The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-12-23


promistes me sure dat muffin II keep
yo' from gwine next year.
"Welly" said !.
Now, honey, dis heah's mex year"
had been making my annual visit
TO the old plantation, and the week
between Christmas and New Years,
always the shortest week In the year,
had seemed shorter than ever this win
ter. and my time was filled with little
pleasures and engagements. the day
set for my return being all too near.
Christmas. ever the greatest festival
for both white and black on the East.
ern Sho," had come and gone New
Years day was Of little account to us
In comparison, but TO the negroes
watch night had always been time
of great concern. The quieter and
more religious element devoutly at.
tended church. where, too, many of
the lighter hearted and reckless ones
were drawn by the attraction always
strong Of something out Of the ordi-
nary, and the firing Of duck guns and
the blowing Of horns would cease for
an hour or more, only to break out In
fuller chorus when the congregation
was dismissed.
Ellen, my Great-aunt Pollys faithful
handmaiden IN the days "befo' the
wah." was the last Of the house sery.
ants Of the old regime and upon our
arrival at Beauregard feebly attempted
to resume her duties OF "waitln' on de
ladies'
To offend Ellen was not lightly TO be
undertaken, nor indeed would one OF
us willingly or knowingly have done
II. and ! felt grief that was real to
think that | had not kept faith with |
her even In so lightly made prom
Use ''to go with her to watch night
mex year"
Ellen was soon herself again upon
having my word really to go with her
this year and she beamed like n child
with the news.
II speshuly wanted yo' to go dis
ycre time" she said, ''fur ole Unc' Ma.
thuD done give out that he gwine tell
US once mo- bout his comm thoo', an
spec he aln't gwine last much
longer,
"Yo' know. Miss Lily, Unc' Nathun's
mos ninety years old now, an he
sleep mos all de time, but gwine to
shake i'm up, an he go down to de
rhu'ch an tell his speriunce once mo-
IIlt p'intedly was a pow'ful comm
fhoo'."
Then, taking my hand. Ellen proceed.
I'd In low tones. as II the old man
would hear her: Miss LIzy, when
was little gal Unc Nathnn was de
man God ebber made. Dat
ie was. honey, an be had de bestes'
wife. AuD' Judy suitenly was er good
woman sure. Ole marsta he nebbcr
would lowed unc' Nathun on is plan
alton but fur Aun' Judy. Honey. In
lem days dere was mean white men
tsn'in' roun' fur 10 use a mean niger
ur derc own profit an right mex to
We all's place was dat ole Sam Thorn
Is. He was too mean 10 wuk hlsself,
m he nebba bad no nlggers 10 wuk
ur him. an be an his boys jes' make
nd whisky an trade hit 10 dc culud
cople fur dere ole marsta's craps.
inc Nathun be fed ole marsta's
Iorses. an dat way he got all de whis-
y be wan. an cose dat made I'm lots
neaner dan be nachully was"
~ole marsta say be nebba cud under
tan why de craps didn't hol' out 40
'etia. but arter unc' Nathun dun come
boo des be know zackiy why de craps
u.s.
Ellen. why didn't some OF the col.
red friends tell my grandfather I
sked
Honey. we was feared care we
fud 81, couyured Dat we was sh0. !
member one day We was gwine to
ab con shuckin', an ali de uiggers ,
IA dis par oh de country was TO be
ere. Aun' GInny call all We young ,
ais up I'm de quarah 10 cut De pun.
lns ~ to make de pies. care. Miss ,
izy. punkln Plies Is pow'fui skrump-
rus 10 nigger. No we gals wen up
J De straw rick 70 set de punklns. an.
oney. ef 20 believe mc. we foun' ,
ri Oh whisky where Unc' Nsihun ,