West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-12-23

oOb EbbEk MADE
promistes me sure dat muffin II keep
yo' from gwine next year"
''WellT said I.
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
ia 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 ordl-
nary, and the firing of duck guns and
the blowing OF horus would cease for
nm hour or more. only to break out In
fuller chorus when the congregation
was dismissed.
ELLEN, my Greataunt Polly's faithful
handmaiden In the days "befo' the
wah," was the last of the house serv-
aats Of the old regime and upon our
arrival at Beauregard feebly attempted
49, - a
iadies"
TO offend Ellen was not lightly TO be
undertaken, nor indeed would one of
as 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 n prom
ise ITO 60 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 child
with the news.
u speshully wanted yo' 10 go dis
yere Time" she said, "fur ole Unc' Ma
thuD done give out that he gwlne tell
~ once mo- bout his comm thoo', an
spec he amt gwine last much
longer.
TO know, Miss Lily, Unc' Nsthuns
mos ninety years old now, an he
sleep mos all de time, but gwine to
shake Inn np, an he go down to de
ehu'ch an tell his speriunce once mo-
HIT p'intedly was a pow'ful comm
thoo'.r
Then, taking my hand, Ellen proceed.
IL Ia
would hear her: Miss Lily, when I
was little gai Unc' Nathun was de
wickednes' man God ebber made. Dat
be was, honey, nm he had de bestes'
wife. Aun' Judy suttenly was or good
woman sure. Ole marsta ne nebber
would lowed Unc' Nathun on is plan
iation but fur Aun' Judy. Honey, IN
dem days dere was mean white men
stanin' roun' fur TO use mean niger
FUR dcro own profit, an right mex TO
We ans place was DAT ole Sam Thom.
81. He was too mean 70 wuk hisself.
an he nebba had no niggers to wuk
fur him, an he an his boys jes' make
bad whisky an trade bit TO De cuIlud
people FUR dere ole marsta's craps.
Dnc' Nathun be fed ole marstas
horses. an dat way he got ali de whis.
- he wan an cose dat made I'm lots
meanor dan he nachuIly was"
"oIe mareta sstg he nebba cud under
stan why De craps didn't bot out no
Detta. but erter Unc' Ratbun dun come
thoo' den be know zackly why de craps
las"
"Eilen, why didn't some Of the col
oreo friends tell my graodfatherT' 1
asked.
Honey. We was feared Gaze we
wud git conjured. Dat we was sho'
member one day we was gwine to
bob con shuckin'. an oil de nlggers
rm 6is past Oh De country was to be
dere. Aun Clnny call al we young
gals up fm De quortah 70 cut de pun.
klus up to make Ge pies. caxe, Miss
lazy. pupkin pies IS pow'ful skrump-
shue 20 niggers. 50 we gals wen 90
% De straw rick to get De punkips, an.