The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22
Kokomo. Ind, May q,

ton days Her \several years residence
here and contact with Northern niggahs, y
as she styles them, have not. however,
caused her to modify the ideas and stand
ards acquired in slavery Indeed. the asso-
citation has. on the contrary. strengthened
her in the notion of her own unreasonable
superiority, and she clings more closely to
the traditions of her early 'raisin " than
might have been the case amid different
surroundings
II had a good mahstah and mistis," she is
wont to remark; they fetched me up right.
and l am fetchin up my ehillen the same
way"
1 encourage Aunt Dinah to talk, and she
does not hesitate to free her mind as to the
"doins' of the cOlored youth of Indianapo-
lis, and the difficulties she encounters in
her efforts TO keep the youthful Moses Eli
JAN, her youngest child, in the paths Of rec
titude
Her observations on most subjects are
pointed, direct and sensible. l am quite
sure she is just as frank on Yandes street
as she is on - avenue.
Il don't low none of my chillen to sass
me, not even the married Ones they don t
try it very often, but if they just pass me
amt yo' mudder? And they do shet up,
too!' l don't think ii would occur to them
to do anything else.
times. He is a dear little walnut-tinted.
kinky-haired brownie. who gets his cap off
as he approaches the door, hobs a most
ways prefixes Miss to my little daugh-
ters name when addressing her. He ef-
faces himself much as possible during
his mothers ministrations, and IS evidently
In training to become one of the upper
house servants that Aunt Dinah is furnish
ing TO wealthy Indianapolis families.
Shiftlessness of any kind of degree is her
horror, and i have no doubt that she has
perceptibly elevated the tone of her neigh
borhood by her outspoken denunciations of
laziness, as well as by her own example
of unfiagging activity am sure that she
does not eNaggerate when she tells me
of the way she talks to dem shift less mig
gains, and | am sure, too, that they would
either mend their ways or move to escape
her wrathful denunciations.
Recently we moved to another apartment,
only three doors away. In my husband $
absence 1 was more than willing to place
the burden of the transfer on Aunt Dinah s
| willing and capable shoulders. The ar
| rangements were easily made. 1 agreed 10
secure another woman TO help with the
cleaning.
From around the corner 1 had often seen
pretty. but pale and tired-lookng little
| lrishwoman come, who, 1 decided. lived in
| the alley little farther south. She usually
/ had two, sometimes three children with
| her, the oldest, a Sedate prim child of
| seven. who led with grave dignity jolly
| little todder of five, while the mother car
| ried the baby. She looked like a working
| woman and as she CHANGED to pass while
| the question of help under debate
| stopped her and after little talk engaged
| her to come to assist the following day.
She said, that her husband worked in the
shops four squares away, and after ques-
| ton or two L identified him as a rather
handsome, but weak-faced young man who
! daily passed going TO his work.
Mrs. OMalley appeared bright and early
the next morning, to my surprise bringing
l the three children with her. L suppose
| looked my wonder, for she said in half
| apology, Il am sure they'll be no trouble
| ma am; Norah can help me when l need
| her, and Aileen will mind the baby" AS
| she spoke she placed rosy blacy-eyeo
Aileen in corner with the baby in heI
| lap. 'Norah, come sit on the stepladdeI
and hand me the thing when l tell you
She had them disposed of so quickly that
| did not utter the protest that had arisen tO
my lips; and when Aunt Dinah appeared
| with Moses Elijah trOtting Soiemnly at heI
| heels L decided that the situation promised
| good comedy, If not good results in the
way of housekeeping. The brownie was
assigned g. corner and hidden TO keep him
self withih call. The fat baby and restless
| Aileen role and wobbled together in their
| corner. Norah sat like a statue on the
| lowest step of the ladder in an attitude OF
| attention. with one eye on the baby's cor
| ner and an occasional blink in the direction
| of Moses Elijah, who blinked decorousy
back in return: The two women worked
with will. the wiry little Irishwomar
| and the ponderous "auntie'' holding their
\ own well with each other.
| i decided that l might give my attention
1 to the unpacking of books and china and
4
| the barrels and baskets containing them
| They were for the moment invisible, so
| paused tot await their appearance, when
| somewhat to my surprise-the working
| hours at the shop had begun two hours be-
| fore-I saw OMally coming up the walk
| He touched his hat respectfully, and with a
certain winning grace of manner asked II
| his wife was working there. l directed him
upstairs, and turned TO give my directions
| TO the man who had just appeared. When
1 | went up a few moments later / found
4 al vifa IA i1G in dp
| doorway of the room where she had been
/ cleaning woodwork Aunt Dinah was wash.
ing windows, apparently very intent on heI
| occupation, but as l entered the room, she
| glanced at the couple and then at me with
/ look certainly not made of all sweet ac-
| cord but which certainly might be said to
| be fraught with direful meaning.
| The conversation broke off for a moment
| Husband .and wife stood looking at each
| other, sh2 with an expression of dismay
| and an added paller on her face, he with q
| touch of defiant recklessness born of more
| than half. misgiving that he was in the
| wrong.
| well, he's just been ordering me around
| like a dog. all the morning, and | finally
| just up and told him that he could give me
| my time and"
| But Mike, Milei what will the babies
| do, when-yoh, Mike she walled, YOU know
| you said yesterday that he would be cross
| till his hand got over the bad hurt he gave
] it," The fat baby rolled to the floor and
| lay there unnoticed. gurgling and kicking
4 while AileenS Drown mead nodded Sleeply
| Norah, from her perch on the stepladder
| watched her parents with a grave air OF
mingled comprehension and anxiety.
II can't help it. he cursed me once toe
| often, and I've OUTPUT for good Ga
sound suspiciously like d snort of con
| tempt came from Aunt Dinahs direction
but the o Malleys were too much absorbed
/ to notice iD-he'H just find out that
| III 'mphi" We all jumped as though ar
| airgun had been popped in our midst, but
| Aunt Dinah's ejaculation had stunningly
| derisive duality that no airgun could pro.
| duce.
| She dropped the cloth at Norahs feet
| and threw the soap against a closed door
| Ii rebOunded at an angie, which brought
| II TO the floor within reach OF the fat boy
| who promptly clutched IT, and conveyinl
| il TO her mouth with one wobbly hand pro
| ceeded unnoticed TO test its merits as &
| baby food.
| Aunt Dinah walked up TO the couple
| hands on hips, wrath in every feature and
| in every curve OF her ample form. She
| stood for a moment towering over the
| astonishe; OMalley like fate. and ther
| the storm broke.
"Well, I'd jes' like to see any chile oh
mine corlin' 'roun' talkin' bout qufttin