse beel dar nussin' him an I sho' is done all kin fur him. fur he's sho'lty a goo' nigger. an Tse helpin' him all I kir but I ain't gwine ter mary him 'dou I see how he gwine ter git about, 'd I does think dere ain nary nuther lik he wuZ."
 After our generous expressions O sympathy she continued: ~Dee do sa, dat de tother doctor what come iron de city he say, as how dat laig oughte been sot right. an he lows ef hit ha' CT bin sot, like he lowed hit oughte bin sot, dat hit wouldn' CT had ter bil cut off. But den, he come too late, an hits cut off'n buried, an I ain't mar'y' him yit. Altho' I does think mo 9 him dan of any two good legged mig gers in dis kentry. an eff dat peg lai don make him appear none de less, de ma be dar will be an nudder weddir bio long. An spec yer all better b CT huntin' up de presents wha' ye gwine ter gi' me-" It seems that his peg laig" did no make him "appear none de Iess," fo the wedding took place in the spring and while our family could not witnes 1 the happy ceremony, We were we'll rep resented in presents for the age couple.
 Imagine the surprise and deliciou enjoyment we all shared when We re ceived an announcement of the happ event. It was gotten up regardless O the expense, and appeared in a yello' envelope. on a card fresh from tn printer. and bore the following uniQu l inscription:
 M. and Mrs. Mary Jackson, At Home,
 After May the First, | n ra iv, Jnnnu (NntlntN