The San Francisco call., 1901-12-29

man came who had written it he would
show the white flag.
Three or four of the clerks came and
went in; I was satisfied that it was none
of them. At length the right man came,
The instant he saw me he threw
his hands and said: For Gods SAKE,
don't bring that buggy here; twill ruin
my business"
.sI waved to the driver and he under
stood to take the buggy out Of sight. The
lawyer said: can't talk-I can't talk
here: twill ruin my business. Go to a
u,+Ia aIevway between Van Ness avenue
and Polk street I will see you there
(And that was fully a mile from his place
Of business) I went, and he came and
sxplained the letter to me. I received
other letters and messages also from that
aama firm right along while the suit was
pending. Strange as 1t may appear ne
has never spoken to me nor recognized
ma since. He was a man after my own
style Of doing business.
"1 never would have gone to Mrs. Bells
except for the fact that had little
GIRL"
"what-have you any children
asked.
.'Yes-what's given to you is yours
amt it? Well I had this little girl given
20 me TO bring up. She was given TO 70
BY her father; he gave me money to orihN
her Up properly. I knew the child would
be better of with white people than with
eolored. You can't mix oil and water. The
time has not yet come when colored peo-
pie and white are on equality and I am
not a'trying to force the proposition.
accept the situation and I'm a-tryins to
be happy under my own banner.
But the white child didn't belong there.
II wouldn't be any credit to her this day
to be living with me out here. Any family
I'd put her in I'd go in myself. I never
was employed at the Bells. I never was
employed by anybody. I did what want
ed to do at the Bells; kept house be-
cause there wasn't any one else to keep
Il.
The Bells took the child and money
and me and gave the child their
name. She called Mrs. Bell mamma
and Mr. Bell papa. She went to
school under their name. Mr.. Bell
paid the bills. but when she finished
at the convent Mrs. Bell didn't want her
to come home there. 1 guess she thought
she had all the money that was coming
from that source.
so found the girl another place Ia
another family. Knowing what did II
remained at the Bells much to Mr.. Bells
qualification. The young lady took her
fathers name in her new home and her
father vas-well he was second to none"
A short silence followed. Then Nanny
said.
We'll. why don't you ask me?"
ASK you what?" I said.
IT know what you're thinking of-you'-s
wondering who the father was-ask me?'
We'll, who was her father?''
That's my business-Pve got business
well as you"
And now" said Nanny, "as Mr..
Barnes used to say In his argument when
he couldn't say anything more about me.
II will tell more about Nanny Pleasant
hereatter-but he always forgot to do It. -
Now ask me any questions you want
to ask me and I'll see what ones I want
TO answer"
But knew Nanny had said her little
piece and fancied knew how long TO
stay and just when to go. too, so I wished
her good day hoping she might live many
years yet to brighten the world with her
rare epigrams, to stagger the lawyers and
TO occasionally shift the scenes and rattls
the bones Of the musty old family skels-
tons Of which she is the warden