The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05
SLAVES OF SOCIETY
AND NEGLECTED HOnES.......
BY REV. r. II. WHITAKER.

y.
motherly way. Mama will come back
as soon as she gets done playing
cards
rs mama 'bleged to play cards every
day?'' asked little Willie. the tears
standing in his eyes
Course she is said Nellie. "cause
heard her tell Miss Softbrains yis-
tidy they was bound TO obey the laws
Of s'ciety.'
What is sciety. Sis?''
II know what it is, interrupted
Tommy.
Well what is it then?" asked Mel
It's dancing said Tommy. and he
capered around the room knocking
over a chair and falling against little
Willie, turning him out on the floor.
Hhereupon ne set up howl
20, Tommy what makes you do so
bad?" asked Nellie as she picked UP
Willie ana tried 10 stop his nose from
bleeding.
Il amt bad--Ise just playin
sciety,' said Tommy still caperinE
about.
Use gwine TO tell mama how you
made my nose bleed and she'll whip
you, too" said Willie. between his
sobs.
Il don't keer if you do; I'll tell her
was jes' playin' s'ciety, and"
what YOU are talking about: jumping
up and down and knocking over
,hairs and hurting people amt s'ciety;
Mama says its playing cards: that's
Ghat s'ciety is.
But mama don't play sho huff
cards. dus she. Sis?" asked Willie.
Yes of course She does" answered
Nellie
Il know she don't though" said
l IA
lay that Bill Jones played cards round
The corner there on the pump. she
said it was very naughty for little
BOYS to play cards. and l must not
keep company with Bill any more. ;"
We'll. y anyhow said Nellie
'Mama's gone to Mrs. Parvenue'S to
play cards right now"
IF mama plays en- chrped in
title Willie / kin too and when / gifts
to be a big man I'll have me some
cards, and then I'll let you play EN-
100, Sis.
I'm going to be a gambler when /
gifts to be q man, cause Bill Jones told
me sam'lers made sieht of money.
and they drank whiSlIey and got drunk
, and played Che whispered IT'D HI. and
cut up Jack and"
Il mean 10 tell Mama you said
T. said Willie whose nose still bled.
No, he didn't say it-he sed Bill
Jones sed So said Nellie, whose SYM
pathieS turned to Tommy.
Whats all this fuss about?" asked
the colored nurse who just then came
in after holding a long conversation
with d driver. who stopped his team
near the gate. | never seed such chill
I lunS as you is since I've bin born. Yer
nanny can't set her foot outer this
Yer house 'thout your getting inter
mischief. I 'Spise to nusS sich chill
/ n. .I.tk
/ If Yer NAV don't stop running round
town To card parties. y poor Niger
can't play a game OF craps 'thout he's
tuck up and carried before de Mayor
/ ana has 10 pay Il fine; but every day
/ has TO stay here and keep YOU chill
| lun While your NAV is AT somebody
house a gambling. She amt 40 mother
no how. IF l had chillun I'd try 20
raise EN- like folks.
After that outburst the children
quieted down for Il few minutes. the
nurse in the meantime going To the
kitchen TO have Z. talk with the cook.
isis Nellie asked little Willie.
! didn't nuss say mama amt our
mother
"She said something like that" an
sweIeI Nellie.
.':She did say that" said little Tom
mic and I'm going to AK her if she
amt, jes as soon as she comes home"
''She meant said Nellie, that mama
don't act like a mother, cause she
Goes off to play cards and leaves us
here by ourselves.
You reckon mama loves lis chilun
Sis?' asked Tommy.
"She loves sciety, l reckon better'n
she does us" said little Willie. look
ing very forlorn the tears standing in
his eyes.
"Chillun, you ortnt to talk so bout
mama, case she's bound to play cards
/ heard her tell napa So
Amt playin' cards .gam-ling?'
asked Tommy.
when gamblers play it is" an
swered Nellie.
Nn't ii sin,sis Nell" asked Will
lie
yes. when bad boys play.
Amt ii a sin when good boys
play? continued Willie.
YES, but good boys don't play.
answered Nell
"Ain't mama good?''
Hush Willie, mama amt boy. .
said Nell. trying TO stop him.
can good wimmens. like mama,
play cards, and good boys like me
ana Tommy can't?'
81 don't know; I wish you'd hush, =
said Nell.
"Ain't mama in the church. Sis
Neli?' asked Tommy.
"Of course she is"
us them gam 'iers, Bill Jones was
telling me about, in the church ?''
NO, You don't suppose they'd take
gamblers in the church, do you?"
How cum dey took mama in de
church, asked Willie.
''Shes no gambler" answered Mel
lie.
But she plays cards. said Tom.
Yes, but she don't bet: she just
plays for a prize
What's that" asked Tommy
why when mama. and the s'ciety
ladies play they have a prize. and the
one that beats gets it" explained
Nellie.
That's just like Bill Jones told me
the gamblers do. they puts down the
money, and the one that beats gets
it."
But that's money" said Nellie.
Don't the prize mama plays for
cost money! asked Tommy.
20, Tommy you don't know what
you are talking about. L wish you'd
hush"
"Dus papa play cards?" asked