The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-31

found neatness a fixed principle with her training. She did not have far to go for the woods those days and Satur- day evening after the chickens had been ''picked' for Sunday-just at dark she built a big fire in the back yard, and one could see the helpers busy with the old fashion brush brooms," sweeping the back yard, heaping the trash on the fire. see the blazes force their way through the smoke, helping to get ready for Sunday. Finally the boom ceased; things looked awful dull with Aunt Charlotte She added washing and iron ing to her industry; she toiled cheerfully On one occasion when she notified the few of her customers that had not gone to light housekeeping that she could no longer send out meals; she was asked the reason; her trade seemed good; didn't you save money? No chile, l didn't but I fattened some white folks and dey ain't neber paid me yet" and thus Aunt Charlotte failed, but she never failed to work She did odd jobs here and there and finally her genius developed new business" She became the negroes pur- chasing agent from de white folks" When Susan wanted a dress of any style or texture she had but to tell Aunt Char lotte and she knew Miss Mary had just such a dress and she q engage it, and this she did. She always had faith in pay day. so she assumed de debt on de subscription plans;' that is the purchaser paid to her bonus and set tied in small amounts at the end of each week, besides the white folks allowed her a ten per cent commission. It looked for a while from Aunt Charlotte's smile of content and enthusiasm as if her ship was near the shore. Certainly time tells the tale. Aunt Charlotte gave up the house on the avenue for one on the alley and after several months she was Inter viewed again. well" old woman. how Is it this timer" Miss, I done walked myself clean out of breath, getting de money out of desc niggers dey sure does know how to fix things up. I going quit dis business" She simply had the genius In her and she decided to do her money end of it with white folks again; so she framed up plan in another manner. she would take out the clothes and sell for the white folks, and do you know that was genuine good thinking. Aunt Charlotte has enterprise if nothing else, and often one has seen "white folks" walking here and there Hooking for Aunt Charlotte, who had out for sale their perfectly good dress When they had found her to know. she had tried them on Mary, had tried them on Sue. but de fact is Miss the sales is slow" Aunt Charlotte can even up; she's mo- bodys fool
 Years have passed on. the city has grown; Aunt Charlotte has not grown. except old and feeble and grey. A few weeks ago. the first time for years, may be ten of them, the writer found her standing on First avenue with her basket on her arm waiting. looking around at strange faces, and strange things. When she discovered one familiar ''she turned the serious into a smile, for she, too, re- called the early days when they were building Birmingham. ]
 l This old character is one of many strolling around our neighborhood relics l of faithful service They carry their baskets wherever they go for they know the spirit of the people, especially of the old families who have known and valued their services and that they will always have ready sonethng for them to carry home. The young negro nor the young white will ever know the tie that existed | between the two races in the past. where l the servant and 'marster" had common
 interest; when love and pride out
 weighed the money earned. but the old
 folks know. and look upon the old darkies
 who stroll around our streets with ten der memories. for they have been essen
 tial factors in former industry.
 They never out live their sentiment either, they love 10 look back upon the 1 past and tell of olden days They recall 1 the methods of yesterday and find the changes work hardships on their stiffened | joints Aunt Charlotte is one among many left. tho they are fast passing away. She plods along with that basket peddling white folks clothes" in the same old way Twenty-Five years of practice have given her great acouaint-