The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-14
Mother Mis- us
and Her Tears
and-P rayers Bath
a sketch for Mothers Day.)
Nv w, NJ. RICkEtRS

''oob iHDFHLHkt NANNY susan.
How are YOU this beautiful morning.
and how Is good Mother Mis'us'?"
This was the sslutation Of genial
country Doctor Gray to typical old
school Virginia NANNY az the
physician refined in his horse in front
or the radiant gardens of a pretty
homestead where he ola colored wo-
man was plucking fragrant flowers
and arranging them In a pretty
bouquet. as she hummed-
My mother died a-shoutin',
/ really do bslieve.
NY mother died a-shoutin,
| really do believe.
An the Lord will bear my spirit
home"
The dwelling house was situated in
a handsome grove, and the driveways
and walks OF the spacious grounds
curved gracefully about the sparkling
lawns, which were ornamented with
flower mounds, enchanting bowers,
luxuriant rose bushes and Ar trees
and fre>coed with a symetrical hedge
of well-tended box bushes. few
hundred yards to the front of the
promises the placid river reflected a
silver sheen In the May mornings sun
light, the cattle were hrousing In the
meadow, hundreds of happy birds
chanting carols in the trees and the
honey bees buzzing musically.
Hastily depositins the gathered
flowers upon the dew besparkled grass
and wiping her hands upon her
Bingham apron. Nanny Susan hur.
ried to the roadside, exclaimins,
why. bless me, Mars Jeems, Ia
er knowed It was you ef I'd Jes heerd
dem hugwywheels befo' you smoked
a word Bet you'se les from levin
some sufferin,, kaze OATS 20 delight
fest like yo' good mother. who makes
de glory Ian brighter dis mawnin.
Thank yah. Mars Jeem. Ice gittin'
Lawd, an Mother us'-kaze why
calls her so she's de bes Misus in
de roun' worl'. an likewise de hes
mother to her own chillum an to all
de folks roun' erbout. white an
cuhud, an bines up dar broken Inns
or broken heartsr-she's Jest fine! I
know she'd 'toice tub see yuh. but I
can't 'rup her now IN her mawnin
tears an prars bath"
What kind of morning bath did
you say?' queried Doctor Gray, with
a somewhat puzzled expressionl
Nanny Susan had picked up one of
litter OF puppies frolicking at her
feet, and to the mother dog, who was
now standing with mirthful look, the
old woman said: Now. Frdo, you
know knows yo' chlle's safe in deze
here arms. an ain't gwine tub let
her fall fJes look at dat mother TOYS.
will youN"D There she addressed her
self 10 the doctors interrogatory:
why, bless vuh heart Mars Jeems,
Its de tears an prars bath-de bestis
kind of medicine an 'vigerator When
yah turns roun' de hedge down yonder,
you cast 20 eve through dem silver
naples up to dat sable window tin
dicating) on de udder cen Of de big
house an be boun' yah see Mother
Mis'us perrin through dem trees to
dat little cedar grove UP yonder whar
you see dem broomstones shinin' In
de sun Ev'rv mawnin she sots dar.
an de love tears roll down her pretty
cheeks and washes all de gloom from
de eyes an sorrow from de face, an !,
den she read from her mammy's Bible
an kneel down by her mammys bed.
an when all dat tears an prars bath
is through, she come down stairs an
out In de lawn jest fectin' de love
light all aroun'--an' de chickens gifts
eroun' her, an de'dogs bark der good
mawning. an de birds has er At an
lights on her shoulders an head, an
de cats purr up ergnst her Oh. she's
do mawn light OF love, Mother
Mis'us Is. bless de IAwd."