Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-07-10
TALE OF A BROKEN coNJURE.
How the BanefuI Influence of Negro
Delilah Was Overcome.

were all too young to see these signs but
they were not too ignorant to join in the
general lamentation when Pap left
Nanny had contracted with Barbara
Gray to cook and nurse for her during
her illness and clnValescence-not that
lau' Belle was not competent and willing
but with the housework done, she
could go on by herself with the three
washings she and Nanny did weekly for
the white folks" around. materially in
creasng their income. Barbara herself
had suggested the plan. offering her ser
vices so cheaply that Nanny felt that
she could not afford TO refuse her prop
osition. but Barb'ry had been with the
Jeukses scarcely three weeks when her
motive in working for SO cheap price
became menacingly apparent. She had
designs IN Pap! Pap, who worked every
day cutting corn on the Blake farm, to
pay the rent and buy the eatables for the
family-Pap. who never quarrelled with
Nanny, nor was ever harsh to the little
pues--was being lured away.
Nanny always sent HalN every even
ing at the time Pap was expected home
to bring fresh water for him; but Pap
would no sooner set foot on the section
of oak log that constituted the front door
step than Barb'ry. that false Delilah,
would dash the fresh water out Of the
kitchen door. race down the steep hill to
the spring. and come back breathless
ana smiling. with the bucket dripping
cool.
"Mistuh jerks hab a fresh drink
seed YOU comm. ana | knowed you'd be
wantin good, cold drink terrible bad,
So ! clipped to fotCh it,
Nanny would have the children to
gather some ripe apples from the tree at
the bars for Pap. but when they would
attempt to give him their Offering. Barb
ny would fofestall them.
"Hcah. Mstuh jerks dem chilluns APP
pies is hahd thengs; heah is an apple l
saved fuh you. with eatin -
And one evening, when Pap had finish
I'd eating his apple. Barb'ry threw back
her head with a laugh. cNutant and tri-
umphant.
You're gone" she said mysteriously.
Then Nanny and I.au Belle knew she
had put love powders in the apple-Pap
was conjured. Next morning Pap was
/ indeed. gone. Barbara Gray was also
gone. An offcious neighbor brought the
news later in the day that he had seeu
/ them walking together in the direction
! of the railroad station.
Us heerd hit norated round con-
/ sid'able. Kizzy." he ventured to say, dat
/ Gabriel beeif dissatisfied and thinkin'
bout leavin you all good while. De
/ ain nothn' in it, is dey. dough-
The tiger Of wrath rose i'm Nanny.
/ with blazing eyes she laid little Charles
/ Augustus back in his box cradle and
faced her questoner
"Whuts dat you akin me, niggah?
Nav da' ain nothin' in it. Gabr el Is a
good man; hg thought a power o me and
de chilluns He nubbah left us beca' Sc
he wanted to. Nav! Gabriel wah con-
1 jured OATS what Ana dat loW-do"h'
/ triliin, no count celNlh barp ~ cray
I -Sne done IL. dc 4rAh" WY u". FL mo
nun heah now make nun Deg u
snow nun now 10 teCk o'heI "piiie" >
/ husbands way III en-. 'l' N'tS my
I hands on nun we carcass "uN, / S'9
my hands on dc plack IN cat ga S"t
deVll, gwlne XIII nun s"i"e Mi nun
dead!
Not a word against Pap would she al
low to be uttered. not word through
the long, cold winter when life grew hard
for her and for lau' Belle.
Mr.. Blake gave fuel from his woodland.
hut II was wearing work 20 saw and
chop it, Iau' Bellies and NANNY $
hands had been toil-worn in the past.
but they were as rough as the bark OF
the hickory now When pan had been
at home sometimes there was only a
plenteous supply of uuttormuk corn
bread and shoat on the table: now, al
though Nanny and I.au' Belle had i'm
creased their washings to five, there was
often only the milk and the bread and
not too much of that
Nanny Lau' Belle painted one mid
February day. as with snow-sodden feet
they lugged In an oak "back-stck.
"ain't da' no way to brock conjure.
III de conjure Wah bruck, mebbc Pap'd