Evening star., 1912-03-17

with a few messages written on the back
So then he said l would have to put on
an extra two-cent stamp so 1t could be
sealed. And. my dear, I had to do It.
But where does the penitentiary come
in?"
We'll. for goodness sake! If you worry
| about thing isn't it just as bad as IL
it had happened"
/ OF course, some people believe a thing
like that. But the spinster woman didn't
look as if she were one Of them.
A young woman entered a crowded car.
An oldish and very stout man waited
/ long enough to give some other man
chance at chivalry, but finding himself
the only Galahad around, numbered up
laboriousy and offered the young woman
his seat. She accepted 1t with the usual
matter-of-course simper, and then-here
is where the remarkable beauty of this
incident comes in-she bowed graclously
at two young men seated opposite her
who had allowed her to stand.
Confidentially, dear neighbors. what is
your idea of young men who would let
a stranger outdo them in courtesy to an
acquaintance?
And what. oh. what, do you think of
! girl who would, literally, stand for It?
II you never knew Aunt Belle Amy you
have missed sunbeam. And you can
never make 1t up to yourself now, for
she has gone to heaven which she con-
fidently expected to be patterned after
old Virginia before the war. You might
not have been satisfied with her work,
but, after ALL if You want white clothes
they have got to be washed in water
toted from a Virginia spring; and, be-
sides, when a ole CONAN is stiff in her
bone j'intS an wore out with the 'spon-
sibilitieS of nine haid of child'n a paSSi
er gram child'n an two no-'count hus-
bins. both daid, an one of 'em hung
what can you 'Spect, 'spensive as coal is?
AVG l1ff
But her patrons came to know, without
her telling, that Aunt Belle Amy was a
poor laundress because God had intended
her for something better-only nature
made a mistake and dipped her brown. So
the stork had to take her to a slave cabin
instead of to the great house7-a long time
before "Marse 'Gen1 Lee fought'n the
civly war.
And now Aunt Belle Amy's old sons and
not overyoung grandsons have put her
beneath Virginia earth-by means of her
own paid-up inshoonce an def policy, and
that would be all there is to it except for
Mr.. Jeems-whoever he may be.
Mr.. Jeems who Lives yander todes
Jewpont Cuccle," was Aunt Belle Amy's
prize wash"
He must have been a kindly wash, for
he not only paid her double for evy
dribble," but he kept the old soul keyed
up with excitement over Bible problems
IN which he always let her come out
ahaid.
/ And because, Mr.. Jeems, Aunt Belle
Amy's summons to the Dominion came
before she could do more than rehearse
her last answer to your last question, 1t
is put here especially for your knowledge
and consideration.
MIR. Jeems asst me: Aunt Belle Amy
huccome Father Adam havin' such
mixed fambly-white an black an red
Ind'jn an evy color-answer me dat he
Ses.
II amt nair answer ready. so 1 goes
home an steddies over de tub. an at de
ion-bode an de stove. an still amt nair
answer comm. Twiles I was asleep in
bed 1 wakes up an looks at de stars an
auickern flash. wivout any steddyin',
it comes to me to say to Mr.. Jeems:
=" You asst me huccome Father Adam
havin' child n of evy color?'
"'Huccome Mother Ear havin: flowers
of eyy color? You answer me dat.
| Could you do it, Mr. Jeems?
"Iauste steddy out why there warnt
no green flowers, but knows now. honey.
green we needs in de grass an leabes
an summer trees an bushes. An He
made up His mine not to have blue flow
ers because we has our sharer blue sky
an blue ribber. Dey tells me de ocean
is blue, too. I amt never sighted it
I'm just tellin' you what's tole to me.
You never see no gray flowers because
de good Lord has laid out for our use
plenty of gray clouds an fogs an night
falls an glis'ny gray rain.
A week later, Mr. Jeems,' your Aunt
Belle Amy mad said goodnight to this
/ world. That is why she has not come
for your wash
! And if it be true that we get what we
most want in the place We know as
heaven she is now enjoying the delights
| of an eternal Virginia which knows no
slave cabins And no wars.