Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-12-21
"OUAlsI TY
DIX 6"
~ PERL W. MORGAN

On Ely ain no quality folks. no
IL how. deed dey ain De Kahn
tncky Hendersons was de real quality,
sho's 20 BON"
Aunt Lindy was easing her mind on
the question Of the social rating OF our
new neighbors. the Hendersons. who
had just moved into the cottage across
the street My wife had not found
IL convenient to call on them, but
accidentally learned, from -oyerhearing
a. conversation between neighbors
across the back yard that they had
recently come west from Kentucky.
| confess. however, that had serious
doubts on this point after | heard
what Aunt Indy said She knew the
Kentucky Hendersons Of several gen
erations and II was certain that the
names OF tAls particular family Of
Hendersons did not appear in her
blue book
NO. honey" she said, as she stood
holding the dust broom in one OF her
hands. "ole Marse Henderson an
young Marse Henderson an all de
family had gone to glory-an-an
dey was de las oh de ole quality"
There was a note OF sadness in her
voice. and traces Of pain were visible
in the lines OF her wrinkled old face
She stepped across the room and pre-
tended TO be busy rearranging the
fresh bunch of nasturtiums in the
vase at the table AT last she turned
around and a light Of joy shone
through the tears which glistened in
her eyes.
"oh, chillen. but young Marse Tom
Henderson an de young mist'ess was
de proudest folks / ever see when dey
come 70 lib in de ole home after de
weddin'."
Whom did Tom Henderson marry?'
| did not know the Hendersons, but
asked this to show her that ! was
interested. for | wanted Aunt Lindy
to tell a story She was a negro
woman OF fine feeling and varying
emotions. and she had been so Ions
associated with people OF culture and
refinement in the south that there was
a particular charm TO her stories
about de quality folks"
"Shucks, doan' 20 know dat young
Marse Tom married Miss Myra Hern-
don. de younges' chile ob ole Colnl
william Herndon? An she was de
sweetes flower dat ever bioomed in
de souf."
Visions OF the long ago seemed to
rise up before Aunt Lindy. She stood
there dreamy eyed. with expressions
Of 10y and sorrow fitting across her
face as clouds Of various hues race
across the suns bright disc
"De Hendersons an de Herndons
was de frs famblys in de Ian an
dey was good ole times on de- pianta-
tons befo' de war But after ole
Marse an young Marse Tom was
killed de old mistress an de young
mist'ess hab no mo 20 lib for Den
de good ole times was no mo, an
de darkies was all scattered an. gone
Aunt LiRdy's voice was choking In
compassion l sought to change the
subject.
But weren't you going to tell
story about Tom and Myra?' ! asked
She removed the pile OF newspapers
from the chair that stood near the
head of the bed on which / lay. racked
with rheumatic pain. and with the
tenderest Of feeling she began
Ain no use talkin', never was no
body like de Hendersons an de Hern-
dons Dey was dat thick yo'd
although dey was all oh one family.
II was de same ev'ryday an Sunday,
too. If de Hendersons weren't over az
de Herndons. de Herndons was at de
Uendersons. Dey was de beatin'es'
folks to visit | ever saw. An dem
ole men. oh. my. Lawd-a-massy oey
was de mos ksntankerus TO talk 70
ever hear bout Dey'd talk an. talk
an talk all day long, an den dey
fu' someTn' 10 talk bout az night
An proud, dey was Dc proudes ! ever
hear bout. Dey set great sto. On dem
rhillen Sent EN- up @ Lexington 70
boadin' school an said dey was 70 os
Is real quality Oh az sour deed dsy
5is ssv III Ole Marse an CoinA
Herndon dey'd set on de po'ch an
ta1k about dem chillen Ole Marse
he'd say dat young Marse Tom vas
coin to be goyner some day, an aen
A. col'nl be say dat Miss Myra she
was goin' to be de FRS lady in De iah
Dey'd bofe shake hans an can u
mo- toddy. An dey'd keep up dat kin
oh COINS on all day. and ole Jasper
he'd get mad an clare 10 goouhesa
- Il Kainfnckians 4 drink er