The chronicles of Aunt Minervy Ann / by Joel Chandler Harris ; illustrated by A. B. Frost

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
BY
JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS
ILLUSTRATED BY
A. B. FROST
CHARLES SCRIBNERS SONS NEW VORK 1899

COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY CHARLES SCRiBNERS SONS
mow
OOKBMKMIM COMPANY MW TOM

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. An Evening with the Ku-Klux . .

1

II. " When Jess went a-fiddlin"...

34

III. How Aunt Minervy Ann Ran Away and

Ran Back Again ........ 70

-

\

IV. How She Joined the Georgia Legislature . 97

V. How She Went Into Business . . . . . 119

VI. How She and Major Perdue Frailed Out
the Gossett Boys . . . . . . . .139

VII. Major Perdues Bargain . . . . . . 157

VIII. The Case of Mary Ellen . . . . . . 182

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

u-l aint fergot dat ar possum" .... Frontispiece

FACING PAGE
"Well, he cant lead me" . . . . . .

He wore a blue army overcoat and a stove-pipe hat .

8

"Sholy ybu-all aint gwine put dat in de paper, is you?" . 10

Inquired what day the paper came out

. 14

"I was on the lookout," the Major explained

. 18

In the third he placed only powder .

. 26

We administered to his hurts the best we could

. 30

"Id a heap rather youd pull your shot-gun on me than

your pen

. 32

The Committee of Public Comfort

. 72

Buying cotton on his own account

. 76

"Miss Valliel" vii

. 78

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE
"I saw him fling his hand to his shoulder and hold it

there

. 80

"Dat ar grape jelly on de right ban side

. 82

" Conant! * here and Conant dar " .

. 84

" Drapt down on de groun dar an holler an cry" . .90

"Oh, my shoulderl

. 122

Marse Tumlin never did pass a nigger on de road" . 124

"We made twelve pies ef we made one" .

. 126

"I gi Miss Vallie de money" .

. 128

"Ef here aint ol Minervy Ann wid piesl"

. 130

You see dat nigger oman?

. 132

4 An he sot dar, suh, wid his haid twix* his bans fer I dunner how long" . . . . ... 134

"Youll settle dis wid me" .

. 136

; Dat money aint gwine ter las when you buy dat kin* er doins" . . . . . . . . . 160

Trimmin up de OF Mules . .

. 162

"She wuz cryin settin dar cryin" .

. 164

"Here come a nigger boy leadin* a bob-tail boss

. 166

yiii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"He been axin me lots bout Miss Yaffle"

PACING PACK
.172

"Marse Tumlin Mow hell take anything what he can chaw, sop, er drink" . . . . . . . .176

"I hatter stop an pass de time er day" .

. 178

" Hunt up an down fer dat ar Tom Ferryman

. 180

IX

THE CHRONICLES OF
AUNT MINERVY ANN
AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX *
THE happiest, the most vivid, and certainly the most critical period of a mans life is combined in the years that stretch between sixteen and twentytwo. His responsibilities do not sit heavily on him, he has hardly begun to realize them, and yet he has begun to see and feel, to observe and absorb; he is for once and for the last time an interested, and yet an irresponsible, spectator of the passing show.
This period I had passed very pleasantly, if not profitably, at Halcyondale in Middle Georgia, di rectly after the great war, and the town and the people there had a place apart, in my mind. When, therefore, some ten years after leaving there, I re ceived a cordial invitation to attend the county fair, which had been organized by some of the enterpris ing spirits of the town and county, among whom
1

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINER VY ANN
.were Paid Conant and his father-in-law, Major Tumlin Perdue, it was natural that the fact should revive old memories.
The most persistent of these memories were those which clustered around Major Perdue, his daughter Vallie, and his brother-in-law, Colonel Bolivar Blasengame, and Aunt Minervy Ann Perdue. Curiously enough, my recollection of this negro woman was the most persistent of all. Her individ uality seemed to stand out more vitally than the rest. She was what is called " a character," and something more besides. The truth is, I should have missed a .good deal if I had never known Aunt Minervy Ann Perdue, who, as she described herself, was " Affikin fum way back yander fo de flood, an fum de word go" a fact which seriously interferes with the somewhat complacent theory that Ham, son of Noah, was the original negro.
It is a fact that Aunt Minervy Anns great-grand mother, who lived to be a hundred and twenty years old, had an eagle tattooed on her breast, the mark of royalty. The brother of this princess, Qua, who died in Augusta at the age of one hundred years, had two eagles tattooed on his breast. This, taken in connection with his name, which means The Eagle, shows that he was either the ruler of his tribe or
2

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX

the heir apparent. The prince and princess were

very small, compared with the average African, but

the records kept by a member of the Clopton family

show that during the Revolution Qua performed

some wonderful feats, and went through some

strange adventures in behalf of liberty." He was in

his element when war was at its hottest and it has

never been hotter in any age or time, or in any part

of the world, savage or civilized, than it was then

in the section of Georgia now comprised in the

counties of Burke, Columbia, Richmond, and El-

bert.

However, that has nothing to do with Aunt Mi-

nervy Ann Perdue; but her relationship to Qua and

to the royal family of his tribe, remote though it

was, accounted for the most prominent traits of her

-*-

character, and many contradictory elements of her

strong and sharply defined individuality. She had

a bad temper, and was both fierce and fearless when

it was aroused; but it was accompanied by a heart

as tender and a devotion as unselfish as any mortal

ever possessed or displayed. Her temper was more

widely advertised than her tenderness, and her inde

pendence more clearly in evidence than her un

selfish devotion, except to those who knew her well

or intimately.

3

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN

And so it happened that Aunt Minervy Ann,

after freedom gave her the privilege of showing her

extraordinary qualities of self-sacrifice, walked

about in the midst of the suspicion and distrust of

her own race, and was followed by the misappre

hensions and misconceptions of many of the whites.

She knew the situation and laughed at it, and if she

wasnrt proud of it her attitude belied her.

It was at the moment of transition from the old

conditions to the new that I had known Aunt Mi-

nervy Ann and the persons in whom she was so pro

foundly interested, and she and they, as I have said,

had a place apart in my memory and experience.

I also remembered Hamp, Aunt Minervy Anns hus

band, and the queer contrast between the two. It

was mainly on account of Hamp, perhaps, that Aunt

Minervy Ann was led to take such a friendly in

terest in the somewhat lonely youth who was editor,

compositor, and pressman of Halcyondales ambi

tious weekly newspaper in the days following the

collapse of the confederacy.

When a slave, Hamp had belonged to an estate

which was in the hands of the Court of Ordinary

(or, as it was then called, the Inferior Court), to be

administered in the interest of minor heirs. This

was not a fortunate thing for the negroes, of which

.

4

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
there were above one hundred and fifty. Men, women, and children were hired out, some far and some near. They came back home at Christmas time, enjoyed a weeks frolic, and were then hired out again, perhaps to new employers. But whether to new or old, it is certain that hired hands in those days did not receive the consideration that men gave to their own negroes.
This experience told heavily on Hamps mind. It made him reserved, suspicious, and antagonistic.
He had few pleasant memories to fall back on, and these were of the days of his early youth, when he used to trot around holding to his old masters coattails the kind old master who had finally been sent to the insane asylum. Hamp never got over the idea (he had heard some of the older negroes talking about it) that his old master had been judged to be crazy simply because he was unusually kind to his negroes, especially the little ones. Hamps afterexperience seemed to prove this, for he received small share of kindness, as well as scrimped rations, from the majority of those who hired him.
It was a very good thing for Hamp that he mar ried Aunt Minervy Ann, otherwise he would have become a wanderer and a vagabond when freedom came. It was a fate he didnt miss a hairs breadth;
5

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
he " broke loose/ as he described it, and went off, but finally came back and tried in vain to persuade Aunt Minervy Ann to leave Major Perdue. He finally settled down, but acquired no very friendly feelings toward the white race.
He joined the secret political societies, strangely called " Union Leagues," and aided in disseminat ing the belief that the whites were only awaiting a favorable opportunity to re-enslave his race. He was only repeating what the carpet-baggers had told him. Perhaps he believed the statement, perhaps not. At any rate, he repeated it fervently and fre quently, and soon came to be the recognized leader of the negroes in the county of which Halcyondale was the capital That is to say, the leader of all ex cept one. At church one Sunday night some of the brethren congratulated Aunt Minervy Ann on the fact that Hamp was now the leader of the colored people in that region.
" What colored people? "snapped Aunt Minervy
" "We-all," responded a deacon, emphatically. " Well, he cant lead me, Ill tell you dat right now! " exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann. Anyhow, when the time came to elect members of the Legislature (the constitutional convention
6

\\V11, lu- v.mt li-.ul >//,-."

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLtJX .
had already been held), Hamp waa chosen to be the candidate of the negro Republicans. A white man wanted to run, but the negroes said they preferred their own color, and they had their way. They had their way at the polls, too, for, as nearly all the whites who would have voted, had served in the Confederate army, they were at that time disfran chised.
So Hamp was elected overwhelmingly, "worP widout ecu," as he put it, and the effect it had on him was a perfect illustration of one aspect of hu man nature. Before and during the election (which lasted three days) Hamp had been going around puffed up with importance. He wore a blue army overcoat and a stove-pipe hat, and went about smok ing a big cigar. When the election was over, and he was declared the choice of the county, he col lapsed. His dignity all disappeared. His air of self-importance and confidence deserted him. TTia responsibilities seemed to weigh hfrjn down*
He had once " rolled " in the little printing-office where the machinery consisted of a Uo. 2 Wash ington hand-press, a wooden imposing-stone, three stands for the cases, a rickety table for " wetting down " the paper, and a tub in which to wash the forms. This office chanced to be my headquarters,
7

THE CHBONICLES OP AUNT MINEBVY ANN
and the day after the election I was somewhat sur prised to see Hamp saunter in. So was Major TumHn Perdue, who was reading the exchanges.
" Hes come to demand a retraction," remarked the Major, " and youll have to set him right Hes no longer plain Hamp; hes the Hon. Hamp whats your other name? " turning to the negro.
" Hamp Tumlin my fergiven name, suh. I thought Nervy Ann toP you dat"
" Why, who named you after me?" inquired the Major, somewhat angrily.
" Me an Nervy Ann fix it up, sun. She say its about de purtiest name in town."
The Major, melted a little, but his bristles rose again, as it were.
" Look here, Hamp! " he exclaimed in a tone that nobody ever forgot or misinterpreted; " dont you go. and stick Perdue onto it I wont stand that!"
"No, suh I "responded Hamp. " I started ter do it, but Nervy Ann say she aint gwihe ter have de Perdue name bandied about up dar whar de Legifr latursat"
Again the Major thawed, and though he looked long at Hamp it was with friendly eyes. He seemed to be studying the negro " sizing him up," as the
8

lut.

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX

saying is. For a newly elected member of the Leg

islature, Hamp seemed to take a great deal of in

terest in the old duties he once performed about the

office. He went first to the box in which the " roll

er " was kept, and felt of its surface carefully.

" Youll hatter have a bran new roller fo de

monts out," he said, " an* I wont be here to hep

you make it."

Then he went to the roller-frame, turned the

handle, and looked at the wooden cylinders. " Dey

dont look atter it like I use ter, suh; an dish yer

frame monstus shackly."

From there he passed to the forms where the ad

vertisements remained standing. He passed his

thumb over the type and looked at it critically.

"Dey er mighty skeerM deyll git all de ink off,"

was his comment. Do what he- would, Hamp

couldnt hide his embarrassment.

.. in

1

Meanwhile, Major Perdue scratched off a few

lines in pencil. " I wish youd get this in Tuesdays

paper," he said. Then he read: " The Hon. Hamp

ton Tumlin, recently elected a member of the Legis

lature, paid us a pop-call last Saturday. We are al

ways pleased to meet our distinguished fellow-towns

man and representative. We trust Hon. Hampton

Tumlin will call again when the Ku-Elux are in."

9

THE CHKONICLES OP AUNT MINERVY ANN
" Why, certainly," said I, humoring the joke. " Sholy yon-all aint gwine pnt dat in de paper, is yon ? " inquired Hamp, in amazement, " Of course," replied the Major; u why not?" "Kaze, ef you does, Im a mint nigger. Ef Nervy Ann hear talk bout my name an entitle ments bein in de paper, shell quit me sho. Uh-uh! Im gwine way fum here! " With that Hamp bowed and disappeared. The Major chuckled over his little joke, but soon returned to his newspaper. , For a quarter of an hour there was absolute quiet in the room, and, as it seemed, in the entire building, which was a brick structure of two stories, the stair way being in the centre. The hallway was, perhaps, seventy-five feet long, and on each side, at regular intervals, there were four rooms, making eight in all, and, with one exception, variously occupied as law yers offices or sleeping apartments, the exception being the printing-office in which Major Perdue and I were sitting. This was at the extreme rear of the hallway. I had frequently been struck by the acoustic prop erties of this hallway. A conversation carried on in ordinary tones in the printing-office could hardly be heard in the adjoining room. Transferred to the front rooms, however, or even to the sidewalk fac-
10

y ynu-.ill aint i,rwine put J.u in J

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
ing the entrance to the stairway, the lightest tone was magnified in volume. A German professor of music, who for a time occupied the apartment oppo site the printing-office, was so harassed by the thun derous sounds of laughter and conversation rolling back upon him that he tried to remedy the matter by nailing two thicknesses of bagging along the floor from the stairway to the rear window. This was, indeed, something of a help, but when the German left, being of an economical turn of mind, he took his bagging away with him, and once more the hall way was torn and rent, as you may say, with the lightest whisper.
Thus it happened that, while the Major and I were sitting enjoying an extraordinary season of calm, suddenly there came a thundering sound from the stairway. A troop of horse could hardly have made a greater uproar, and yet I knew that fewer than half a dozen people were ascending the steps. Some one stumbled and caught himself, and the multiplied and magnified reverberations were as loud as if the roof had caved in, carrying the better part of the structure with it. Some one laughed at the misstep, and the sound came to our ears with the deafening effect of an explosion, he party filed with a dull roar into one of the front rooms, the
11

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
office of a harum-scarum young lawyer who had more empty bottles behind his door than he had ever had briefs on his do>k.
" "Well, the great Gemini! " exclaimed Major Perdue, " how do you manage to stand that sort of thing?"
I shrugged my shoulders and laughed, and was about to begin anew a very old tirade against caves and halls of thunder, when the Major raised a warn ing hand. Some one was saying
" He hangs out right on ol Major Perdues lot. Hes got a wife there."
" By jing! " exclaimed another voice; " is that so? Well, I dont wanter git mixed up wi the Major. He may be wobbly on his legs, but I dont wanter be the one to run up agin im."
The Major pursed up his lips and looked at the ceiling, his attitude being one of rapt attention.
" Shucks! " cried another; " by the time the ol cock gits his bellyful of dram, thunder wouldnt roust im."
A shrewd, foxy, almost sinister expression came over the Majors rosy face as he glanced at me. TTig left hand went to his goatee, an invariable signal of deep feeling, such as anger, grief, or serious trouble. Another voice broke in here, a voice that we both
13

