The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-06-08
Out # tie oadinasY.

"Auns ANN


tween the North and South It was almost
impossible to secure the services Of a com.
petent negress, even when fabulous prices
were offered them as remuneration for their
labor
1t was In the summer OF lses that Aunt
Ann came to us In the capacity OF a cook
Her culinary qualifications were limited in.
decd, but she expressed herself as being
"able an willln' to larn."
In type, she was "a regular corn neld
nigger;" her dimensions were immense, and
she possessed an appetite In proportion. Our
home was in the city OF San Antonio aud
my father, George s. beats, was wen
During the presidential campaign OF 1858
the political situation was very exciting.
There was 10 be grand barbecue at the
san Pedro springs barbecue in those
days drew vast crowd from all directions;
Y meant whole lot OF people, II nothing
else.
My father requested that ample prepare
tion be made for entertaining a large num-
Der Of his friends whom he expected to
due ut our private table.
My Aunt Kate, assisted 10y AUNT Ann"
did the cooking. Aunt Ann" liked TO eat,
and the next besr thing that she liked 60
do was to talk about good eatin'." During
the several days required to prepare for the
contemplated dinner Aunt Ann was I'm
hel glory. Every variety OF tempting
vlands, from the most delicate TO the most
substantial, was discussed; from ambrosia
and angels fool all the way down to pos
sum and taters,' Aunt AIMS" favorite
dish, that her white folks uster cook,
back In ole Vergipny."
AS the different dishes were prepared and
set aside. Aunt Ann grew less excited,
and In consequence the conversation became
less animated.
Aunt Kate was anxious TO learn AUNT
AIMS opinion on the great political ques-
ton Of the day as well as her estimate OF
good things TO cat. She abruptly changed
the subject and asked Aunt Ann" this
question:
wei, Aunt Ann we have about finished
cur work, now. | want you to ter me
whom you like best, Seymour and Blair or
Grant ana ColtaX.'
The old darkey. with mixing spoon In
hand struck an attitude, her eyes fixed on
vacancy as II in profound thought. In
moment she replied:
well. Miss kate. as you sXed me, Use
cwine tell YOU dc trufe. Our white folks
back In ole Vcrg'rny ulster cook en- bofe,,
hut hits been 10 long since Use tas
any Use mighty nigh forgot how hit tas' es,
My father, who enjoyed good thing lost
no time in relating this to his friends.
The following day, Trevanian Ieel. a
noted lawyer of San Antonio, alluded to 1t
in his speech, with embellishments TO suit
the occasion Efhe ID. Jackson.
/ ~
A Snake Story.
Several years ago | witnessed startling
/ incident while making night journey from
/ EI Paso to San Antonio. 1t was the re-
I turn trip of one OF the big excursions to
Ell Paso and the coaches were uncom'
fortably packed with all kinds of humanity
/ NV business had nccessitated my leaving
ON that train and after bemoanins my hard
.uck for a while / settled down to make
the best of my crumped position on the
! little stationary seat in front, which faces
the rest OF the coach.
/ had piled by overcoat and grip together
tor "A pillow and had dosed on into SOUND
3 nap. | was awakened by shrlll scream
/ and starting up, beheld lady passenger
standing in her seat declaiming energetical-
ly that a snake had crawled over her
feet, This seemed absurd and some one
suggested n mouse; another, soto voice,
"a Jag" but she Insisted that they make
a search. The porter was called ana TO
the surprise of everybody, found q large
black snake coiled beneath the seat. This
aroused every occupant OF the coach and
other women climbed upon their seats.
1t was July ana intensely warm. The
Indies upon boarding the train at night
fan, had exchanged their tight clothes for
dressing sacks, and with loosened hair and
uulaced shoes We're striving for comfort.
Their appearance, as they climbed upon
their seats, or as the excitement increased,
climbed on to the backs of the seats hold.
Ing to the racks above was picturesque
TO say the least. While the porter had
gone for a weapon with which 20 Kill the
snake, startled oath from the rear OF
the coach, announced another snakel The
man who found II went for II with his
umbrella, and those near sought refuge
In the laps Of their ncighbors. The snakes
found were both near the same end OF the
coach. The greater number OF passengers
were grouped-pilcd would be more accurate
at the other end. their fancicd sccurl
~ was rudely disturbed by an uncarthly
howl from man in their midst, who was
lmmovably fixed and who Insisted, with
much forcibe language, that he felt a
snake crawling around his feet The effect
r OF this was Hike miniature eruption OF
Mount NcSuvius, with shrleks and curses
for thunder.
I Upon thorough search by the train
authorities, no fewer than seven large
snakes were found In the coach They had
longed to professional snake eater. .
. who. chose this way OF carrying them 10
, avoid expense
The First Returned Flag.
William Crook, recently appointed post
master at Cresson by President Roosevelt
was the first man In America who started
the returning OF flags won In battle 10 or
islhai pcSsessors. In the war OF 1861 Cor.
poral Crook in the battle OF Franklin
, Tenn, pressed his way into the Tpior
ranks, seized the colors OF the Ftfty-seyenth
lhdlana infantry and regalned his own com,
maud with the captured flag
NiNNl HNlls III texas many years with
the treasured trophy In his possession. MIR
Crook thought OF returning the nag. Ma,
jog 70, NJ Heath Colonel Andrew Younc
and Colonel Wylie of Dallas accompanied
J Nh Crook to kokomo, lnd. and there nj n
reunion the remnant of the old regiment
gratefully received the battle nag.
J Ills application for the noStonice II /,
said, Was signed by every man who gers
MS mail from that office, He has friend,
~ over Johnson, rnrrant, Parker and
Hood counties
. a
Outwttins an Elephant.
An English sportsman, out after ele.
plants, had wounded magnificent speci.
men. Unfortunately for him the wound was
slight, and the animal, greatly Infatuated.
| turned and charged him.
1t was a terrifying sight. with is enor.
nous ears spread out like sails, and emit.
ting shrill notes of rage. the monster
came laundering over the ground like a
runaway locomotive. The hunter nred a
second shot, ~ missed His nerve was
shaken, aud Moving down his ride he
; sought safety liz flight,
? Near at hand was steep hill, and 10.
ward this he turned, for being slightly
( npOunintpa with tho e1Emhlur nou.at..s