The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-02-06
AUNT CHILLY.
By E. G. S. MARSH.
By E. G. S. MARSH.

~ -
My first remembrance of our Old
Aunt Chilly was when, as housekeeper
1T my grandmcther's, she sailed about
through the hall and library in a
bright dress and snowy apron, with an
energetic fling to her brilliant turban
arranging flowers and busting china;
or when she stood in the great kitchen
with one hand raised to her cheek
and "bossed de niggahs." We chlidreh
had such wholesome awe Of her that II
we were planning mischief the cry
Aunt Chilly's coming" was signal
: FOR rapid rout.
Tho l feared her twitching mouth
and scornful eyes about as much as
feared sin and Satan, still there was q
strange fascination about her, and
would often stand in the kitchen door,
way for an >our at a time to see her
scold brown Tilly, and cuff black Ran
dolph, and occasionally mutter strange
things about MY grandmother which 1t
was hard to understand. Sometimes It
was: Mrs. Gray got no business tc
ruin dam Gebilish chillen wld CAKES
= or pity bout Mrs. Gray. She had bet
ter mind how she asks folks to break
fas' 'Gout teilin' me-"
Only at meal time did she throw OF
fher habitual grimness. Then, seatea
at the head of long table surrounoeo
by woody heaas, some, turbaned ana
some bristling with pig-tails, she WOdld
brandish a chicken-bone and tell OF
her adventures in the great world
what she had seen in New York-When
visiting my mother, how she had lraT-
eled in elevated cars. and had been TO
the hippodrome, and seen lion ana
tiger and cooked in a basement
kitchen, and ridden in an elevator.
Her motions were so dramatic AMI her
language so vivid that wondered why
l had not heard before what realm
of wonders l had lived in, and lao"
superior we were to the other grand
children who hau not ridden IN ele-
waited cars and dlu not have basement
kitchens. Sometimes a loud "Haw,
haw,' would ring around the table,
and rows of white teeth glisten, and
sometimes strange queries came from
the listeners Aunt Chilly" said
small Margaret Inn, ner eyes sllsten-
ing with eagerness, lis it nicer out der
den what it Is in yere?" Aunt Chilly
eyed the questioner contemptuously.
and, not wishing to commit herself, bit
a corn muffin in silence. Then the con-
,versation changed to Punch aid
Judy" and still she took the lead.
With her head cooked on one side she
squeaked "Judy's" song TIL the laugh
ter woke the echoes.
When Sue had her fill of applause,
and the chicken bones were picked, she
would commence again to sail about,
and frown and mutter and whack.
On Sunday afternoons, when we chill
dren and Aunt chilly were locked up
liz the nursery to be kept quiet, she
would conaescend to tell us tales OF
former glory, of our uncles and father 6
freed bird suppers. "Marse George
was 50 fussy,, wouldn't hab nobody
cook his supper but me-"
DO you remember Colonel Rombey,
who died in the war?'' once asked.
81 member Colonel Rombey," said
Aunt Chilly wrathfully. Reckon l
knows, de las time he was to our
house. Had mullins and terrapin for
tea. Said I cooked 'em better'n Del
monico. Mrs. Cornelius Lockton, she
said nobody nebbah cooked canvas
ducks like me, and she's been to Boz
ton." Then followed long string of
compliments which she had treasured,
and which were familiar to us all.
Sometimes we begged her to
"'spound de scriptures" and she would
talk about ''bein' clothed wild de sun,
and de moon under der feet" and TIL
how Satan coquetted wild Job" But
her religious moods did not last long
and were generally followed by y
gloomy silence, more ominous than
threats.
Once and only once did try to cca-
quer Aunt Chilly. l wished certain
receipt, and though l had heard my
grandmother say that it would be
easier to wriggle secret from 1alley-
rand than direct answer from Chilly,
in my boundless conceit determined
to wiring it from her. Accordingly
went boldly into the kitchen, pen and
ink in hand. AS sat breezily down
told Aunt Chilly how delicious Mrs.
Jones thought her cold-slaw dressing.
and how she had begged me for the
receipt Aunt Chilly shifted danger
from afar. She gave me one wither-
ing glance, and stirred more violently
the batter she was mixing.
"Now, Aunt Chilly said, as i
wrote Gold Slaw Dressing" at the top
of the page. What do you make it
of?'
Miss Betty" said Aunt Chilly SOL
emnly, Il don't know muffin bout It"
This being usual form of response.
/ answered quite cheerfully, "Oh, yes,
Aunt Chilly, We had it yesterday, you
know. There is vinegar in it, isn't
there?'
II reckon So" was the sullen answer.
Come, Aunt Chilly" I said, getting
little excited, Il saw you mixing it
on the stove. You must know what
was in it.
Aunt Chilly stirred in gloomy silence.
'Vinegar?' 1 persisted sweetly, as 1
wrote down the ''V."
"Nebah heard of cold slaw dressin'
widout winegah," was the answer given
with a contemptuous sniff.
1 finished the word triumphantly,
and then in the most insinuating tones
inquired how much.
"Cordin' as how much you's
maxim" Aunt Chilly dropped the
batter complacently.
''How much did you put in yester-
day." I asked sternly.
II disremembah," was the calm
reply.