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
knew to be that of Larry Pulliam, a big Kentuckiau who had refugeed to Halcyondale during the war.
"Blast it all!" exclaimed Larry Pulliam, "I hope the Major will come out. Me an him haint never butted heads yit, an its gittin high time. Ef he comes out, you fellers jest go ahead with your ratkilHn. Illtento him."
" Why, youd make two of him, Pulliam," said the young lawyer.
" Oh, Ill not hurt im; that is, not much---jest enough to let im know Im livin in the same vil lage," replied Mr. Pulliam. The voice of the town bull could not have had a more terrifying sound.
Glancing at the Major, I saw that he had entirely recovered his equanimity. More than that, a smile of sweet satisfaction and contentment settled on his rosy face, and stayed there.
" I wouldnt take a hundred dollars for that last remark," whispered the Major. " That chaps been a-raiain his hackle at me ever since hes been here, and every time I try to get him to make a flutter hes oft and gone. Of course it wouldnt do for me to push a row on him just dry so. But now :" The Major laughed softly, rubbed his hands together, and seemed to be as happy as a child with anew toy. . " My son," said he after awhile, " aint there
13

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
some way of finding out who the other fellows are? Aint you got some word you want Scab Griffin " this was the young lawyer " to spell for you?"
Spelling was the Majors weakness. He was a well-educated man, and could write vigorous Eng lish, but only a few days before he had asked me how many fs there are in graphic.
" Lets see," he went on, rubbing the top of his head. " Do you spell Byzantium with two ys, or with two ts, or with one y and one i? Itll make Seab feel right good to be asked that before com pany, and he certainly needs to feel good if hes go ing with that crowd."
So, with a manuscript copy in my hand, I went hurriedly down the hall and put the important ques tion. Mr. Griffin was all politeness, but not quite sure of the facts in the case. But he searched in his books of reference, including the Geographical Ga zette, until finally he was able to give me the in formation I was supposed to stand in need of.
While he was searching, Mr. Pulliam turned to me and inquired what day the paper came out When told that the date was Tuesday, he smiled and nodded his head mysteriously.
" Thats good," he declared; " youll be in time to ketch the news."
H

wlul <iiv the paper earne

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
" What news? " I inquired. " Well, ef you dont hear about it before to-morrer night, jest inquire of Major Perdue. Hell tell you all about it." Mr. Pulliams tone was so supercilious that I was afraid the Major would lose his temper and come raging down the hallway. But he did nothing of the kind. When I returned he was fairly beaming, and seemed to be perfectly happy. The Major took down the names in his note-book-^I have forgotten all except those of Buck Sanford and Larry Pulliam; they were all from the country except Larry Pulliam and the young lawyer. After my visit to the room, the men spoke in lower tones, but every word came back to us as dis tinctly as before. " The feed of the horses wont cost us a cent," remarked young Sanford. " Tom Gresham said hed ten to that. Theyre in the stable right now. And were to have supper in Toms back room, have a little game of ante, and along about twelve or one well santer down and yank that darned nigger from betwixt his blankets, ef hes got any, and leave him to cool off at the cross-roads. Wont you go long, Scab, and see it well done? " . " Ill go and see if the suppers well done, and Ill
15

.. v
| ]j ;: I; j ! ! \< i:

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
take a shy at your ante," replied Mr. Griffin. " But when it comes to the balance of the programme well, Im a lawyer, you know, and you couldnt ex pect me to witness the affair. I might have to take your cases and prove an alibi, you know, and I couldnt conscientiously do that if I was on hand at the time."
" The Ku-IOux dont have to have alibis," sug gested Larry Pulliam.
" Perhaps not, still " Apparently Mr. Griffin disposed of the matter with a gesture.
When all the details of their plan had been care fully arranged, the amateur Ku-Klux went filing out, the noise they made dying away like the echoes of a storm.
Major Perdue leaned his head against the back of his chair, closed his eyes, and sat there so quietly that I thought he was asleep. But this was a mistake. Suddenly he began to laugh, and he laughed until the tears ran down his face. It was laughter that was contagious, and presently I found myself join ing in without knowing why. This started the Ma jor .afresh, and we both laughed until exhaustion came to our aid.
" O Lord! " cried the Major, panting, " I havent had as much fun since the war, and a long time be-
16

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX

fore. That blamed Pulliam is going to walk into a

trap of his own setting. Now you jest watch how he

goes out agin."

" But Ill not be there/ I suggested.

" Oh, yes! " exclaimed the Major, " you cant af

ford to miss it. Itll be the finest piece of news your

paper ever had. Youll go to supper with me "

He paused. " No, Ill go home, send Valentine to

her Aunt Emmys, get Blasengame to come around,

and well have supper about nine. Thatll fix it.

Some of them chape might have an eye on my house,

and I dont want em to see anybody but me go in

.I

there. Now, if you dont come at nine, Ill send

Blasengame after you."

" I shall be glad to come, Major. I was simply

fishing for an invitation."

" That fish is always on your hook, and you know

it," the Major insisted.

\

As it was arranged, so it fell out At nine, I

*

lifted and dropped the knocker on the Majors front

door. It opened so promptly that I was somewhat

taken by surprise, but in a moment the hand of my

host was on my arm, and he pulled me inside un

ceremoniously.

" I was on the lookout," the Major explained.

" Minervy Ann has fixed to have waffles, and shes 17

i

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN

crazy about havin em just right. If she waits too long to make em, the batter*!! spoil; and if she puts em on before everybodys ready, they wont be good. Thats what she says. Here he is, you old Hessian! " the Major cried, as Minervy Ann peeped in from the dining-room. " !N"ow slap that supper together and lets get at it."
" Im mighty glad you come, suh," said Aunt Minervy Ann, with a courtesy and a smile, and then she disappeared. In an incredibly short time sup per was announced, and though Aunt Minervy has since informed me confidentially that the Perdues were having a hard time of it at that period, Ill do her the justice to say that the supper she furnished forth was as good as any to be had in that town waffles, beat biscuit, fried chicken, buttermilk, and coffee that could not be surpassed.
"How about the biscuit, Minervy Ann?" in quired Colonel Blasengame, who was the Majors brother-in-law, and therefore one of the family.
" I turned de dough on de block twelve times, an hit it a hundred an forty-sevm licks," replied Aunt Minervy Ann.
" Im afcard you hit it one lick too many," said Colonel Blasengame, winking at me.
" Well, suh, I been hittin dat away a mighty 18

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
long time," Aunt Minervy Ann explained, " and I aint never hear no complaints."
" Oh, Pm not complaining Minervy Ann." Col onel Blasengame waved his hand. " Im mighty, glad you did hit the dough a lick too many. If you hadnt, the biscuit would a melted in my mouth, and I believe Id rather chew on em to get the taste."
" He des runnin on, suh," said Aunt Minervy Ann to me. " Marse Bolivar know mighty well dat he got ter go way fum de Nunited State fer ter git any better biscuits dan what I kin bake."
Then there was a long pause, which was broken by an attempt on the part of Major Perdue to give Aunt Minervy Ann an inkling of the events likely to happen during the night. She seemed to be both hard of hearing and dull of understanding when the subject was broached; or she may have suspected the Major was joking or trying to " run a rig " on her. Her questions and comments, however, were very characteristic.
" I dunner what dey want wid Hamp," she said. " Ef dey knowd how no-count he is, deyd let im lone. What dey want wid im? "
" Well, two or three of the country boys and may be some of the town chaps are going to call on
19

THE GHBONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
between midnight and day. They want to take him out to the cross-roads. Hadnt you better fix em up a little snack? Hamp wont want anything, but the boys will feel a little hungry after the job is over."
" Nobody aint never tell me dat de Legislatur wuz like de Free Masons, whar dey have ter ride a billy goat an go down in a dry well wid de chains a-clankin. I done tol Hamp dat he better not fool wid white folks doins."
" Onlythe colored members have to be initiated," explained the Major, solemnly.
"What does dey do wid um?" inquired Aunt Minervy Ann.
" Well," replied the Major, " they take em out to the nearest cross-roads, put ropes around their necks, run the ropes over limbs, and pull away as if they were drawing water from a well."
" What dey do dat fer?" asked Aunt Minervy Ann, apparently still oblivious to the meaning of it all
" They want to see whichll break first, the ropes or the necks," the Major explained.
" Ef dey takes Hamp out," remarked Aunt Minervy Ann, tentatively feeling her way, as it were
" what time will he come back? "
" Youve heard about the Kesurrection Morn, 20

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
havent you, Minervy Ann? " There was a pious twang in the Majers voice ag he pronounced the words.
" I hear de preacher say sumpn bout it," replied Aunt Minervy Ann.
" "Well," said the Major, along about that time Hamp will return. I hope his record is good enough to give him wings."
"Shuh! Marse Tumlin! you-all des foolinme. I dont keer Hamp aint gwine wid um. I tell you dat right now."
" Oh, he may not want to go," persisted the Ma jor, " but hell go all the same if they get their hands on him."
" My life er me! " exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann, bristling up, " does you-all speck Im gwine ter let um take Hamp out dat away? De fus man come ter my door, lessn its one er you-all, Im gwine ter fling a pan er hot embers in his face ef de LordlJL gi!. me de strenk. An ef dat dont do no good, Ill scald um wid bilin water. You hear dat, dont you? "
" Minervy Ann," said the Major, sweetly, " have you ever heard of the Ku-Klux? "
" Yasser, I is! " she exclaimed with startling em phasis. She stopped still and gazed hard at the Ma jor. In response, he merely shrugged his shoulders
21

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
and raised his right hand with a swift gesture that told the whole story.
" Name er God! Marse Tumlin, is you an Marse Bolivar and dish yer yonng gentennan gwine ter set down here flat-footed and let dem Kukluckers scari fy Hamp?"
"Why should we do anything? Youve got everything arranged. Youre going to singe em with hot embers, and youre going to take their hides off with scalding water. What more do you want? " The Major spoke with an air of benign resigna tion.
Aunt Minervy Ann shook her head igorously. " Ef dey er de Kukluckers, fire wont do um no harm. Dey totes der haids in der hans."
"Their heads in their hands?" cried Colonel Blasengame, excitedly.
" Dat what dey say, snh," replied Aunt Minervy Ann.
Colonel Blasengame looked at his watch. " Tum lin, 111 have to ask you to excuse me to-night," he said. " I well, the fact is, I have a mighty im portant engagement up town. Im obliged to fill
V
it." He turned to Aunt Minervy Ann: " Did I understand you to say the Ku-Klux carry their heads in their hands? "
22

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX

" Dat what folks tell me. I hear my own color

sesso," replied Aunt Minervy Ann.

" Id be glad to stay with you, Tumlin," the Col

onel declared; " but well, under the circum

stances, I think Id better fill that engagement.

Justice to my family demands it."

" Well," responded Major Perdue, " if you are

going, I reckon wed just as well go, too."

" Huh! " exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann, " ef

gwines de word, dey cant nobody beat me gittin

way fum here. Dey may beat me comin back, I

aint sputin dat; but dey cant beat me gwine Vay.
ti
Im ol, but I got mighty nigh ez much go in me ez

a quarter-hoss."

Colonel Blasengame leaned back in his chair and

studied the ceiling. " It se.ems to me, Tumlin, we

might compromise on this. Suppose we get Hamp

to come in here. Minervy Ann can stay out there in

the kitchen and throw a rock against the back door

when the Ku-Klux come."

Aunt Minervy Ann fairly gasped. " Who ?

Me? Ill die fust. Ill far dat dodown; Ill holler

twel evybody in de neighborhood come a-runnin.
r
Ef you dont blieve me, you des try me. Ill paw

up dat back-yard."

.

Major Perdue went to the back door and called

28

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
Hamp, but there was no answer. He called him a second time, with the same result.
" Well," said the Major, " theyve stolen a march on us. Theyve come and carried him off while we were talking."
" No, suh, dey aint, needer. I know right whar he is, an Im gwine atter im. Hes right cross de street dar, colloguin wid dat ol Ceely Ensign. Pats right whar he is."
"Old! Why, Celia is young," remarked the Ma jor. " They say shes the best cook in town."
Aunt Minervy Ann whipped out of the room and was gone some little time. When she returned, she had Hamp with her, and I noticed that both were laboring under excitement which they strove in vain to suppress.
" Here I is, suh," said Hamp. " Nervy Ann say you call me."
" How is Celia to-night?" Colonel Blasengame inquired, suavely.
This inquiry, so suddenly and unexpectedly put, seemed to disconcert Hamp. He shuffled his feet and put his hand to his face. I noticed a blue welt over his eye, which was not there when he visited me in the afternoon.
" Well, suh, I speck shes tolerbuL"
24

r
AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
"Is she? Is she? Ah-h-h! " cried Aunt Minervy Ann.
" She must be pretty well," said the Major. " I see shes hit you a clip over the left eye."
" Dats some er Nervy Anns doins, suh," re plied Hamp, somewhat disconsolately.
" Den what you git in de way fer?" snapped Aunt Minervy Ann.
11 Marse Tumlin, dat ar oman aint done nothin in de roun worl. She say she want me to buy some hime books fer de church when I went to Atlanty, an I went over dar atter de money."
"7 himed 'er an' I churched 'er!" exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann.
" Here de money right here," said Hamp, pull ing a small roll of shinplasters out of his pocket; " an whiles we settin dar countin de money, Nervy Ann come in dar an frail dat oman out."
" Aint you hear dat nigger holler, Marse Tum lin? " inquired Minervy Ann. She was in high good-humor now. " Look like ter me dey could a-heerd er blate in de nex county ef deyd been a-lisnin. Twuz same ez a picnic, suh, an Im gwine cross dar fo long an pay my party call."
Then shte began to laugh, and pretty soon went through the whole episode for our edification,
25

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
dwelling with unction on that part where the un fortunate victim of her jealousy had called her " Miss Nervy." The more she laughed the more serious Hamp became.
At the proper time he was told of the visitation that was to be made by the Ku-Klux, and this in formation seemed to perplex and worry him no lit tle. But his face lit up with genuine thankfulness when the programme for the occasion was an nounced to him. He and Minervy Ann were to re main in the house and not show their heads until the Major or the Colonel or their guest came to the back door and drummed on it lightly with the fingers.
Then the arms three shot-guns were brought out, and I noticed with some degree of surprise, that as the Major and the Colonel began to handle these, their spirits rose perceptibly. The Major hummed a tone and the Colonel whistled softly as they oiled the locks and tried the triggers. The Major, in coming home, had purchased four pounds of mus tard-seed shot, and with this he proceeded to load two of the guns. In the third he placed only pow der. This harmless weapon was intended for me, while the others were to be handled by Major Per due and Colonel Blasengame. I learned afterward
26

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX

that the arrangement was made solely for my bene

fit. The Major and the Colonel were afraid that a

young hand might become excited and fire too high

at close range, in which event mustard-seed shot

would be as dangerous as the larger variety.

At twelve oclock I noticed that both Hamp and

Aunt Minervy were growing restless.

" You hear dat clock, dont you, Marse Tum-

lin? "said Minervy as the chimes died away. " Ef

you dont min, de Kukluckersll be a-stickin der

haids in de back do."

But the Major and the Colonel were playing a

rubber of seven-up (or high-low-Jack) and paid no

attention. It was a quarter after twelve when the

game was concluded and the players pushed their

chairs back from the table.

" Ef you dont fin um in de yard waitin fer you,

Ill be fooled mightly," remarked Aunt Minervy

Ann.

" Go and see if theyre out there," said the Major.

" Me, Marse Tumlin? Me? I wouldnt go out

dat do not for ham."



