Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1905-05-27
FROsTBURG, MD, SATURDAY, MAY ~, 1905


ham grabcyard now. ufore de sun gifts
high, wild our flowers. an den dis
eh'nim' jcS' aforc he goes down, we'll
hab de collashun. An all de res oh de
day min. is lax Sund'y. Dis yer ain
no common day"
At her bidding they formed into a
little procession and, each taking a
bouquet of mingled wild and garden
flowers from a large dishpan beside her
chair. they marched, barchrAdcd. in
rcvercntial silence, down the dusty
road.
With indcScribable dignity and love
the old nanny approached the resting
place of her adored mistress. knecling
she laid II bunch of fragrant blossoms
above the heart which had never har
bored an unkind thought toward her.
Bowling her head, she remained for
some moments motionleSS. The mercu-
rial little creatures, standing side by
side near her, We're touched by the
scene. y vague feeling of awe Crept
into their small souls.
The grandmother presently arose,
slowly and with much difficulty. and
wiped away the tears which flowed
over her checks.
sam" she said. "cum. lay your flow
crS hyar. whar ole marsc lies. Io' is
de last oh de Burnham stock lcf' now
on de ole place
sam walked forward and laid his
bouquet on the stone which bore the
name of Horace Burnham.
"Bill, cum hyar. honey Oar ain no
grade hyar, but dis is de spot whar
young Mars Jack would lie cf his bones
d been brung home. Put yo' bukkay
dah.
AN, jimmy, yo' Gums mex. Walk
aroun an lay yo' ofrerin' hyar in de
place whar young Marse Dan orter be.
Dey WIS de two halmSumcSt bruddcrs
dat was cbbcr borned into de worl', an
MarSc Gridlcy he wuz de bes brcSS he
heart. De I.awd only knows whcdder
he dade or alibe. but | hopes dat deze
eyes see him fore Is t'roo.
"Dat'S all now, 'ccp Miss Pets, ober
hyar by oil" mis-, Dressed baby dat she
wuZ, wild her sweet blue eyes an shin
in hair. Molly, honey, put yo' leetle
bunch oh white roses right dar. Nothin'
but white fur dat Dressed chile"
She marShaled the children into line
again and, taking a we'll worn book of
Psalms from her vast pocket, read
aloud, slowly and impressively, the
Twcnty-third Psalm.
1t was very quiet in the lonely place
oil,
than from the page, the words which,
with many others. she had been taught
to read by her beloved Miss Pet Over
head the leaves rustled softly; the birds
sang in hushcd tones; the very sun
beams seemed to fall gently.
About sunset on this same 30th of
May Gridlcy Burnham and his young
northern bride were driving slowly
along the shady road which led to his
boyhood's home. He had heard of the
burning of the house of the death of
all the family, of the scattering of the
negroes, and he had never before had
the heart to visit Il place Saddcncd by
so many changes. He knew nothing of
mammys return, and as he passed the
graveyard he was surprised to see the
withered blossoms lying there. The
two young people alighted and walked
inside the incloSure.
These flowers are fresh, Mary" said
Gridley. II cannot imagine who could
have possibly put them there. None of
our people are left. But God bless their
kind hearts. whoever they We're They
have even remembered Jack and Dan"
Tears filled his eyes as he thought of
his brothers. Mary slipped her hand
in his. Her heart was touched, too, by
these evidences of loving rcmem-
brance.
1T is but a step to the house, Mary.
Let us walk there" he said presently
They WcHt nOiSeleSSly through the
avenue of oaks and when near the
ruins stopped still in amazement
There upon the lawn under a grand
old tree was table decked with flow
ers and loaded with eatables. A large
turkey in dress of richest golden
brown occupied the place of honor.
juicy pink ham graced the opposite
end of the table, and between them
was an enormous frosted cake. Dishes
of roasted potatoes, corn bread and
honey stood in tempting confusion.
Around the table at Il little distance
stood six children arrayed in white.
At the head was nanny.
"NOw. chilluns. bow yo' heads while
/ asks de breSsin'," she was saying.
80 Cod" she began. with childlike
simplicity and devout fervor-"O God,
our Marse dat Ibis up in hcbbCn, we
Gums ter ask yO' to look down an
breSS us an dis Collashun day dat yO'
good an Dressed sarvant Marse Lin
kun. done made. We po niggers is
all dat lef' hyar oh de gre't an serum
Shun Burnham family; but, o Lawd,
we'S homes, an we tries to lib lax de
harc ole mis- brung us up. Dey's all
dade 'cept maybe young Marse Grid
ley. o Lawd, lie same Lawd dat ole
mis- dubbed so true, breSs dat boy dis
day wharebber he is; brcSs his dare
heart an doan' let him alters forgit he
ole nanny. Now, cum, O Lawd, an
breSs de pO' collashun dat is de bes'
we kin mex, an breSs desc chilIuns an
TEX care oh dem when Is dade an
gone fOrebber. Amen"
AS she opened her eyes she saw COM
ing quickly toward her hat in hand, a
tall stranger One swift glance one
low cry of intense joy, and the brown
IL.