Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-01-21
Faithful Unto Death.

Faithful Unto Death.
"Aunt" Betty Robinson, one of Shop
herdstown's oldest ard most highly re-
spected colored residents, died last Friday
afternoon after an illness of less than two
weeks. Her exact age is not known, but
if is believed that she was upwards OF
eighty years old. Before the war she
belonged 10 DR.. Isaac Taylor, who lived
south Of this town. For the past thirteen
years Aunt Betty had been the cook and
household dependence in the family OF
the editor of the Register, and we had
grown to know her as one OF the best
women that ever lived. She was so
thoroughly honest, so capable, so worthy
of trust, so loyal to the interests OF her
employer, that too much cannot be said
in her praise. In all the thirteen years OF
this service she was absent from her post
OF duty but on one occasion, and that
was when she was sick for lew days.
More, she was never even late in starting
her mornings work in all this time. She
was OF the old school, and holidays had
no charm for her when they conflicted
with her ideas OF duty.
Aunt Betty was OF the type OF old-fash-
Toned colored women of the South, OF
which we sometimes read in books, but
which is seldom met with in real life.
She loved the family with whom she
made her home. Their happiness and
welfare was her first consideration. En-
tirely unselfiSh, her service was loving
service, and in turn she commanded our
deepest respect and regard. Gentle and
amiabIe and kindhearted, we have never
heard her utter an impatient or diSreSpect-
| full word Or speak unkindly OF anyone
under any circumstance. And such
cook as Aunt Betty was 1t was her
delight TO prepare for every meal the
most appetizing dishes OF which she was
capable. Her dexterous fingers were
ever busy and by instinct she seemed to
know the right proportions. She never
failed in her breadmaking; her pastry
was dream OF delight, her soups deli
cious no one could make such waffles or
fry chicken as she could never were
fowls done to such a turn as those which
she would roast; her corn-pone and her
batter cakes tempted TO repetion and her
salads were marvelS. The fruit cakes
that she baked had almost national rep
utaton. She was natural-born cook,
and her pride was IN sending TO the table
every dish done just in the right way.
The last meal that she cooked and served
was a company" dinner, and though
she admitted TO being tired" the turkey
was just as deliciously done and every
thing was as we'll prepared as she had
served at any time before. When she
quit work on Saturday night she reluc-
family allowed herself to be persuaded to
rest on Sunday. Monday she was no
stronger and agreed to be away for the
week. Before the second week was
ended it was seen that her life work was
ended, and on Friday she peacefully
passed away, after devoted friends had
done all that was possible for her. Her
death was from the final wearing out OF
the machinery that had been busy for so
many years.
Aunt Betty was truly piouS woman.
Indeed, though her station in life was
humble, she was an eminent Christian.
Her Bible was always near, and she read
if faithfully. In her church she had been
a consistent official member for many
years, leading a life OF genuine piety.
How wonderful il was 10 hear the beau
tiful and impressive prayers that she ut
tered When she knelt humbY in her
pew and poured forth in picturesque
language the earnest petitions that came
from her heart il was as though she was
inSpired-who shall say that she was not?
Sinners heard and were converted. Her
fellow Christians were edited and all
who listened felt her power. No small
share of her earnings went TO the support
of her church, and she was especially
jealous in contributing TO the missionary
cause-she wanted the knowledge of her
Saviour 10 be semitic every place on earth.
Aunt Betty said that she was descended
from an African king. II could be easily
believed. Her unfailing dignity, her won
derful poise and Self-control, her COM
posure, the respect that she inspired,
were so unusual that she really seemed to
be OF royal blood. And she had the man
ners of a princess, giving honor where
honor was due and unconSciously exact
ing full respect from all who came in con-
tact with her. She never failed in cour-
tesy herself, and il was not possible that
any reasonable person could be anything
but courteous TO her. All who came into
our household were impressed by her,
and since her death number OF letters
have been received from guests who es-
teemed her and who pay tribute 10 her
skill as a cook and the gentleneSs and
dignity OF her character. One OF these
friends writes "Aunt Betty served you
faithfully and conscientiously, just as she
faithfully and conscientiously served her
Lord and Master" A member OF the
family who now lives in a home OF her
own far away said "When ! heard OF
dear old Aunt Bettie's death sat down
and cried and cried, for loved her and