The Major took out his watch. " Theyll eat

and drink until twelve or a little after, and then

theyll get ready to start. Then theyll have an

other drink all round, and finally theyll take an27

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MINERVY ANN
other. Itll be a quarter to one or after when they get in the grove in the far end of the lot. But well go out now and see how the land lays. By the time they get here, our eyes will be used to the darkness."
The light was carried to a front room, and we groped our way out at the back door the best we could. The night was dark, but the stars were shin ing. I noticed that the belt and sword of Orion had drifted above the tree-tops in the east, following the Pleiades. In a little while the darkness seemed to grow less dense, and I could make out the outlines of trees twenty feet away.
Behind one of these trees, near the outhouse in which Hamp and Aunt Minervy lived, I was to take my stand, while the Major and the Colonel were to go farther into the wood-lot so as to greet the wouldbe Ku-Klux as they made their retreat, of which Major Perdue had not the slightest doubt.
" You stand here," said the Major in a whisper. " Well go to the far-end of the lot where theyre likely to come in. Theyll pass us all right enough, but as soon as you see one of em, up with the gun an lam aloose, an before they can get away give em the other barrel. Then youll hear from us."
Major Perdue and Colonel Blasengame disap peared in the darkness, leaving me; as it were, on
28

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
the inner picket line. I found the situation some what ticklish, as the saying is. There was not the slightest danger, and I knew it, but if you ever have occasion to stand out in the dark; waiting for some thing to happen, youll find theres a certain degree of suspense attached to it. And the loneliness and silence of the night will take a shape almost tangi ble. The stirring of the half-dead leaves, the chirp ing of a belated cricket, simply emphasized the lone liness and made the silence more profound. At intervals, all nature seemed to heave a deep sigh, and address itself to slumber again.
In the house I heard the muffled sound of the clock chime one, but whether it was striking the half-hour or the hour I could not tell. Then I heard the stealthy tread of feet. Someone stumbled over a stick of timber, and the noise was followed by a smothered exclamation and a confused murmur of voices. As the story-writers say, I knew that the hour had come. I could hear whisperings, and then I saw a tall shadow steal from behind Aunt Minervys house, and heard it rap gently on the door. I raised the gun, pulled the hammer back, and let drive. A stream of fire shot from the gun, accom panied by a report that tore the silence to atoms. I heard a sharp exclamation of surprise, then the noise
29

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
of running feet, and off went the other barrel. In a moment the Major and the Colonel opened on the fugitives. I heard a loud cry of pain from one, and, in the midst of it all, the mustard-seed shot rattled on the plank fence like hominy-snow on a tin roof.
The next instant I heard someone running back in my direction, as if for dear life. He knew the place apparently, for he tried to go through the or chard, but just before he reached the orchard fence, he uttered a half-strangled cry of terror, and then I heard him fall as heavily as if he had dropped from the top of the house.
It was impossible to imagine what had happened, and it was not until we had investigated the matter that the cause of the trouble was discovered. A wire clothes-line, stretched across the yard, had caught the would-be Ku-KLux under" the chin, his legs flew from under him, and he had a fall, from the effects of which he was long in recovering. He was a young man about town, very well connected, who had gone into the affair in a spirit of mischief. We carried him into the house, and administered to his hurts the best we could; Aunt Minervy Ann, be it said to her credit, being more active in this direction than any of us.
On the Tuesday following, the county paper con30

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX

:

tained the news in a form that remains to this day

J

unique. It is hardly necessary to say that it was

|

from the pen of Major Tumlin Perdue.

|

" Last Saturday afternoon bur local editor was

t

' '*=.

informed by a prominent citizen that if he would

apply to Major Perdue he would be put in posses-

;

sion of a very interesting piece of news. Acting

f

upon this hint, ye local yesterday went to Major

|

Perdue, who, being in high good-humor, wrote out

|

JL '

the following with his own hand:

?

" * Late Saturday night, while engaged with a

1

T

party of friends in searching for a stray dog on my

1

premises, I was surprised to see four or five men

j

climb over my back fence and proceed toward my

j

residence. As my most intimate friends do not visit

I

me by climbing over my back fence, I immediately

:

deployed my party in such a manner as to make the

i

best of a threatening situation. The skirmish

J

opened at my kitchen-door, with two rounds from

!

a howitzer. This demoralized the enemy, who

1

promptly retreated the way they came. One of

them, the leader of the attacking party, carriecl away

with him two loads of mustard-seed shot, delivered

in the general neighborhood and region of the coat-

tails, which, being on a level with the horizon, af

forded as fair a target as could be had in the dark. 31

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
I understand on good authority that Mr. Larry Pull iam, one of our leading and deservedly popular citizens, has had as much as a quart of mustardseed shot picked from his carcass. Though hit in a vulnerable spot, the wound is not mortal. T. PEBDTJE. "
I did my best to have Mr. Pulliams name sup pressed, but the Major would not have it so.
"!Nb, sir," he insisted; "the man has insulted me behind my back, and hes got to cut wood or put down the axe,"
Naturally this free and easy card created quite a sensation in Halcyondale and the country round about People knew what it would mean if Major Perdues name had been used in such an off-hand manner by Mr. Pulliam, and they naturally sup posed that a fracas would be the outcome. Public expectation was on tiptoe, and yet the whole town seemed to take the Majors card humorously. Some of the older citizens laughed until they could hardly sit up, and even Mr. Pulliams friends caught the infection. Indeed, it is said that Mr. Pulliam, him self, after the first shock of surprise was over, paid the Majors audacious humor the tribute of a hearty laugh. When Mr. Pulliam appeared in public, among the first men he saw was Major Perdue. This
32

l\\ A iv.ip r.ith.-r \--.:V. p:>.l

>r. JIK- Uur. \-u

AN EVENING WITH THE KU-KLUX
was natural, for the Major made it a point to be on hand. He was not a niffler, but he thought it was his duty to give Mr. Pulliam a fair opportunity to wreak vengeance on him. If the boys about town imagined that a row was to be the result of this first meeting, they were mistaken. Mr. Pulliam looked at the Major and then began to laugh.
"Major Perdue," he said, "Id a heap rather youd pull your shot-gun on me than your pen."
And that ended the matter.
33
J

n
"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLDT "
The foregoing recital is unquestionably a long and tame preface to the statement that, after think ing the matter over I concluded to accept the official invitation to the fair "The Middle Georgia Exposi tion " it was called if nothing occurred to prevent. With this conclusion I dismissed the matter from my mind for the time being, and would probably have thought of it no more until the moment ar rived to make a final decision, if the matter had not been called somewhat sharply to my attention.
Sitting on the veranda one day, ruminating over other peoples troubles, I heard an unfamiliar voice calling, " You-all got any bitin dogs here? " The voice failed to match the serenity of the suburban scene. Its tone was pitched a trifle too high for the surroundings.
But before I could make any reply the gate was flung open, and the new-comer, who was no other than Aunt Minervy Ann, flirted in and began to
84

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN'"
climb the terraces. My recognition of her was not immediate, partly because it had been long since I saw her and partly because she wore her Sunday toggery, in which, following the oriental tastes of her race, the reds and yellows were emphasized with startling effect. She began to talk by the time she was half-way between the house and gate, and it was owing to this special and particular volubility that I was able to recognize her.
" Huh! " she exclaimed, " hits des like climin up stars. Folks what live here bleeze ter blong ter de Sons er Teinpunce." There was a relish about this reference to the difficulties of three terraces that at once identified Aunt Minervy Ann. More than that, one of the most conspicuous features of the country town where she lived was a large brick building, covering half a block, across the top of which stretched a sign " Temperance Hall " in letters that could be read half a mile away.
Aunt Minervy Ann received a greeting that seemed to please her, whereupon she explained that an excursion had come to Atlanta from her town, and she had seized the opportunity to pay me a visit. " I tol? um," said she, " dat dey could stay up in town dar an hang roun de kyar-shed ef dey wanter, but heres what wuz gwine ter come out an see whar
85
i

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MINERVY ANN
you live at, an fin out fer Marse Tumlin ef you comin down ter de far."
She was informed that, though she was welcome, she would get small pleasure from her visit. The cook had failed to make her appearance, and the lady of the house was at that moment in the kitchen and in a very fretful state of mind, not because she had to cook, but because she had about reached the point where she could place no dependence in the sisterhood of colored cooks.
" Is she in de kitchen now?" Aunt Minervys tone was a curious mixture of amusement and indig nation. " I started not ter come, but I had a call, I sho did; sumpn tol me dat you mought need me out here." With that, she went into the house, slamming the screen-door after her, and untying her bonnet as she went.
Now, the lady of the house had heard of Aunt Minervy Ann, but had never met her, and I was afraid that the characteristics of my old-time friend would be misunderstood and misinterpreted. The lady in question knew nothing of the negro race until long after emancipation, and she had not been able to form a very favorable opinion of its repre sentatives. Therefore, I hastened after Aunt Minervy Ann, hoping to tone down by explanation
38

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDUN M
whatever bad impression she might create. She paused at the screen-door that barred the entrance to the kitchen, and, for an instant, surveyed the scene within. Then she cried out:
"You des ez well ter come outn dat kitchen! You aint got no mo bizness in dar dan a new-born baby."
Aunt Minervy Anns voice was so loud and abso lute that the lady gazed at her in mute astonishment. " You des es well ter come out! " she insisted.
" Are you crazy? " the lady asked, in all serious ness.
" Im des ez crazy now ez I ever been; an I tell you you des ez well ter come outn dar."
" Who are you.anyhow?" " Im Minervy Aim Perdue, at home an abroad, an in dish yer great town whar you cant git niggers ter cook fer you." " Well, if you want me to come out of the kitchen, you will have to come in and do the cooking." " Dat zackly what Im gwine ter do! " exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann. She went into the kitchen, demanded an apron, and took entire charge. " Jm mighty glad I come fo you got started," she said, " kaze you got nuff fier in dis stove fer ter bar-
87

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MINEEVY ANN
becue a boss; an you got it so hot in here dat its a wonder you aint bust a blood-vessel."
She removed all the vessels from the range, and opened the door of the furnace so that the fire might die down. And when it was nearly out as I was told afterward she replaced the vessels and proceeded to cook a dinner which, in all its char acteristics, marked a red letter day in the household.
" Shes the best cook in the country," said the lady, " and shes not very polite."
"Not very hypocritical, you mean; well if she was a hypocrite, she wouldnt be Aunt Minervy Ann."
The cook failed to come in the afternoon, and so Aunt Minervy Ann felt it her duty to remain over night " Hampll vow I done run away wid some body," she said, laughing, *r but I dont keer what he think."
After sapper, which was as good as thedinner had been, Aunt Minervy Ann came out on the veran da and sat on the steps. After some conversation, she placed the lady of the house on the witness-stand.
" Mistiss, wharbouts in Georgy wuz you born at?"
" I wasnt born in Georgia; I was born in Lansingburgh, [New York."
-^--*-

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLINJ
" I knowd it! " Aunt Minervy turned to me and nodded her head with energy. " I knowd it right pine blank!"
" You knew what?" the presiding genius of the household inquired with some curiosity.
" I knowd m dat you wuz a E"orthron lady." " I dont see how you knew it," I remarked. " Well, suh, she talk like we-all do, an she got mighty much de same ways. But when I went outdar dis mornin ah holler at er in de kitchen, I knowd by de way she turn roun on me dat she aint been brung up wid niggers. Ef shed a been a Southron lady, shed a laughed an said, ( Come in here an cook dis dinner yosef, you ole vilyun, er shed a come out an crackt me over de head with dat ion spoon what she had in her ban." I could perceive a vast amount of acuteness in the observation, but I said nothing, and, after a con siderable pause, Aunt Minervy Ann remarked: " Dey er lots er mighty good folks up dar " in dicating the North " some Ive seed wid my own eyes an de yuthers Ive heern talk un. Mighty fine folks, an dey say dey mighty sorry fer de nig gers. But Ill tell um all anywhar, any day, dat Id lots druther deyd be good ter me dan ter be sorry fer me. You know dat ar white lady what Marse
39

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
Tom Chippendale married? Her pa come down here ter hep de niggers, an he done it de best he kin, but Marse Toms wife cant bar de sight un urn. She wont let um go in her kitchen, she wont let Tim go in her house, an she dont want um nowhars roun. Shes mighty sorry fer m, but she dont like um. I dont blame er much mysef, bekaze it look like dat de niggers what been growin up sence freedom is des tryin der han fer ter see how no count dey kin be. Deyll git better dey er bleeze ter git better, kaze dey cant git no wuss."
Here came another pause, which continued until Aunt Minervy Ann, turning her head toward me, asked if I knew the lady that Jesse Towers married; and before I had time to reply with certainty, she went on:
" No, suh, you des cant know er. She aint come dar twel sevmty, an I mos know you aint see er dat time you went down home de las time, kaze she want gwine out dat year. Well, she wuz a USTorthron lady. I come mighty nigh tellin you Txmt er when you wuz livin dar, but fus one thing anden anudder jumped in de way; er maybe twuz too new ter be goshupd roun right den. But de way she come ter be dar an de way it all turn out beats any er dem tales what de ol folks use ter
40

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLlN"
tell we childun. I may not know all de ins an puts, but what I does know I knows mighty well, kaze de young oman tol me hersef right out er own mouf.
" Fus an fomus, dar wuz ol Gabe Towers. He wuz dar whence you wuz dar, an long time fo dat. You knowd him, sho, kaze he wuz one er dem kinder men what sticks out fum de res like a waggin tongue. Not dat he wuz any bettern anybody else, but he had dem kinder ways what make folks talk bout im an pen on im. I dunner zackly what de ways wuz, but I knows dat whatsomever ol Gabe Towers say an do, folks d nod der head an say an do de same. An me long er de res. He had dem kinder ways bout im, an twant no use talkin."
In these few words, Aunt Minervy conjured up in my mind the memory of one of the most remark able men I had ever known. He was tall, with irongray hair. His eyes were black and brilliant, his nose slightly curved, and his chin firm without heaviness. To this day Gabriel Towers stands out in my admiration foremost among all- the men I have ever known. He might have been a great statesman; he would have been great in anything to which he turned his hand. But he contented
41

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
himself with instructing smaller men, who were merely politicians, and with sowing and reaping on his plantation. More than one senator went to him for ideas with which to make a reputation.
TRa will seemed to dominate everybody with whom he came in contact, not violently, but serenely and surely, and as a matter of course. Whether this was due to his age he was sixty-eight when I knew him, having been born in the closing year of the eighteenth century or to his moral power, or to his personal magnetism, it is hardly worth while to inquire. Major Perdue said that the secret of his influence was common-sense, and this is perhaps as good an explanation as any. The immortality of Socrates and Plato should be enough to convince us that common-sense is almost as inspiring as the gift of prophecy. To interpret Aunt Minervy Ann in this way is merely to give a correct report of what occurred on the veranda, for explanation of this kind was necessary to give the lady of the house some thing like a familiar interest in the recital.
" Yes, suh," Aunt Minervy Ann went on, " he had dem kinder ways bout im, an whatsomever he say you cant shoo it off like you would a hen on de gyarden fence. Dar twuz an dar it stayed.
" Well, de time come when ol Marse Gabe had 42

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN"
a granson, an he name im Jesse in cordance wid de Bible. Jesse growd an growd twel he got ter be a right smart chunk uv a boy, but he want no mo like de Towerses dan he wuz like de Chippen dales, which he want no kin to. He tuck atter his ma, an who his ma tuck atter 111 never tell you, kaze Bill Henry Towers married er way off yander somers. She wuz purty but puny, yit puny ez she wuz she could play de peanner by de hour, an play it mo samer de man what make it.
" Well, suh, Jesse tuck atter his ma in looks, but stidder playin de peanner, he 1arnt how ter play de fiddle, an by de time he wuz twelve year ol, he could make it talk. Hits de fatal trufe, suh; he could make it talk. You hear folks playin de fiddle, an you know what dey doin; you kin hear de strings a-plunkin an you kin hear de bow raspin on um on count de rozzum, but when Jesse Towers swiped de bow cross his fiddle, twant no fiddle twuz human; I aint tellin you no lie, suh, twuz human. Dat chile could make yo heart ache; he could fetch yo sins up befo you. Dont tell me! many an many a night when I hear Jesse Towers playin, I could shet my eyes an hear my childun cryin, dem what been dead an buried long time
ago. Dont make no diffunce bout de chune, reel, 43
I

