Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-05-04

IN the SUBURBS OF EllzSbethtown,
and in the month of April, 1889, a
young girl went fitting with bird
like hops and slxiPs down the broad
driveway leading from a gray, we'll
sabled mansion, to the great stables
beyond. The carriage, driven by a
sable-faced coachman, was just
emerging from their midst. The lit
tie maid, just passing childhood's por-
tails, threw up her hand, bidding the
coachman stop and take her upon
the seat beside him.
"Ah, Miss Dottie will always be
q little girl and want her ride around
from the barns to the front door,
when the coach goes" said the coach
man, reaching down to help her up
over the wheel
az am not n little girl any more
Sam. am q young lady, and am
chosen to be one of the 10 girls who
will present flowers, and sing songs
when Cen Washington passes
through here on his way to New
York. Do you know, they are build.
ing special barge to convey him
from here7 It is to be grandly deco
rated and rowed by 10 pilots. and
Brother Victor is coming from New
York to be one of them. Oh, Sam, this
is q great and glorious time. Free.
domi Freedoml" and Then the
light-hearted girl stopped and trilled
stave or two OF q song beginning
thus, which she would help sing in
greeting for the hero upon his in
augural journey from Mount Vernon
TO the governmental seat of that
time. "Uneie Is spluttering around,
rushing everyone of US to death to
get him ready" she continued. HE
Ia going by way of the road to New
York. Howard is going with him.
You know Howard belongs to the
general assembly, and really should
not be lettering around here. But
we know why ne stays, don't we,
Sam7"
Paying no attention to her light
questioning, Sam, soberly, said:
Missy, they fought to throw of
the rule OF one king, why should
they go right away and put another
ever them?"
"Oh, there's no danger Of George
Washington imagining that he is to
be a king, although I try to make
Cousin Dorothy believe that is the
title we will bestow upon him." went
on the tall1ative girl. at wish you
could hear her, Sam; and only over
from England so short a time. She
is more American than we who were
born here. She and Nellie Custis are
the warmest of friends. She has
just come from Nellie's home. and
her whole talk is of our future pos
sibilities-our liberties"
sour 3ibertyI Our freedom. What
is there for Sam to rejoice ovsr?"
The words were said with a low sigh.
Poor Sam! I forgot. But you
know that you are we'll cared for,
and WI be as long as Dottie has any
sayso about you. And you are mine
because father left you to me. Vic
tor expects to settle in New York,
and he wants you for his coachman,
and says he will give me Lizzie, your
wife, and Rachel in exchange for you.
But never! His body servant, Bob,
belongs to me, and he shall have Bob
for your Lizzie when he settles away
from US to stay, and no other way
will make the exchange, Sam. I
will not separate you from Lizzie"
Sam had been driving very slowly,
his head bent low to catch every
word the little beauty uttered. "God
grant that you may live to be very
old. Sam has nothing to fear from
bondage under you.
They had now drawn up to the
wide front entrance of the house, and
Dottie stepped lightly down, went
dancing up the steps and into
the large reception-room, where, at
mullioned window, slender, grace
full girl, with hair of the old Saxon
shade and dreamy blue eyes, sat
reading. Stepping in front of her,
Dottie made a low obeisance, SAYING:
Mistress Dorothy, I am chosen to
salute our chief. As he steps upon
the barge shall say: Hail your ex-
cellency, the king"
You shall do no suoh thing" and
the English cousin playfully flung
her book after Dottis, who, snrjnoine