Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-01-01
HOW AUNT
SAVANNAH SAVED
THE DAY
Gy Margaret II. Page
Copyright r5s, 5g Mir5uatM. roas

Amt SAVANNAH HAMILTON b
"a WAS los FAR the most active 1
Ia and energetic negro in Pcntun- |
vile. Unlike the majority OF /
Florida negroes. who bask in idleness
until an empty harder or depleted ward (
robe cOulpeis them to earn little mon /
CIV, she was always ready TO work. /
Her husband had been wont 10 con-
sumo great part of her earnings in
drink. but 1t was commonly reported
that during the three years which had
eluused since his death she had accu-
mulatud a considerable sum of money.
The excellence of her cooking brought
her into constant demand when the lit
tie town was filed with northern
boardcrs. She was also accounted the
best singer in Pentonvilie.
Although she was fully fifty years of
age and exceedingly stout, the com
blncd attractions of good cooking, hne
singing and the possession of bank
account would have made her for
midable rival to the young girls of
Egypt. the name commonly given 10
that part of pcntonvillc occupied by the
colorcd people. had she chosen to enter
the matrimonial lists. In fact, she had
received several offers of marriage, but
had rejected all such propositions with
intense scorn. saying that one husband
was one too many for sensible wom-
an.
However. it began TO he whispered
about that since the arrival OF Mr.,
James Pendprgast. tall young mulat-
TO from Georgia, the citadel had been
successfully attacked. James possessed
magnificent tenor voice. and when it
rang out IN "pra'r mcetin above u"
other voices Aunt Savannah clasped
her hands and rolled her eyes in &c
stasy, while her clear soprano was
hushed in admiring silence. When
James escorted Aunt Savannah home
from meeting one evening, Sis Sukey
johnson observed to Greasy, Aunt Sa-
vannah's married daughter:
"Fo' de Lawd. Greasy, pears like yer
ma done got cotch at las by dat
Georgy sucker
Aunt Savannah had lived alone in
her one room cabin since the death OF
her husband. Near by stood the cabin
in which Greasy lived with her hus-
band and two children. Both Of these
humble homes were shaded by orange
and lemon trees, and in the plots OF
ground in the rear some cabbages were
growing. Between the two houses a
Il
chicken yard surrounded by Stat
fence seemed to receive more care than
either cabins or gardens.
One day soon after the act of gal
lantry which had caused Sukey John
sons comment preparations for SOME
great event were being made in Aun
Savannah's cabin. All day she hat
been cleaning and cooking AS it near
ed sunset her labors appeared to bt
completed The table. covered with {
snowy cloth and neatly set, stood il
the center of the room. Bouquets Of
roses honeysuckles, iasmines and ole
anders arranged in cracked cups anC
pitchers stood in every available spo
and filled the room with fragrance
On the hearth, where the fire had burn
ed to a few embers, stood platter o
fried chicken, and the roasted swee
potatoes and corn pone were still GOV
cred with the ashes to keep Their
warm.
Presently Aunt Savannah emerge
from behind the curtain which part
toned off one corner, used as a bee
room. She was dressed to do credit
the occasion, whatever it might be.
black alpaca skirt and purple plus