THE CHEONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
jig, er promenade, de human cryin wuz behime all
un um. " Bimeby, Jesse got so dat he didnt keer nothin
tall bout books. It uz fiddle, fiddle, all day long, an* half de night ef deyd let im. Den folks gun ter talk. No need ter tell you what all dey say. De worl over, fum what I kin hear, dey got de idee dat a fiddle is a free pass ter whar ole Scratch live at. Well, suh, Jesse got so hed run away fum school an go off in de woods an play his fiddle. Hamp use ter come pon im when he haulin wood, an he say dat fiddle aint soun no mo like de fiddles what you hear in common dan a flute soun like a bass drum.
" Now you know yosef, suh, dat dis kinder doins aint gwine ter suit Marse G-abe Towers. Time he hear un it, he put his foot down on fiddler, an fiddle, an fiddlin. Ez you may say, he sot down on de fiddle an smash it. Dis happen when Jesse wuz sixteen year ol, an by dat time he wuz mo in love wid de fiddle dan what he wuz wid his granMaddy. Anso dartwuz. He aint look like it, but Jesse wuz about ez high strung ez his fid dle wuz, an when his grandaddy laid de law down, he sol out his pony an buggy an made his disap pearance fum dem parts.
" Well, suh, twant so mighty often youd hear
44

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN"
sassy talk bout Marse Gabe Towers, but you could hear it den. Folks is allers onreasonable wid dem dey like de bes; you know dat yosef, suh. Marse Gabe aint make no lowance fer Jesse, an folks aint make none fer Marse Gabe. Marse Tumlin wuz dat riled wid de man dat dey come mighty nigh 1 avin a fallin out. Dey had a splutter bout de time when sumpn ner had happen, an atter dey wrangle a little, Marse Tumlin sot de date by sayin dat twuz ' a year for de day when Jess went a-fiddlin. Dat sayin kindled de fier, suh, an it spread fur an wide. Marse Tom Chippendale say dat folks what never is hear tell er de Towerses went roun talkin bout de time when Jess went a-fiddlin. "
Aunt Minervy Ann chuckled over this, probably because she regarded it as a sort of victory for Major Tumlin Perdue. She went on:
" Yes, suh, twuz a by-word wid de childun. Uo matter what happen, er when it happen, er ef taint happen, twuz *fo er atter ' de day when Jess went a-fiddlin. Hit look like dat Marse Gabe sorter drapt a notch or two in folks mins. Yit he helt his head dez ez high. He bleeze ter hoi it high, kaze he had in im de blood uv bofe de Tumlins an de Perdues; I dunner how much, but nuff fer ter keep his head up.
45

THE CHEONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN
"I aint no almanac, suh, but I never is ter fergit de year when Jess went a-fiddlin. Twuz sixty, kaze de nex year de war gun ter bile, an twaVt long fo it biled over. Yes, suh! dar wuz de war come on an Jess done gone. Dey banged aloose, dey did, dem on der side, an we on ourn, anj dey kep on a bangin twel we-all cant bang no mo. An den de war hushed up, an freedom come, an still no body aint hear tell er Jesse. Den you come down dar, suh, an stay what time you did; still nobody aint hear tell er Jesse. He mought er writ ter his ma, but ef he did, she kep it mighty close. Marse Gabe aint los no flesh bout it, an ef he los any sleep on account er Jess, he aint never brag bout it.
" Well, suh, it went on dis away twel, ten year atter Jess went a-fiddlin, his wife come home. Yes, suh! TTia wife! Well! I wuz stanin right in de hall talkin wid Miss Fanny dats Jesses ma when she come, an when de news broke on me you could a knockt me down wid a permeter fan. De house-gal showM er in de parler, an den come atter Miss Fanny. Miss Fanny she went in dar, an I stayed outside talkin wid de house-gal. De gal say, Aunt Minervy Aim, dey sho is sumpn ner de matter wid dat white lady. She white ez any er de dead, an she cant git er breff good. Bout dat
46

" WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN' "
time, I hear somebody cry out in de parler, an den I hear sumpn fall. De house-gal cotch holt er me an gun ter whimper. I shuck 'er off, I did, an went right straight in de parler, an dar wuz Miss Fanny layin face fomus on a sofy wid a letter in er han an de white lady sprawled out on de flo.
" Well, suh, you cant skeer me wid trouble kaze I done see too much; so I shuck Miss Fanny by de arm an ax er what de matter, an she cry out, ' Jesses dead an5 his wife come home. She uz plum heart-broke, suh, an I speck I wuz blubberin some mysef when Marse Gabe walkt in, but I wuz tryin ter work wid de white lady on de flo. Twix Marse Gabe an Miss Fanny, twuz sholy a tryin time. When one er dem hard an uppity men lose der grip on deysef, dey turn loose everthing, an dat wuz de way wid Marse Gabe. When dat de case, sumpn ner got ter be done, an it got ter be done mighty quick."
Aunt Minervy Ann paused here and rubbed her hands together contemplatively, as if trying to re store the scene more completely to her memory.
" You know how loud I kin talk, suh, when Im min ter. Well, I talk loud den an dar. I low, ' What you-all doin ? Is you gwine ter let Marse Jesses wife lay here an die des kaze he dead? Ef
47

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
you is, Ill des go whar I belongs at! Dis kinder fotch um roun, an twant no time fo we had de white lady in de bed whar Jesse use ter sleep at, an soons we got er cuddled down in it, she come roun. But she wuz in a mighty bad fix. She wanter git up an go off, an twuz all I could do fer ter keep er in bedJ She done like she wuz plum distracted. Dey want skacely a minnit fer long hours, an dey wuz mighty long uns, suh, dat she want moanin an sayin dat she want gwine ter stay, an she hope de Lordd fergive er. I tell you, suh, twuz tarryfyin. I shuck nex day des like folks do when dey er honin atter dram.
" You may ax me how come I ter stay dar," Aunt Minervy Ann suggested with a laugh. " Well, suh, twant none er my doiris. I speck dey mus be sumpn wrong bout me, kaze no matter how rough I talk ner how ugly I look, sick folks an childun allers takes up wid me. When I go whar dey is, its mighty hard fer ter git way fum um. So, when I say ter Jesses wife, ' Keep still, honey, an Ill go home an not pester you, she sot up in bed an say ef I gwine she gwine too. I say, ' Nummine bout me, honey, you lay down dar an dont talk too much/ She low, Le me talk ter you an tell you all bout it But I shuck my head an say dat ef
48

"WHEJS JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN"
she dont hush up an* keep still Im gwine right home.
" I had ter do er des like she wuz a baby, suh. She want so mighty purty, but she had purty ways, stracted ez she wuz, an de biggest black eyes you mos ever seed, an black curly har cut short kinder, like our folks use ter war dern. Den de house-gal fetched some tea an toas, an dis holp er up mightly, an atter dat I sont ter Marse Gabe fer some dram, an de gal fotched de decanter furn de sidebode. Bein, ez you may say, de nurse, I tuck an* tase er de dram fer ter make sho dat nobody aint put nothin in it. An, sho nuff, dey aint."
Aunt Minervy Ann paused and smacked her lips. " Atter she got de vittles an de dram, she sorter drap off ter sleep, but twuz a mighty flighty kinder sleep. Shed wake wid a jump des zackly like ba bies does, an den shed moan an worry twel she dozed off ag*in. I nodded, suh, bekaze you cant set me down in a cheer, night er day, but what Ill nod, but in betwix an betweens I kin hear Marse Gabe Towers walkin up an down in de liberry; walk, walk; walk, walk, up an down. I speck ef Id a been one er de nervious an flighty kin deyM a had to tote me out er dat house de nex day; but me! I des kep on a-noddin".
49

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEKVY ANN
" Bimeby, I hear sumpn come swishin long, an in walkt Miss Fanny. I tell you now, sub, ef Id a met er comin down de road, Id a made a break fer de bushes, she look so much like you know sperrets oughter look an Marse Jesses wife wuz layin* dar wid er eyes wide open. She sorter swunk back in de bed when she see Miss Fanny, an cry out, Oh, Im mighty sorry fer ter trouble you; Im gwine way in de mornin. Miss Fanny went ter de bed an knelt down side it, an low, No, you aint gwine no whar but right in dis house. Yo place is here, wid his mudder an his granfadder. Wid dat, Marse Jesses wife put her face in de piller an moan an cry, twel I hatter ax Miss Fanny fer ter please, mam, go git some res.
" Well, suh, I stayed dar dat night an part er de nex day, an by dat time all un um wuz kinder quieted down, but dey wuz mighty resless in de min, speshually Marse Jesses wife, which her name wuz Miss Sadie. It seem like dat Marse Jesse wuz livin at a town up dar in de fur North whar dey wuz a big lake, an he went out wid one er dem scursion parties, an a storm come up an shuck de boat ter pieces. Dat what make I say what I does. I dont min gwine on scursions on de groun, but when it come ter water well, suh, I aint gwine ter
50

" WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN "
trus mysef on water twel I kin walk on it an not wet my foots. Marse Jesse wuz de Captain uv a music-ban up dar, an de papers fum dar had some long pieces bout im, an de paper at home had a piece bout im. It say he wuz one er de mos re nounced music-makers what yever had been, an dat when it come ter dat kinder doins he wuz a puffick prodigal. I member de words, suh, bekaze I made Hamp read de piece out loud mo dan once.
" Miss Sadie, she got mo calmer atter while, an twant long fo Marse Gabe an Miss Fanny wuz bofe mighty tuck up wid er. Dey muchd er up an made a heap un er, an she farly hung on dem. I done tol you she aint purty, but dey wuz sumpn bout er better dan purtiness. It mought er been er eyes, en den agin mought er been de way er de gal; but whatsomever twuz, hit made you think bout er at odd times durin de day, an des fo you go ter sleep at night.
" Eveything went swimmin along des ez natchul ez a duck floatin on de mill-pon. Dey want skacely a day but what I seed Miss Sadie. Ef I aint go ter Marse Gabes house shed be sho ter come ter mine. Dat uz atter Hamp wuz lected ter de legislatur, suh. He low dat a member er de ingenerT ensembly aint got HO bizness livin in a kitchen, but
51

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
I say he aint a whit better den dan he wuz befo. So be, I done been cross im so much dat I tell im ter git de house an Fd live in it ef twant too fur fum Miga Yallie an Marse Tumlin. Well, he had it built on de outskyirts, not a big jump fum Miss Yallie an* betwix de town an Marse Gabe Towerss. When you come down ter de far, you mus come see me. Me an Hampll treat you right; we sholy wilL
" Well, suh, in dem days dey want so many nig gers willin ter do an be done by, an on account er dat, ef Miss Yallie want hollin fer Nervy Ann, "Miaa Fanny er Miss Sadie wuz, an when I want at one place, you might know Id be at de yuther one. It went on dis away, an went on twel one day got so much like aner dat you cant tell Monday fum Fri day. An* it went on an* went on twel bimeby I wuz bleeze ter say sumpn ter Hamp. You take notice, suh, an when you see de sun shinin nice an warm an de win blowin so saft an cool dat you wanter go in a-washin in it when you see dis an feel dat away, Watch out! Watch out, I tell you! Dat des de time when de harrycane gwine ter come up outn de middle er de swamp an tar things ter tatters. Same way when folks gitting on so nice dat dey dont know dey er gittin on.
52

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN'"

i

" De fMB7 news I knowd Miss Sadie wuz bringin* little bundles ter my house twix sundown an* dark.

Shed low, i Aunt Minervy Ann, Ill des put dis in

de cornder here; I may want it some time.7 Nex

day itd be de same doins over agin. Aunt Mi-

nervy Ann, please take keer er dis; I may want it

some time. Well, it went on dis away fum day ter

day, but I aint pay no tention. Ef any spicion

cross my min it wuz dat maybe Miss Sadie puttin

dem things dar fer ter sprise me Chrismus by tellin

me dey wuz fer me. But one day she come ter my

house, an sot down an put her hans over her face

like she got de headache er sumpn.

" Wellum " Aunt Minervy Ann, with real tact,

now began to address herself to the lady of the house

" Wellum, she sot dar so long dat bimeby I ax er

what de matter is. She aint say nothin; she aint

make no motion. I low ter mysef dat she dont

wanter be pestered, so I let er lone an went on

bout my business. But, bless you! de nex time I

look at er she wuz settin des dat away wid er hans

over her face. She sot so still dat it sorter make me

feel quare, an I went, I did, an cotch holt er her

hans sorter playful-like. Wellum, de way dey felt

made me flinch. All I could say wuz, ' Lord a

mercy! She tuck her hans down, she did, an look

63

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN
at me an* smile kinder faint-like. She low, 6 Wuz my hans col, Aunt Minervy Ann? I look at er an grunt, Huh! dey wont be no colder when youer dead. She aint say nothin, an terreckly I low, ' What de name er goodness is de matter wid you, "Miss Sadie? She say, f Nothin much. Im gwine ter stay here ter-night, an ter-morrer mornin Im gwineway. lax er, How come dat? What is dey done to you? She say, ' Nothin tail. I low, e Does Marse Gabe an Miss Fanny know you gwine? She say, ' No; I cant tell um.
" Wellum, I flopt down on a cheer; yessum, I sho did. My min wuz gwine like a whirligig an my head wuz swimmin. I des sot dar an look at er. Bimeby she up an say, pickin all de time at her frock, * I knowd sumpn wuz gwine ter happen. Dat de reason I been bringin dem bundles here. In dem ar bundles youll fin all de things I fotch here. I aint got nothin dey give me cepn dish yer black dress I got on. Id a fotchc my ol trunk, but I dunner what dey done wid it. Hampll hatter buy me one an pay for it hissef, kaze I aint got a cent er money. Dem de vey words she say. I low, '' Sumpn must a happen den. She nodded, an bimeby she say, Mr. Towers comin home ternight. Dey done got a telegraph fum im.
54

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN"
" I stood up in de fk>, I did, an ax er, Wliich Mr. Towers? She say, Mr. Jesse Towers. I low, He done dead. She say, No, he aint; ef he wuz he done come ter life; dey done got a telegraph fum im, I tell you. Is dat de reason you gwine way? I des hollad it at er. She drawd a long breff an say, Yes, dats de reason.
" I tell you right now, mam, I didnt know ef I wuz stannin on my head er floatin in de ar. I wuz plum outdone. But dar she sot des es cool ez a curcumber wid de dew on it. I went out de do, I did, an walk roun de house once ter de right an twice ter de lef bekaze de ol folks use ter tell me dat ef you wuz bewitched, dat ud take de spell away. I aint tellin you no lie, mam fer de longes kinder minnit I didnt no mo blieve dat Miss Sadie wuz settin dar in my house tellin me dat kinder rigamarole, dan I blieve Im flyin right now. Dat bein de case, I bleeze ter fall back on bewitchments, an so I walk roun de house. But when I went back in, dar she wuz, settin in a cheer an lookin up at de rafters.
" Wellum, I went in an drapt down in a cheer an lookt at er. Bimeby, I say, Miss Sadie, does you mean ter set dar an tell me youer gwine way kaze yo husban comin home? She flung her
55

THE CHEONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN
arms behime er head, she did, an* say, f I aint none er his wife; I des been playin off! De way she look an de way she say it wuz nuff fer me. I wuz pairlized; yessum, I wuz dumfounderd. Ef any body had des but totch me wid de tip er der finger, Pd a fell offn dat cheer an never stirred atter I hit de flo. Everthing bout de house lookt quare.
Yallie had a lookin-glass one time wid de pictuv a church at de bottom. When de glass got broke, she gimme de pictur5, an I sot it up on de mantel-shelf. I never knowd fo dat night dat de steeple er der church wuz crooked. But dar twuz. Mp dan dat I cotch mysef feelin er my fingers fer ter see ef twuz me an ef I wuz dar. " Talk bout dreams! dey want no dream could beat dat, I dont keer how twisted it mought be. An* den, mam, she sot back dar an toF me de whole tale tx>ut how she come ter be dar. Ill never tell it like she did; dey aint nobody in de wide worl kin do dat. But it seem like she an Marse Jesse wuz stayin in de same neighborhoods, er stayin at de same place, he a-fiddlin an she a-knockin on de peanner er de harp, I fergit which. Anyhow, dey seed a heap er one aner. Bofe un um had come dar fum way off yan, an aint got nobody but deysef fer ter pen on, an dat kinder flung um togedder.
56

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN"

I speck dey must er swapt talk bout love an mar-

ryin you know yosef, mam, dat dats de way

young folks is. Howsomever dat may be,, Marse

Jesse, des ter tease er, sot down one day an writ a

long letter ter his wife. Tooby sho he aint got no

wife, but he des make out he got one, an dat letter

he lef layin roun whar Miss Sadie kin see it.

