Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-05-13
pously. keep de flies often de co'pse.
Sistah Roxy"

Il ain daid VII, she said quietly.
The effect of this assertion upon
the assembled company was some
what paralyzing. Brother Reese, how.
ever, Immediately recovered his self
| possession.
Repent, Sistah Juliana," he cried
loudly; de Lawd done give yo' dis
little time longah tub spachiate yo'
sins. Now's yo' chance, Sistah Juli-
ana, nows yo' chance"
"A-a.amen!" chorused the excit-
ed neighbors, who now filled the lit
tie room almost to the point of suf-
! location.
Sister Juliana turned her troubled
eyes toward the kitchen door.
"Yo' done lef' de tea-kittle on de
fab 'thout no watah, an hit am
gwine tub bus eff yo' ain cyahful,"
she said feebly, and. indeed, an odor
of red-hot iron permeated the apart
ment.
"Juliana," cried Aunt Judy hysteri-
cally. "Yo' done hyah me, Juliana.
Praise de Lawd!"
! lis an III NdGiOll lul DOhb
kittles, Sistah Juliana," demonstrated
the preacher; "let yo' las wo'ds be
fuh de husban' who done wotch an
pray by yo' dis long time
Ain yo got no wo'd fun me, Juli-
ana?" inquired that gentleman pa
/ thetically.
Sister Juliana caught weakly at the
20 81 IN 20, on
/ noyingly close TO her nose.
stop dat" she commanded irri-
/ tably, and Mrs. Bristow paused in as
/ constituent.
"Lawd' entreated Brother Reese
fluently as he dropped upon his knees,
reach out yo aims tub dis po, fiut-
/ term I'll soul. Hit am on'y po,
weak female woman. good Lawd yo'
knows dat She done fall by de way
side maybe. but of co'se she KANT
be strong tub zist ole Satan like a
man am strong"
'Lis'en tub dem wo'ds, good Lawd,"
! interpolated the sorrowful husband
She ain gwine tub have de ahm o
huh husban' tub suppoht huh thu de
/ Moo Jerooselum," continued Brother
Reese fervently, "she am only"
Say Amen" interrupted Sister
Juliana irreverently as she sat upright
in her bed and glared inhospitably at
her unlimited guests, SAY Amen
quick, now, an git up often yo'
knees"
Huh mine do wandah." said Broth
er Reese charitably as he rose obedi-
emily. Prepare fun de wuss. Broth
all Jackson, prepare fun de wuss. De
houah am come. Lawd, open de
Golden Gate an let dis sinnah in
Sister Juliana pointed with trem-
bling finger to the outer door
"Yo' mought ez well go home" she
remarked to her astonished neighbors,
'dey ain gwine tub be no funeral in
dis hyah house yit a-whiles."
"Juliana," cried Aunt Judy joyfully,
''yos back agin fo' sho', honey"
One by one the guests departed ST.
lently, emitting the customary fare
well to the hostess.
Reckon yo' mought ez well light
out wild en- suggested that lady to
her pastor, who shook his head mourn
fully as he complied with the request.
Sister Juliana then turned to her
husband, resolution in her whole at
titude.
Put back dem wax fowahs," she
commanded quietly.
"Jes' ez yo' fires. Juliana. jes' ez
yo' fires, honey" he replied, hasten
ing to obey her mandate.
"Good-by, Sistah Roxy" she MUIR
INJURED sinking YEARLY down in her
feather bed "Aun' Judy kin show yo'
de way outen de front do. Sistah
Roxy, yo' needn' trubble yosef bout
no back fence: Yves gwine tub move
cross de bridge next month anyhow.
Aun' Judy. open de front do fun Sis
tab Roxy"
And Aunt Judy did so with alacrity.
"Fole up de patchwork quilt con
tinued Mrs. Jackson, addressing her
husband, "an' tote in de cawn-shuck
mattress-kain't wais' dis hyah good
feathah bald tub git well in"
"Juliana," he ventured deprecating-
ly, honey, is yo' sho'?'
cit tub wuck." she interrupted
ruthlessly. "Yo' ain gwine tub walk
home f'om my grave on yo' tip-toes
wild Roxy Bristow nohow, Gaze dey
ain gwine tub be any grave. 70
done thunk de noise o de cherrybims
pickin dey banjoes fill meh yeahs
twell I didn' hyah yo' speechify wild
huh. | done see de sheep's-eyes 20
tuck an cas- at huh ovah meh dyin
bald. Git de cawn-shuck mattress, -
Sister Juliana. paused and looked long
and earnestly at her lord and master
-'yo ornery, lazy. triflin', big-moui
niggah!" she finished impersonally
her voice growing faint from physical
weakness.
The change was finally effected and
Mrs. Jackson reposed uncomfortably
upon her knobby corn-husk bed GOV
cred with sheet of unbleached mus
lin, weary but triumphant.
Pull down de windah shades" she
commanded her husband, recalling
that gentleman as he WAS about &c