Twant in no envelyup, ner nothin, an you know *

mighty well, mam, dat when a oman, young er ol,

see dat kinder letter layin roun shed die ef she

dont read it. Fum de way Miss Sadie talk, dat let

ter must a stirred up a coolness twix um, kaze de

mornin when he wuz gwine on dat scursion, Marse

Jesse pass by de place whar she wuz settin at an

. flung de letter in her lap an say, ' Whats in dar wuz

*--'

.

X

v*

fer you.

" Wellum, wid dat he wuz gone, an de fus news

Miss Sadie knowd de papers wuz full er de names

er dem what got drownded in de boat, an Marse

Jesse head de roll, kaze he wuz de mos populous

music-maker in de whole settlement. Den dar wuz

de gal ande letter. I wish I could tell dis part like

she tol me settin dar in my house. Youll never git

it straight in yo head lessn youd V been dar an

f hear de way she tol it. Nigger ez I is, I know

mighty well dat a white oman aint got no business

57

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
parmin ersef off ez a mans wife. But de way she tol it tuck all de rough aidges offn it She wuz dar in dat big town, wussn a wilderness, ez you may say, by ersef, nobody penin on er an nobody ter pen on, tired down an plum wo out, an wid all dem kinder longings what you know yosef, maam, all wimmen bleeze ter have, ef dey er white er ef dey er black.
" Yit she aint never tolnobody dat she wuz Marse Jesses wife. She des han de letter what shed kep ter "Vfiaa Fanny, an fell down on de flo in a dead faint, an she say dat ef it hadnt but a been fer me,
-*
shed a got out er de bed dat fust night an went way fum dar; an I know dats so, too, bekaze she wuz ranklin fer ter git up fum dar. But at de time I put all dat down ter de credit er de deleeriums, an made er stay in bed.
" "Wellum, ef I knowd all de books in de worl by heart, I couldnt tell you how I felt atter she done tol me dat tale. She sot back dar des ez calm ez a baby. Bimeby she say, ' Im glad I tol you; I feel better dan I felt in a mighty long time. It look like, maam, dat a load done been lift fum er
*
min. !N"ow I knowd pine blank dat sumpn gotter be done, kaze de traind be in at midnight, an den when Marse Jesse come deyd be a tarrifyin
58

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDUN"'
time at Gabe Towerss. Atter while I up an ax er, ' MIM Sadie, did you reely love Marse Jesse? She say, Yes, I did--des so. I ax er, * Does you love im now? She say, Yes, I does- an I love dem ar people up dar at de house; dat de reason Im gwine way. She talk right out; she done come to de pint whar she aint got nothin terhide.
" I say, Well, Miss Sadie, dem folks up at de house, dey loves you. She sorter flincht at dis. I low, Dey been mighty good ter you. , What you done, you done done, an dat cant be holp, but what you aint gone an done, dat kin be holp; an what you oughter do, dat oughtnt ter be holp. I see er clinch er hans an den I riz fum de cheer." Suiting the action to the word, Aunt Minervy Ann rose from the step where she had been sitting, and moved toward the lady of the house.
" I riz, I did, an tuck my stan befo er. I low, 1 You say you love Marse Jesse, an you say you love his folks. Well, den ef you got any blood in you, ef you got any heart in yo body, ef you got any feelin fer anybody in de roun worl cepn yo naked sef, youll go up dar ter dat house an tell Gabe Towers dat you want ter see im, an youll tell Fanny Towers dat you want ter see her, an youll
59

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN

stan up befo mn an tell um de tale you tol ter me,

word fer word. Ef youll do dat, an you hatter

come back here, come! come! Bless God! come!

an me an Hampll rake an scrape up nuff money

fer ter kyar you whar you gwine. An dont you be

askeerd er Gabe Towers. Me an Marse Tumlin

aint a-flkeerd un im. Im gwine wid you, an ef he

say one word out de way, you des come ter de do

an call me, an ef I dont preach his funerl, itll be

bekaze de Lord11 strike me dumb! An9 she

went! "

Aunt Minervy paused. She had wrought the

miracle of summoning to life one of the crises

through which she had passed with others. It was

not the words she used. There was nothing in

them to stir the heart or quicken the pulse. Her

power lay in the tones of her voice, whereby she was

able to recall the passion of a moment that had long

spent itself; in the fluent and responsive attitudes;

in gesticulation that told far more than her words

did. The light from the vestibule lamp shone full

upon her and upon the lady whom she unconsciously

selected to play the part of the young woman whose

story she was telling. The illusion was perfect.

"We were in Aunt Minervy Anns house, Miss Sadie

was sitting helpless and hopeless before her the

'. '

60

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FTDDLIN'"
whole scene was vivid and complete. She paused; her arm, which had been outstretched and rigid for an instant, slowly fell to her side, and the illusion was gone; but while it lasted, it was as real as any sudden and extraordinary experience can be.
Aunt Minervy Ann resumed her seat, with a chuckle, apparently ashamed that she had been be trayed into such a display of energy and emotion, saying, " Yessum, she sho went."
" I dont wonder at it," remarked the lady of the house, with a long-drawn sigh of relief.
Aunt Minervy Ann laughed again, rather sheep ishly, and then, after rubbing her hands together, took up the thread of the narrative, this time direct ing her words to me: " All de way ter de house, suh, she aint say two words. She had holt er my han, but she aint walk like she uz weak. She went along ez peart ez I did. When we got dar, some er de niggers wuz out in de flower gyarden an out in de big grove callin er; an dey call so loud dat I hatter put urn down. ' Hush up! I say, an go on bout yo business! Cant yo Miss Sadie take a walk widout a whole passel er you niggers a-hollerin yo heads off ? One un um make answer, Miss Fan ny huntin fer er. She sorter grip my han at dat,
61

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEBYY ANN
but I say, * She de one you wanter see her an* Gabe Towers/
"We went up on de poch, an dar wuz Misa Fanny an likewise Marse Gabe. I knowd what dey wanted; dey wanted ter talk wid er bout Marse Jesse. She clum de steps fus an I clum atter her. She cotch er breff hard when she fus* hit de steps, an den it come over me like a flash how deep an big her trouble wuz, an I tell you right now, ef dat had V been Miss Yallie gwine up dar, I blieve Id a flew at ol Gab Towers an to im lim fum lim fo anybody could a pull me off. Hits de trufe! You may laugh, but I sho would a done it. I had it in me. Miss Fanny seed sumpn wuz wrong, de minnit delight fell on de gals face. She say, Why, Sadie, darlin, what de mat ter wid you? des so an made ez ef ter put er arms roun er; but Mire Sadie swunk back. Miss Fanny sorter swell up. She say, ' Oh, ef Ive hurt yo feelins ter-day ter-day uv all de days please, please fergi me! Well, suh, I dunner whar all dis gwine ter lead ter, an I put in, She des wanter have a talk wid you an Marse Gabe, Miss Fannyj an ef ter-day is one er de days her feelins oughtnter be hurted, take keer dat you dont do it. Kyar er in de parler dar, Miss
63

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN'"
o
Fanny/ I speck youll think I wuz takin a mighty heap on mysef, fer a nigger oman," remarked Aunt Minervy Ann, smoothing the wrinkles out of her lap, " but I wuz des ez much at home in dat house ez I wuz in my own, an* des ez free wid um ez I wuz wid my own folks. Miss Fanny look skeerd, an Marse Gabe follerd atter, rubbin a little mole he had on de top er his head. When he wus worried er aggervated, he allers rub dat mole.
" Well, suh, dey went in, dey did, an I shot de do an tuck up my stan close by, ready fer to go in when Miss Sadie call me. I had mysef keyed up ter de pint whar Id a to? Marse Gabe sumpn bout his own fambly connection; you know dey aint no body but what got ion rust on some er der cloze. But dey stayed in dar an stayed, twel I gun ter git oneasy. All kinder quare idees run thoo my head. Atter while some un pull de do open, an hoi it dat away, an I hear Marse Gabe say, wid a trimble an ketch in his thoat, Dont talk so, chil. Ef you done wrong, you aint hurt nobody but yosef, an it oughtnter hurt you. You been a mighty big blessin ter me, an ter Fanny here, an I wouldnt a missed knowin you, not fer nothin. Wid dat, he come out clerih up his thoat an blowin Tiis nose twel it soun like a dinner-horn. TTia eye fell on me,

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MINEKVY ANN
an he low, ' Look like you er allers on ban when deys trouble. I made answer, ' Well, Marse Gabe, dey might be wusser ones roun dan me.5 He look at me right hard an say, 4 Dey aint no better, Minervy Ann. Well, suh, little mo an Id V broke down, it come so sudden. I had ter gulp hard an* quick, I tell you. He say, Minervy Ann, go back dar an7 tell de house-gal ter wake up de carriagedriver ef hes sleep, an tell im to go meet Jesse at de train. An he mus tell Jesse dat wed a all come, but his ma aint fcelin so well. I say, Ill go wake im up mysef, suh. I look in de parler an say, Miss Sadie, does you need me right now? She low, ' No, not right now; Ill stay twel twel Mr. Towers come. Miss Fanny wuz settin dar holdin Miss Sadies han.
" Ill never tell you how dey patcht it up in dar, but I made a long guess. Fus an fomus, dey wuz right down fon er Miss Sadie, an den ef she run off time Marse Jesse put his foot in de town deyd be a big scandal; an so dey fix it Up dat ef she wuz bleeze ter go, twuz better to go a mont er two atter Marse Jesse come back. Folks may like you mighty well, but dey allers got one eye on der own consarns. Dat de way I put it down.
" Well, suh, de wuss job wuz lef fer de las, kaze 64

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN'"
dar wuz Marse Jesse. Sumpn tol me dat lie onghter know what been gwine on fo he got in de house, kaze den he wont be aggervated inter sayin an doin sumpn he oughtnter. So when de car riage wuz ready, I got in an went downter de depot; an when Marse Jesse got off de train, I wuz de fus one he laid eyes on. Id a never knowd im in de worl, but*he knowd me. He holler out, Ef dar aint Aunt Minervy Aunt Bless yo ol soul! how you come on anyhow? He come mighty nigh huggin me, he wuz so glad ter see me. He wuz big ez a skinned hoss an strong ez a mule. He say, ' Ef I had you in my min once, Aunt Minervy Ann, I had you in dar ten thousan times.
" Whiles de carriage rollin long an grindin de san I try ter gi im a kinder inkling er what been gwine on, but twuz all a joke wid im. I wuz feard I mought go at im de wrong way, but I cant do no better. I say, Marse Jesse, yo wife been waitin* here fer you a long time. He laugh an low, ' Oh, yes! did she bring de childun? I say, ' Shucks, Marse Jesse! Deys a lady in deep trouble at Marse Gabes house, an I dont want you ter go dar jokin. Shes a monstus fine lady, too. Dis kinder steady im, an he say, t All right, Aunt Minervy Ann; Ill behave mysef des like a Sunday-school scholar. I
65

THE CHBONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
wont say bad words an I wont talk loud. He had his fiddle-case in his lap, an he drummed on it like he keepin time ter some chune in his min.
" Well, suh, we got dar in de due time, an twuz a great meetin twixt Marse Jesse an his folks. Dey des swarmed on im, ez you may say, an while dis gwine on, I went in de parler whar Miss Sadie wuz. She wuz pale, tooby sha, but she had done finhd ersef. She wuz standin by de fier-place, lookin down, but she lookt up when she hear de do open, an den she say, Im mighty glad its you, Aunt Minervy Ann; I want you ter stay in here. I low, Ill stay, honey, ef you say stay. Den she tuck er stand by me an cotch holt er my arm wid bofe er hans an kinder leant agin me.
" Bimeby, here come Marse Jesse. Trouble wuz in his eye when he open de do, but when he saw de gal, his face lit up des like when you strike a match in a closet He say, Why, Miaa Sadie! You dunner how glad I is ter see you. I been huntin all over de country fer you. He make ez ef ter shake hans, but she drawd back. Dis cut im. He say: What de matter? Who you in mournin fer? She low, Fer mysef. Wid dat she wuz gwine on .ter tel im bout what she had done, but he wouldnt have it dat way. -He say, When I come back ter

" WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN"
life, atter I wuz drownded, I gun ter hunt fer you des ez soons I got outn de hospittle. I wuz huntin fer you ter tell you dat I love you. Id V to? you dat den, an I tell you dat now. She grip my arm mighty hard at dat. Marse Jesse went on mightly. He tell er dat she aint done nobody no harm, dat she wuz welcome ter his name ef hed a been dead, an* mo? welcome now dat he wuz livin. She try ter put in a word here an dar, but he wont have it. Stanin up dar he wuz oP Gabe Towers over agin; twuz de fus time I knowd he faverM im.
" He tol er bout how he wrenched a do ofPn one er de rooms in de boat, an how he floated on dat twel he got so col an num dat he cant hoP on no longer, an how he turn loose an dont know nothin twel he wake up in some yuther town; an how, atter he git well, he had de plooisy an lay dar a mont er two, an den he gun ter hunt fer her. He went way up dar ter Hampsher whar she come fum, but she aint dar, an den he come home; an wont she be good nuff ter set down an listen at im?
" "Well, suh, dey wuz mo in Marse Jesse dan I had any idee. He wuz a rank talker, sho. I see er face warmin up, an I gay, Miss Sadie, I speck I better be gwine. Marse Jesse say, ' You aint in my way, Aunt Minervy Ann; I done foun my
67

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
sweetheart, an* I aint gwine ter lose er no mo, you kin des bet on dat. She aint say nothin an I know*d purty well dat eveything wuz all skew vee."
"Ihope they married," remarked the lady of the house, after waiting a moment for Aunt Minervy Ann to resume. There was just a shade of suspicion in her tone. . " Oh, dey married, all right nuff," said Aunt Minervy Ann, laughing.
"Didnt it create a good deal of talk?" the lady asked, suspicion still in her voice.
"Talk? No, mam! De man what dey git de license fum wuz Miss Fannys brer, Gus Featherstone, an de man what married urn wuz Marse Gabes broer, John Towers. Dey want nobody ter do no talkin. De nex mornin me an Miss Sadie an Marse Jesse got in de carriage an drove out ter John Towerss place whar he runnin a church, an twuz all done an over wid mos quick ez a nigger kin swaller a dram."
" What do you think of it?" I asked the lady of the house.
" Why, it is almost like a story in a book." " Does dey put dat kinder doins in books? " asked Aunt Minervy Ann, with some solicitude. " Certainly," replied the lady.

"WHEN JESS WENT A-FIDDLIN"
" Wid all de turmile, an* trouble, an tribulation an all de worry an* aggervation? Well, Hamp wanted me ter Parn how ter read, but I thank my stars dat I cant read no books. Deys miff er all dat right whar we live at widout huntin it up in books."
After this just observation, it was time to put out the lights.
69

m
HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY AND RAN BACK AGAIN
Ixr the matter of attending the fair at Halcyondale, Aunt Minervy Anns hospitable wishes jumped with my own desires, and it was not difficult to give her a hard and fast promise in the matter; nor did it take the edge off my desires to entertain a suspicion, verified long afterward, that Aunt Minervy Anns anxiety was based on a hope, expressed by Major Perdue, that the fair would be properly handled in the Atlanta papers.
The directors of the fair were represented at the little railway station, at Halcyondale, by a commit tee, and into the hands of this committee fell every man, woman, and child that stepped from the pass ing trains. It mattered little what the business of these incoming travellers was; whether they came to visit the fair or to attend to their own private af fairs. " They were seized, bag and baggage, by the committee and borne triumphantly to the hotel, or
70

HOW AUNT MINEBVY ANN RAN AWAY
to a boarding-place, or to some private house. The members of the committee had a duty to perform, and they performed it with an energy and a thor oughness that was amazing if not altogether satis factory. As I remember, this vigorous body was called the Committee on Public Comfort, and most heroically did it live up to its name and its duties.
These things I learned by observation and not by experience, for before the train on which I was a passenger had cleared the suburbs of Atlanta, I caught a glimpse of Major Tumlin Perdue, who had long been a prominent citizen of Halcyondale. He had changed but little during the ten years. His hair was whiter, and he was a trifle thinner, but his complexion was still rosy and his manners as buoy ant as ever. I doubted whether he would know me again, though he had been very friendly with me in the old days, seeming to know by instinct just when and how to drop a word of encourage ment and appreciation, and so I forbore to renew the acquaintance. The Major could be boisterous enough in those times when in the humor, but when at his best he had more ways like those of a woman (and a noble and tender-hearted woman at that) than any man I had ever known. He had a wom ans tact, intuition, and sympathy; and these quali-
71

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MINEEVY ANN
ties were so exquisitely developed in him that they lifted him high in the estimation of a young man who was living away from his mother, and who was somewhat lonely on that account
Presently, the Major came along the aisle for a drink of water. As he was in the act of drinking, his eyes met mine, and he recognized me instantly. He swallowed the water with a gulp.
a Why, bless my soul! " he exclaimed, greeting me with the simple cordiality that springs from an affectionate nature. "Why, I wouldnt take ten dollars for this! I was thinking about you this very day. Dont you remember the night we went out to ku-klux the Ku-klux, and the chap that mighty nigh broke his neck running into a wire clothes-line ? I saw him to-day. He would hardly speak to me," the Major went on, laughing heartily. " Hes never got over that nights business. I thought about you, and I started to hunt you up; but you know how it is in Atlanta. Polks aint got time to eat, much less to tell you where anybody lives. A man thats too busy is bound to worry, and worry will kill him every bit and grain as quick as John Barleycorn. Business is bound to be the ruin of this country, and if yon dont live to see it, your children wilL"
Thus the Major talked, blending wisdom with
72

-- '...,' \ /'/'" ,>;>../; Jj

^;*& ' -. V: -.'V;:; e: ;::--'-:/' :^'v ".,

-.'

..iV.'i^rti i;. :

The Cojnmittee of Public Comfort.

s

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY
impracticable ideas in the most delightful way. He seemed to be highly pleased when he found that I was to spend a week at Halcyondale, attending the fair and renewing old friendships.
" Then you belong to me! " he exclaimed. " It's no use," he went on, shaking his head when I would have protested against imposing on his good nature; " you needn't say a word. The tavern is stuffed full of people, and even if it wasn't, you'd go to my house. If you ain't been ruined by living in Atlanta, it'll seem like home to you. Dang it all! I'll make it seem like home to you anyhow."
Now, the affectation of hospitality is one of the commonest hypocrisies in life, and, to a thoughtful man, one of the most sinister; but the Major's hos pitality was genuine. It was brought over from the times before the war, and had stood the test of age and long usage, and, most trying of all, the test of poverty. " If you were welcome when I was well off, how much more welcome you'll be now that I am poor! " This was not said by the Major, but by one of his contemporaries. The phrase fitted a j} whole generation of noble men and women, and I thank Heaven that it was true at one time even if it is not true now.
When the train, with much clinking and clank-
78
>r

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MINEBVY ANN
ing and hissing, came to a standstill at Halcyondale, the Major hustled me off on the side opposite the station, and so I escaped the ordeal of resisting the efforts of the Committee on Public Comfort to con vey me to a lodging not of my own selection. The Major's huggy was in waiting, with a negro driver, who got out to make room for me. He bowed very politely, calling me by name.
" You remember Hamp, I reckon," said the Ma jor. " He was a member of the Legislature when you lived here."
Certainly I remembered Hamp, who was Aunt Minervy Ann's husband. I inquired about her, and Hamp, who had swung up to the trunk-rack as the buggy moved off, replied that she was at home and as well as she could be.
" Yes," said the Major," she's at my house. You may see somebody else besides Minervy Ann, but you won't hear anybody else* She owns the whole place and the people on it I had a Boston man to dinner some time ago, one of Conant's friends-- you remember Paul Conant, don't you?--and I stirred Minervy Ann up just to see what the man would say. We had a terrible quarrel, and the man never did know it was all in fun. He said they never would have such a lack of discipline among
74

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN/ RAN AWAY
the servants in Boston. I told him I would give him any reasonable amount if he would go out and dis cipline Minervy Arm, just to show me how it was done. It would have been better than a circus. You heard her, didn't you, Hamp? "
Hamp chuckled good-naturedly. " Yasser, I did, an* it make col' chills run over me ter hear how Minervy Ann went on. She eertVy did try herse'f dat day."
The Major smiled a little proudly as I thought, slapped the horse--a bob-tailed black--with the left rein, and we went skimming along the level, sandy street at a three-minute gait. In a short while we were at the Major's house, where I received a warm welcome from his daughter, whom I had known when she was a school-girl. She was now Mrs. Paul Conant, and even more beautiful as a matron than she had been as a girl. I had also known her hus band, who had begun his business career in the town a year or two before I left, and even at that time he was one of the most prominent and promising young business men in the town.
He had served in the army the last year of the war, and the service did him a world of good, physi cally and mentally. His faculties were broadened and enlarged. Contact with all sorts and conditions
75

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN

of men gave him ample knowledge of his kind, and

yet he kept in touch with the finer issues of life. He

was ripened and not hardened.

i

The surrender had no such crushing effects on

him as it had on older men. It left him youth, and

where youth is there must be hope and energy. He

returned home, remained a few weeks, sold a couple

of horses he had picked up in the track of Shermans

army, and then went into the office of a cotton factor

in Savannah, giving his services for the knowledge

and experience he desired to gain. In a very short

time he learned all the secrets of sampling and

grading the great staple. He might have remained

in the office at a salary, for his aptness had made him

useful, but he preferred to return to Halcyondale,

where he engaged in buying cotton on his own ac

count. There was just enough risk in this to stimu

late his energies, and not enough to lead to serious

speculation.

To this business he added others as his capital

grew, and he was soon the most prosperous man in

the town. He had formed the stock companv under

whose auspices the county fair was held, and was

president of the board of directors.

Aunt Minervy Ann was very much in evidence,

for she acted as cook, nurse, and house-girl. The

76

^

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY
first glimpse I had of her, she had a bucket of water in her right hand and Conant's baby--a bouncing boy--on her left arm. Just then Major Perdue hustled me off to my room, thus postponing, as I thought, the greeting I had for Aunt Minervy Ann, But presently I heard her coming upstairs talking to herself.
" Ef dey gwine ter have folks puttin* up wid urn, dey better tell me in de due time, so I can fix up fer um. Dey ain't been no fresh water in deze rooms sence dat baby wuz born'd."
She went on to the end of the hall and looked in
4
each of the rooms. Then, with an exclamation I failed to catch, she knocked at my door, which was promptly opened. As she saw me a broad smile flashed over her good-natured face.
" I 'low'd 'twuz you," she said, " an' I'm mighty glad you come." She started to pour the water from can to pitcher, when suddenly she stayed her hand. With the exclamation, " Well, ef dis don't bang my time I " she went to the head of the stairs and cried out: "Miss Yallie! Miss Vallie! you don't want no town folks stuck in dish yer back room, does you?"
" Why, certainly not! " cried the lady. " What could father have been thinking of ?"
77

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MlNERVY ANN
" Shoo! he like all de men folks," responded Aunt Minervy Ami.
With that she seized my valise with one hand, and, carrying the can of water in the other, escorted me to one of the front rooms. It was an improve ment on the back room only because it had more windows to admit the air and light. I put in a word for the Major, which I hoped would be carried to the ears of the daughter. *
" The Major gave me that room because he wanted to treat me as if I were one of the home folks. Kow you've brought me here, and I'll feel as uncomfortable as if I were company, sure enough."
" Bey's sump'n in dat, I 'speck," replied Aunt Minervy Ann, laughing; " but, lawsy, massy! you done been in dis house too much ter talk dat-a-way. When kin folks come home, we allus gin urn de bes' dey is fer de fus* week er so. Atter dat dey kin rustle 'roun' fer deyse'f."
It is hardly necessary to say that Aunt Minervy Ami took very good care that I should want for none of those little attentions that sharpen the ap preciation of a guest; and, in her case, obtrusiveness was not a fault, for her intentions shone clearly and unmistakably through it all.
78

" Miss Vallie! "

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY

Major Perdue had the art of entertainment at his

fingers' ends, which, though it is very simple, not one

man in a hundred learns. It is the knack of leaving

the guest to his own devices without seeming to do

so. Most fortunate in his gifts is the host who

knows how to temper his attentions!

In his efforts to get the fair under way, Paul Co-

nant found it impossible to come to dinner, but sent

his apologies.

" You'll think it is a mighty small concern when

you see it," said the Major, " but it takes all that

Paul can do to keep it from getting into a tangle.

He has to be here, there, and everywhere, and there

hasn't been a minute for a week or more but what

forty people were hollering at him at once, and forty

more pulling and hauling him about. If he wasn't

a steam-engine, he couldn't hold out half an hour."

" Well, he'll soon straighten matters out," said I,

" and then they'll stay so."

" That's so," remarked the Major; u but when

that's done, he'll have to rush around from post to

pillar to keep 'em straight."

" Did he seem to be greatly worried? " Valentine

1

asked.

" No-o-o-o," replied the Major, slowly and hesi

tatingly, " but I'm afear'd his shoulder has begun 79

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
to trouble Mm again." He leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling, apparently lost in thought.
" Why should you think that, father?" " Once or twice, whilst he was rustling about I saw him fling his hand to his shoulder and hold it there, and I'm mightily afearM it's hurting him." The Major drew a deep sigh as he spoke, and silence fell on all. It was brief, but it was long enough for one to know that an unpleasant subject had been touched on--that there was something more behind it all than a pain in Conant's shoulder. Aunt Minervy Ann, who was equal to every emergency, created a diversion with the baby, and the Major soon pulled himself together. Paul Conant came home to supper, and in the sitting-room, before the meal was announced, I ob served that the Major was as solicitous about him as a mother is of her baby. His eyes were constantly on his son-in-law, and if the latter showed any sign of worry, or frowned as if in pain, a shadow would pass over the Major's genial face. This intense solicitude was something out of the usual order, and I wondered what was behind it. But the next day it was forgotten, nor was it remem bered until Aunt Minervy Ann reminded me of it.
I had been faithful in my attendance on the fair,
80

" I saw him flingf his hand to his shoulder and hold it there."

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY
had listened patiently to the speeches, and had then tried to refresh my benumbed faculties with such fare as could be found on the grounds--barbecue, pickles, and ginger-cakes. But the occasion had been too much for me, and so, about two o'clock in the afternoon, I decided to return to my quarters at Major Perdue's home and rest my weary limbs. The very thought of the quiet and cool house was re freshing, and so, without waiting for a conveyance, I set out on foot, going through the woods in pref erence to the public highway, thereby cutting the distance short by nearly a mile.
A great many others had taken advantage of the short-cut through the woods, so that I had no lack of company. Among them I noticed Aunt Minervy and her husband, Hamp, the latter carrying the Conant baby, which, having had enough of the pomps and vanities of this life for the time being, was now fast asleep. I soon came up with the trio, and we went along home together.
" You toughed it out mighty well, suh,'; re marked Aunt Minervy Ann, after some talk about the various attractions of the fair. " Up dar in Atlanty deze kinder doin's would be laughed at, I 'speck, but hit's de bes'. we-all kin do. Me an' Miss Yallie had some truck
81

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
dar, speshually dat ar grape jelly on de right han' side. Ef dat jelly don't git de blue ribbon er sump'n better, hit'U be bakaze dem ar jedgment men ain't got no sense--I don't keer who dey is. Ain't you see dat ar quilt hangin' up dar wid a pat tern in it like a well-whorl, only de middle er de whorl was shape like de mornin' star? Dat ar quilt is older dan what you is, suh--lots older. Me an' Mistiss made dat quilt long 'fo' Miss Vallie wuz born, an' dish yer baby'll tell you she ain't no chick en. Ef dey's any purtier quilt on dat hill dey had it hid ter-day; dey ain't brung it out whar folks kin look at it. I dunno much, but I knows dat much."
We reached the house after awhile, and I lost no time in stretching myself out on a lounge that sat invitingly in the hall behind the stairway. It was not the coolest place in the world; but, really, when one is fagged out, it is unnecessary to try to find all the comforts of life in one spot. Sleep fell on me unawares, and when I awoke, Aunt Minervy Ann was sitting near the head of the lounge fanning me. Such courtesy was surprising, as well as pleasing, but I chid her for taking so much trouble, for I had slept nearly two hours. But she made light of it, saying she had nothing else to do, the baby being in his cradle and sleeping like a log.

" Dat ar .grape jelly on de right han' side."

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY
Then, to enjoy a smoke, I drew a rocking-chair into the back porch, and proceeded to fill my pipe with what I regarded as a very good brand of to bacco, offering some to Aunt Minervy Ann. She soon found her pipe--clay bowl and reed stem-- cleaned it out carefully and filled it from my pouch.
" It look mighty pale, suh," she remarked. " I 'speck dey steam it 'fo' dey mash it up." She seated herself on the top step, lit her pipe, took a few whiffs, and then shook her head. " 'Tain't nigh rank 'nuff for me, suh. Hit tas'e like you er dreamin' 'bout smokin' an' know all de time Hain't nothin' but a dream." She knocked the tobacco out, and then re filled the pipe with the crumbs and cutting from the end of a plug. This she smoked with an air of su preme satisfaction.
" I 'speck you got de idee dat I better be seein' 'bout supper, stidder settin' up here lookjn' biggity. But 'tain't no use, suh. Marse Tumlin and Miss Vallie never is ter come home dis day less'n dey bring Marse Paul wid urn. I done hear um sesso. An' I know mighty well, deyer gwine ter come back late, bekaze Paul Conant's one er dem kinder folks what go twel dey can't go, an' when dey git down dey make motions like dey gwine. Dey puts me in mind uv a lizard's tail, suh. Knock it off, an' it'll

THE CHEOXICLES OF AUNT MIXERVY ANN
hop 'bout an' work an' wiggle plum twel de sun go down."
I suggested that the illustration was somewhat inapt (though not in those words), for the reason that Paul Conant's energy was not expended blind ly. But I found that Aunt Minervy knew what she was saying.
" I ain't talkin' 'bout his own business, suh, bekaze dey ain't nobody beat 'im at dat. No, suh; I'm talkin' 'bout dem ar doin's out dar at de fair groun's. He's a-workin' at dat lots harder dan he has ter work fer hisse'f. Maybe you tuck notice uv de way dem yuther folks done out dar, suh. Dey stood 'round wid dey mouf open, an' de ribbon pinned on der coats, an' when sump'n had ter be done, dey'd call out fer Conant. It 'uz ' Conant! ' here an' ' Conant! ' dar, an' ef Conant wuz out er hearin' de whole shebang had ter stop right still an' wait twel Conant kin be dragged up. I watched um p'intedly, suh, an' it's des like I tell you."
Aunt Minervy Ann's characterization of the di rectors was so acute and so unexpected that I latghed--not at what she said, but at the vivid pict ure of a lot of helpless men standing about, full of dignity, and yet waiting for young Conant to tell them what to do.
84

"' Conant!' here and ' Conant!' dar."

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN BAtf AWAY
" You may laugh, suh," Aunt Minervy Ann went on with a little frown, " but I'm tellin' you de Lord's trufe. I kep' my eyes on um, an' 'twuz dat a-way fum soon dis mornin' 'twel I got mad an* come home. You kin ax Hamp, suh, an' he'll tell you de same. I reckon you heer'd Marse Tumliu las' night at de table ax Marse Paul ef his shoulder hurted 'im. I know you did, suh, bekaze I tuck notice how you looked, an' I tried ter shake de baby up so he'd cry, but dat wuz one er de times, suh, when he wouldn't be shuck up. Any udder time dat chil' would er laid back an' blated twel you'd hafter put yo' fingers in yo' years. I wuz mad wid 'im, suh, but I wuz bleedz ter laugh. Chillun mighty funny. When you don't want um ter cry, dey'll holler der heads off, an' when you want um ter cry, dey'll laugh in yo' face. I bet you dey's a blue place on dat .baby's arm whar I pinched 'im, but he didn't no mo' min' it dan nothin'."
" Well," said I, " there was something peculiar in the way all of you looked and acted when the Ma jor asked about Mr. Conant's shoulder. It was a very simple question."
" Ah, Lord! " exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann, raising her right hand on high, " dey better ax 'bout
85

THE C^BONICLES OF AUNT MINEKVY ANN
dat shoulder. Yesser! ev'y day an' ev'y night, an' in betwixt times."
" Is Mr. Conant troubled with rheumatism? " I inquired.
"Rheumatiz! bless yo' soul, honey! Ef 'twuz rheumatiz dey wouldn't be no Paul Conant 'round dis house, ner no Conant baby."
Here is something decidedly interesting, I thought, but held my peace, knowing that whatever it was would be more quickly disclosed if there were any disclosure to make.
" Ain't you never hear 'bout it, suh? Well dat bangs me! An' you right up dar in Atlanty, too! ETo, suh; you must er been in Savanny, bekaze 'twuz de town talk in Atlanty. Anyhow, wharsomever you wuz er might er been, dey ain't no rheumatiz de matter wid Marse Paul Conant's shoulder-blade. I know dat much, an' I know it mighty well, bekaze I wuz right here in dis house, an' nowhars else 'cep*n 'roun' de lot an' up town an' back.

" Well, den, suh, ef you ain't never hear 'bout
dat, I most know you ain't never hear tell er how
I run'd off, and how I run'd back, bekaze nobody in*t never talk 'bout dat--leas'ways, not as I knows un."

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY

I declared to Aunt Minervy Ann that I never

heard a whisper of it. She leaned back against the

railing of the steps and drew a long whiff from her

pipe.

" 'Tain't no use ter tell you, suh, how times wuz

right atter de war. You wuz right in um, an' ef you

don't know, it's bekaze you didn't look 'roun' an'

see um. I hear um say, suh, dat niggers wuz po'

when dey come free. Dey wuz, suh; dey wuz rank

pizen po'; but dey never wuz in dis worl' a nigger

ez por ez some er our white folks wuz. You may

shake yo' haid, suh, but I'm givin' you de straight

gov'nment trufe. Niggers is use ter beiri' po', an'

dey never wuz dat po' dat dey can't scuffle 'roun'

-,

"

an' make out somehow. Dey er been po' so long

dey er usen ter it. But white folks what been rich!

I hope de Lord'11 call me home 'fo' I see again what

I done saw in dem days. I know in reason, suh,

I

dat I seed mo' er de trouble dan what you did, kaze

you couldn't go in at de back gates like me; an'

what trouble folks does have dey allers keep it

somers betwix' de bedroom an' de back gate.

" De Perdues wa'n't no wuss off dan nobody else.

Marse Tumlin had dish yer house an' lot, an' de

plantation, an' some lan' way off yander. But all

de

hosses

an'

mules

an' cattle
"87

been

tuck

off,

an'

de

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
niggers all gone. Ef he'd er stayed on de planta tion, de niggers would V been dar yit, but stay lie wouldn't, an' stay he didn't, an' so dar he wuz.
" Do sump'n? What he gwine do? Fo' de big turmoil he done some lawin' an' a heap er farmin'. Leas'ways my ol' Mistiss done de famain', an' Marse Tumlin, he done de lawin'. He had 'im a office here in town, an' on set days he'd come in an' look arter de cases what he had. But how anybody gwine ter do any lawin' dat-a-way? Harse Tumlin ain't keerin' whedder he git one case er none. He ain't bleedze ter do no lawin'. An' den 'pon top . er dat he went off whar dey battlin', an' dar he stayed, an' when he come back, look like de kinder lawin' what he use ter do done gone outer fashion. Ef he hadn't er been holp out, suh, I dunner what'd V come un 'im. An' 'twa'n't only Marse Tumlin. Dey wuz a whole passel un um, too young ter die an' too ol' ter win money in dem kinder times. Ef you ain't ol' 'nuff ter 'member dem times, suh, you kin thank de Lord, kaze dey sho did look like tetotal ruination.
" Now, you know yo'se'f, suh, dat you can't eat a house an' lot an' live dar too; an' you can't eat lan' des dry so less'n you got a mighty appetite fer dirt. Whyn't he sell de lan' ? You oughter be de las' one

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY
ter ax me dat, suh. Who gwine buy it? Dem what ain't got lan' ain't had no money, an' dem what had money sholy lived a mighty long ways fum here. Day in an' day out, suh, I wuz de wiisa pester'd nigger you ever laid eyes on. I ain't know what ter do.
" An' den 'pon top er dat, dar wuz Hamp, my ol' man. When freedom come out, he tuck de notion dat we better go off some'rs an' change de name what we got so dey can't put us back in slave'y. Night an' day it fair rankle in his min', an' he kep' groanin' an' growlin' 'bout it twel I got stirred up. I oughtn't ter tell it, suh, but hit's de Lord's trufe. I got mad, I did, an' I toP Hamp I'd go. An' den I wa'n't doin' no good stayin' here. 'Twuz des one mo' mouf ter feed, an' mo' dan one, countin' Hamp. So, bimeby, one day, when I wuz sorter fretted, I toP Hamp ter go on out dar in de coun try, whar his daddy live at, an' I'd meet 'im dar 'fo'night.
" When de time come, I went in de house an' hunt fer Miss Vallie. She 'uz settin' in de parlor by de winder, but behime de curtain like, so nobody can't see 'er. She 'uz settin' dar wid 'er han's crossed on 'er lap, an' she look so little, an' pale, an5 weak, dat I come mighty nigh gwine right back in
89

THE CHBONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
de kitchen. But she seed ine too quick. Den I upn tell er dat Pm gwine out in de country, ter whar Hamp daddy live at. She look at me right hard an say, ( When you comin back, Aunt Minervy Ann? I low, Pm comin back des ez soon ez I kin make my rangements, honey. She say, Well, I hope youll have a good time while you er gone. I low, ( Thanky, mam/ Wid dat I went an got my bundle an put opt fum dar an I aint look back nudder, bekaze I had a mighty weakness in de knees, an a mighty risin in my thoat.
" I went on down de road, an ef amybody had so much ez said boo ter me, Id a turned right roun an gone back home. I went on, I did, twel I come ter de mile branch. I see somebody crossin on de log, an when I come up wid um, who should it a been but Marse Tumlin. An he had one chicken! He had been out ter de plantation sevm mile ef its fifty yards an here he wuz comin ] -1 wid one chicken an him a walkin, him dat use ter ride roun in his carriage! Walkin an totin one little chicken! "Man, suh! I dont never want ter feel again like I felt den. Whedder twuz de chicken, er what, I never did see Marse Tumlin Perdue look ez ol an ez weaslv, ez he did den. He look at me an sorter laugh like I done cotch im doin sumpn
90

"V
"Drapt down on de groun' dar an' holler an' cry.'

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN BAN AWAY
he ain't got no business ter do. But dey wa*n't no laugh in me; no, suh, not by a jugful.
u
" He say, ' Hello, Minervy Ann! whar you gwine ?' I 'low, I did, ( I'm des gwine out yander whar Hamp kinnery live at.'
" He sorter pull his goatee, an' look down at de dus' on his shoes--an' dey wuz fair kiver'd wid it-- an' den he say, ' Well, Minervy Ann, I wish you mighty well. You sho is done a mighty good part by me an' mine. Ef yo' Miss Mary wuz 'live she'd know what ter say--I don't, 'cep' dis '--:he straight en up an' stretch out his han'--' 'cep' dis: when ever you want ter come back home, you'll fin* de do' open. Ef you come at night, des knock. We'll know yo' knock/
" You ain't never seed no fool nigger 'oman cut up, is you ? Well, ef you does see one, suh, I hope ter goodness 'twon't be me! Marse Tumlin ain't no mo'n got de words out'n his mouf, suh, Jfo' I tuck de feundle what I had in my han', an' flung it fur ez I could send it.
" Marse Tumlin look at me hard, an' den he say, ' Dam ef I don't b'lieve youer crazy!' Time he say it, I 'low, ' I don't Tceer er dam ef I is! '
" Yasser! I say it sho, an' den I drapt down on de groun' dar an' holler an' cry like somebody wuz
91

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
beatin' de life out'n me. Marse Tumlin stood dar pullin' at his goatee all dat time, an' bimeby I got up. I wa'n't feelin' mlicli better, but I done had my cry an5 dat's sump'n. I got up, I did, an' start back de way I come.
" Marse Tumlin say, ( Whar you gwine, Minervy Ann? I 'low, 'I'm gwine back home--dat's whar I'm gwine!' He say, ( Pick up yo' bundle.' Wid dat I turn 'roun' on him an' 'low, ' I ain't gwine ter do it! Ef it hadn't er been fer dat ar muslin dress in dar, what Miss Yallie make over an' gi' me, I'd been at home right dis minute.'
" He 'low, ' What dat got ter do wid it, Minervy Arm?' I make answer,' Bekaze ol' Satan make me want ter put it on an' sho' off 'fo' dem country nig gers out dar whar Hamp's folks live at.' Wid dat I start back home, but Marse Tumlin holler at me-- ' Minervy Ann, take dis chicken.' I tuck it, I did, an' made off up de road. Bimeby I sorter flung my eye 'roun', an', bless gracious! dar wuz Marse Tum lin comin' 'long totin' my bundle. Well, suh, it flewed all over me like fier. I got so mad wid myse'f dat I could 'a' bit a piece out'n my own flesh.
" I waited in de road twel he come up, an' den I snatched de bundle out er his han'. I 'low,' I ain't gwine ter have you totin' none er my bundles in de
98

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY
public road--no, ner no chickens, needer.' He say, ' Well, don't fling it 'way, Minervy Ann. De time may come when yo' Miss Vallie'll need dat ar mus lin dress.'
" When we got back home I went in de kitchen, an' fix ter clean an' kill de chicken. I 'speck Marse Tumlin must 'a' to? Miss Yallie 'bout it, bekaze 'twan't long 'fo' I hear her runnin' 'long de plank walk ter de kitchen. She whipt in de do' she did, an' grab me an' cry like I done riz fum de dead. Well, suh, niggers ain't got no sense, you kin take um de world over. To sooner is Miss Vallie start ter cry dan I chuned up, an' dar we had it.
" 'Bout dat time, Marse Tumlin, he come out-- men folks is allers gwine some'rs dey got no busi ness. He 'low, ' What you'all blubberin' 'bout?' I make answer, ' We er cryin' over dese two chick ens.' He ax, ' What two chickens?' I 'low, ' I'm cryin' over dis un, kaze it's so little, an' Miss Vallie cryin' over de one what you ain't brung. He say, ' Well, I be dang!' an' wid dat he went back in de house.
" An' den, atter supper, such ez 'twuz, here come Hamp, an' he say he come ter lay de law down. I 'speck I like my ol' man 'bout ez good ez any udder 'oman what's lawfully married, but ef I didn't put a
93

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MINERVY ANN
flea in Hamp year dat night you may shoot me dead. Ef he'd V waited a day er two, hit might er been diffunt; but, manlike, he had ter come at de wrong time, an' he ain't open his mouf 'fo' I wuz fightin' mad. OF Miss allers use ter tell me I wuz a bad nigger when I got my dander up, but I never did look at myse'f dat-a-way twel dat night.
"Well, Hamp he come an' stood in de do', but I ain't say nothin'. Den he come in de kitchen, an' stan' 'roun', but still I ain't say nothin'. Den he sot down next de ehimbley, but all dat time I ain't say nothin'. He look right pitiful, suh, an' ef I hadn't been mad, I'd 'a' been sorry fer 'im. But I ain't say nothin'.
" Bimeby, he 'low, ' 'Nervy '--he allers call me 'Nervy--' 'Nervy, whyn't you go whar you say you gwine?' I flung myse'f 'roun' at 'im an' say, ' Bekaze I ain't choosen ter go--dar you got it!' He 'low, e Well, you start ter go, kaze I seed you!' I say, ' Yes, an' I start ter come back, an' you'd V seed dat ef you'd 'a' looked right close.' He 'low, "Nervy, don't you know dem folks in yander'U thinV you b'long to um?' I say, * I does. Ain't I free? Can't I b'long to um ef I wanter? I'd like ter see de one ter hender me. What dey done ter you? An' what's I done ter you dat you want ter drag me
94

HOW AUNT MINERVY ANN RAN AWAY

\1

'way fum my white folks? You go drag you'se'f---

you can't drag me.' He 'low, ' Dey done begin ter

call you a white-folks nigger, an' dey say you gwine

back on yo'own color.'"

Aunt Minervy Ann paused here to laugh. "Mad

ez I wuz, suh, de minnit Hamp said dat I know'd I

had ter change my chune. I 'low, ( I know right pine-blank who toP you dat. 'Twan't nobody in

\

de roun' worl' but oP Cely Ensign, an' she ain't tell

you dat in comp'ny, needer. She toP you whar no

body can't hear 'er but you. Don't you fret! des ez

soon ez I git thoo wid supper, I'm gwine 'roun' dar

an' drag 'er out an' gi' 'er de wuss frailin' any nig

ger ever got sence de overseers quit bizness. I ain't

fergot dat ar' possum you toted off ter her house.'

" Well, suh, I had 'im! He caved in. He 'low,

' 'Twan't no 'possum; 'twan't nothin' in de roun'

worl' but a late watennillion.' I holler, 'Ah-yi!

watermillion ! Well, den, ef you want ter drag any

body off fum der white folks, go an' drag oP Cely

Ensign--bekaze you can't drag me.'

" We jowered right smart, but I had Hamp in a

cornder. He went off an' stayed maybe a mont', an'

den he come back, an' atter 'while he got 'lected ter

de legislature. He done mighty well, suh. '. He got

nine dollars a day, an' ev'y Sat'dy night he'd fetch
96

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
de bigges' part uv it home. 'Twuz mighty handy, too, suh, kaze ef hadn't been fer dat legislating money I dunner what me and Miss Yallie an' Marse Tumlin would V done.
" Dat wuz 'bout de time, suh, dat de town boys wanter ku-kluck Hamp, an' you an' Marse Tumlin went out an' ku-klucked dem. Hamp ain't never forgot it, suh. He'd walk fum here to Atlanty fer you ef 'twould do you any good. He don't say much, but I know how he feel. I hear 'im calling me now, suh."
" You haven't told me about Paul Conant," I suggested.
" I'll tell you, suhr 'fo' you go." In half a minute I heard Aunt Minervy Ann quarrelling and laughing at Hamp in the same breath.
96

IV

HOW SHE JOINED THE GEORGIA LEGIS LATURE

THE second day of the fair, I saw more of Paul

Conant. He insisted on taking charge of me, and,

in his buggy, we visited every part of the fair

grounds, which had been laid out on a most liberal

scale. When dinner-time came I was glad enough

to excuse myself and hurry back to the refreshing

shade of Major Perdue's veranda. There I found

Aunt Minervy Ann swinging the baby in a ham

mock.



" I 'low'd maybe you'd git tired an' come back,

suh; an' so I des let dinner sorter simmer whiles

I got dish yer baby ter sleep. I dunner how you all

does in Atlanty, but down here we has soon dinner.

Bern what wanter kin have two meals a day, but

dem what does sho 'nuff work better eat three.

Me! I want three, whedder I works er not."

The baby stirred, and Aunt Minervy paused. At

that moment a group of men, wearing badges,

97

'

THE CHBONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
passed by, evidently officials of the fair going to dinner. They were evidently engaged in a very earnest discussion.
" I'm for Conant," said one, with considerable emphasis.
"Oh, so am I," assented another. " When Jim
told me this morning that he was a candidate for the Legislature, I told him flat and plain that I was for Paul Conant."
" That's right," remarked a third. " We want a man there with some business sense, and Conant's the man."
Aunt Minervy Ann laughed. " Ef de Legislatur' up dar in Atlanty is like it wuz when I b'long'd ter it, dey can't drag Marse Paul in dar; no, suh! dey can't drag him in dar."
Amazement must have shown in my face, for Aunt Minervy Ann immediately became solemn. " Ain't you never hear tell 'bout my j'inin' de Legislature You may look an' you may laugh, but dat don't wipe out de trufe. Dey wuz a time when I jined de Legislator7 an' when I b'long'd ter de gang same ez Hamp did. You don't 'spute but what Hamp b'long'd ter de Legislatur', suh?" asked Aiint Minervy Ann, anxious to make out the title of her own membership. No, I didn't dispute

HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE
Hamp's credentials. He had been elected and he had served.
" I know'd you couldn't 'spute dat, suh," Aunt Minervy Ann went on, " 'kaze you wuz down dar when dey choosen'd 'im, an' you wuz dar when dem ar white folks come mighty nigh ku-kluckin' 'im; you wuz right dar wid Marse Tumlin an' Marse Bolivar. I never is ter fergit dat, suh, ner Hamp nudder; an' ef you don't b'lieve it, you des sen' us word you want us. Ef we git de word at midnight we'll git up, an' ef de railroad track is tore up we'll git a waggin, an' ef we can't git a waggin, we'll1 walk, but what we'll come."
" Well," said I, " tell us about your joining the Legislature."
" I may be long in tellin' it, suh, but 'tain't no long tale," replied Aunt Minervy Ann. " Atter Hamp come up here an' tuck his seat--dat what dey call it den, ef dey don't call it dat now--well, atter he come up an' been here some little time, I tuck notice dat he 'gun ter hoi' his head mighty high; a little too high fer ter suit me. He want me ter go up dar wid 'im an' stay dar, 'kaze he sorter skittish 'bout comin' home when dem country boys mought be hangin' 'roun' de depot. But I up an' tol' 'im flat an' plain dat I wa'n't gwine ter

THE CHBONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
leave Miaa Yallie an' let er' git usen ter strange niggers. I tol' 'im he mought go an' stay ef he want ter, but de fus' week he miss comin' home, I wuz gwirie atter 'im, an* ef I fotch 'im home he won't go back in a hurry; I tol' 'im dat, flat an' plain.
"Well, suh, he done mighty well; I'll say dat fer 'im. He want too many clean shirts an' collars fer ter suit me, but he say he bleeze ter have um dar whar he at, an' I ain't make no complaint 'bout dat; but I took notice dat he wuz sorter offish wid Marse Tumlin. Mo' dan dat, I tuck notice dat needer Marse Tumlin ner Marse Bolivar so much ez look at 'im when dey pass 'im by. I know'd by dat dat sump'n wuz up.
" Now, Hamp ain't had no reg'lar time fer cornin' home. Sometimes he'd come We'n'sday, an' den ag'in he'd come Friday. I ax 'im why he ain't stay de week out an' 'ten' ter his work like he oughter. He say he gettin' des much pay when he at home loafin' 'roun' ez he do when he up yer. Well, suh, dat 'stonish me. You know yo'se'f, suh, dat when folks is gittin' pay fer dat what dey ain't doiri', dey's boun' ter be swindlin' gwine on some'rs, ef not wuss, an' dat what I tol' 'im. He laugh an' say dat's on account er politics an' de er-
100

HOW SHE JOIXED THE LEGISLATURE
publican party, an' I make answer dat ef dat de case, dej er bofe rank an' rotten; desso.
" We went on fum one thing ter an'er, twel bimeby I ax 'im what dey is 'twixt 'im an* Marse Tumlin an* Marse Bolivar. Hamp say dey ain't nothin' 'ceppin' dat dey done ax 'im fer ter do sump'n dat ain't in 'cordanee wid erpublican pen cerpuls, an' he bleeze ter effuse um. Well, suh, dis kinder riled me. I know'd right pine-blank dat Hamp ain't know no mo' 'bout erpublican pencerpuls dan I is, an' I wouldn't a-know'd um ef I'd a met um in de road wid der name painted on um; so I ax 'im what erpublican pencerpuls hender'd 'im fum doin' what Marse Tumlin ax 'im ter do. He sot dar an' hummed an' haw'd, an' squinn'd in his cheer, an' chaw'd on de een' er his segyar. I wait long 'nuff, an' den I ax 'im ag'in. Well, suh, dat's been twenty years ago, an' he ain't never tol' me yit what dem erpublican pencerpuls wuz. I ain't flingin' off on um, suh. I 'speck dey wuz a bairlful er dem erpublican pencerpuls, an' maybe all good uns, but I know'd mighty well dat dey ain't bender dat nigger man fum doin' what Marse Tum lin ax 'im ter do.
"So de nex' chance I git, I up'n ax Marse Tum lin what de matter wuz 'twix' him an' Hamp. He
101

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
say 'twa'n't nothin' much, 'cep' dat Hamp had done come up here in Atlanta an' sol' hisse'f out to a passel er kyarpit-baggers what ain't no intruss down here but ter git ban's on all de money in sight. I say, ' He may 'a' gi' hisse'f 'way, Marse Tumlin, but he sho' ain't sell hisse'f, 'kaze I ain't seen one er de money.' Marse Tumlin 'low, i Well, anyhow, it don't make much diffunce, Minervy Ann. Dem kyarpit-baggers up dar, dey pat 'im on de back an' tell 'im he des ez good ez what dey is. I had de idee, Minervy Ann,' he say, ' dat Hamp wuz lots better dan what dey is, but he ain't; he des 'bout good ez dey is.'
." Marse Tumlin do like he don't wanter talk 'bout it, but dat ain't nigh satchify me. I say, ' Marse Tumlin, what did you want Hamp ter do?' He drum on de arm er de cheer wid his fingers, an' sorter study. Den he say, i Bern' it's all done an' over wid, I don't min' tellin' you all about it. Does you know who's a-runnin' dis county now?' I had a kinder idee, but I say, ' Who, Marse Tumlin?' He 'low, 'Mahlon Botts an' his br*er Mose; dey er runnin' de county, an' dey er ruinin' it.'
" Den he ax me ef I know de Bottses. Know nmf I'd been a-knowin' um sence de year one, an'
103

HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE
dey wuz de ve'y drugs an' offscourings er creation. I ax Marse Ttimlin how come dey ter have holt er de county, an' he say dej make out dey wuz good erpublicans, *des ter make de niggers vote um in office---so dey kin make money an' plunder de county. Den I ax 'im what he want Hamp ter do. He say all he want Hamp ter do wuz ter he'p 'im git er whatyoumaycallum--yasser, dat's it, a bill; dat's de ve'y word he say--he want Hamp ter he'p ?im git a bill th'oo de Legislator'; an' den he went on an' tell me a long rigamarolious 'bout what 'twuz, but I'll never tell you in de roun' worl'."
[The proceedings of the Georgia Legislature re ported in the Atlanta New Era, of November 10, 1869, show that the measure in question was a local bill to revive the polling-places in the militia dis tricts of the county represented by the Hon. Hampten Tumlin, and to regulate elections so that there could be no repeating. This verification of Aunt Minervy Ann's statement was made long ago after she told the story, and purely out of curiosity. The discussions shed an illuminating light over her nar rative, but it is impossible to reproduce them here, even in brief.]
" He tol' me dat, suh, an' den he le'nt back in de cheer, an' kinder hummed a chune. An' me--I
108

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
stood up dar by de fireplace an' studied. Right den an* dar I made up my min' ter one thing, an' I ain't never change it, needer; I made up my min' dat ef we wuz all gwine ter be free an' live in de same neighborhoods--dat ef we wuz gwine ter do dat, whatsomever wuz good fer de white folks bleeze ter be good fer de niggers, an' whatsomever wuz good fer Marse Tumlin an' Miss Vallie wuz des ez good fer me an* Hamp.
" I 'low,' Marse Tumlin, when you gwine up dar whar Hamp at? 9 He say,' Oh, I dunno; I'm tired er de infernal place,' desso. Den he look at me right hard. ' What make you ax?' sez he. I 'low, ' 'Kaze ef youer gwine right soon, I'm gwine wid you.' He laugh an' say, * What de dickunce you gwine up dar fer?' I 'low, ' I gwine up dar fer ter jine de Legislator5. I ain't here tell dat dem what jines hatter be baptize in runnin' water, an' ef dey ain't, den I'll jine long wid Hamp.' Marse Tum lin say,"* You reckin Hamp would be glad fer to see you, Minervy Ann?' I 'low, ' He better had be, ef he know what good fer 'im.' Marse Tum lin say, ' Ef I wuz you, Minervy Ann, I wouldn't go up dar spyin' atter Hamp. He'll like you none de better fer it. De las' time I wuz up dar, Hamp wuz havin' a mighty good time. Ef you know
104

HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE
whats good fer you, Minervy Ann, you wont go up dar a-doggin atter Hamp.
" Well, suh, right at dat time I had de idee dat Marse Tumlin wuz prankin an projecMn; you know how he runs on; but he want no mo prankin dan what I am right now. (Nummine! Ill git back ter Hamp terreckly.) I laugh an say, I aint gwine ter dog atter Hamp, Marse Tumlin; I des wanter go up dar an see how he gittin on, an fin out how folks does when dey sets up dar in de Legislator. An ef youll put dat ar whatshisname bill; dats right, suh; bill wuz de word ef youll put dat ar bill in yo pocket, Ill see what Hamp kin do wid it. Marse Tumlin low, e Taint no use fer ter see Hamp, Minervy Ann. He done to? me he cant do nothin. I lef de bill wid im.
" I say, Marse Tumlin, you dunner nothin tall bout Hamp. He must er change mighty sence dey fo yistidy if he erfuse ter do what I tell im ter do. Ef dat de case, Ill go up dar an frail im out an come on back home an ten ter my work.
" Marse Tumlin look at me wid his eyes half shot an kinder laugh way down in his stomach. He low, Minervy Ann, I been livin a long time, an I been knowin a heap er folks, but you er de banginest nigger I ever is see. Free ez you is, I
105

THE CHBONICLES OP AUNT MINEKVY ANN
wouldn't take two thousan' dollars fer you, cash money. I'll git Bolivar, an' we'll go up dar on de mornin' train. Vallie kin stay wid er aunt. 'Tain't gwine ter hurt you ter go; I want you ter see some things fer yo'se'f.'
" Well, suh, sho' 'nuff, de nex' mornin' me an' Marse Tumlin an' Marse Bolivar, we got on de train, an' put out, an' 'twa'n't long 'fo' we wuz pullin' in under de kyarshed. Dat 'uz de fus' time I ever is been ter dis town, an' de racket an' de turmoil kinder tarrify me, but when I see 't'er folks gwine 'long 'tendin' ter der bizness, 'twa'n't no time 'fo' I tuck heart, 'kaze dap wuz Marse Tumlin an' Marse Bolivar right at me, an' dey wuz bowin' an' shakin' han's wid mos' eve'ybody dat come 'long. Dey wuz two mighty pop'lous white men, suh; you know dat yo'se'f.
" I 'speck de train must 'a' got in 'fo' de Legisla tor* sot down, 'kaze when we went th'oo a narrer street an' turn inter de one what dey call Decatur, whar dey carry on all de devilment, I hear Marse Tnmlin say dat we wiiz 'bout a hour too soon. Right atter dat Marse Bolivar say, i Tumlin, dat ar nigger man 'cross dar wid de gals is got a mighty famHioufi look ter me; I done been seed 'im some-
106

HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATUKE
*
whar, shoV Marse Tumlin say, ' Dat's a fac'; I

used ter know dat man some'rs.' Well, suh, I lookt de way dey wuz a-lookin', an' dar *wnz HampI

Yassar! Hamp! Hamp an' two mulatter gals. An' I wish you could V seed um; I des wish you could! Dar wuz Hamp all diked out in Ms Sun day cloze which I tol' 'im p'intedly not ter w'ar while he workin' in de Legislatur'. He had a segyar in his mouf mos' ez big an' ez long ez a waggin-spoke, an' dar he wuz a-bowin' an' scrapin', an' scrapin' an' gigglin', an' de mulatter gals wuz gigglin' an' snickerin' an' squealin'--I declaire',

Mr. Tumlin! you oughter be 'shame er yo'se'f; oh, youer too b-a-d-a-d! J "

With powers of mimicry unequalled, Aunt Mi-

nervy Ann illustrated the bowing and scraping of

Hamp, and reproduced the shrill but not unmusical

voices of the mulatto girls.

" I tell you de trufe, suh, whiles you could count

ten you might 'a' pusht me over wid a straw, an'

den, suh, my dander 'gun ter rise. I must 'a'

show'd it in my looks, 'kaze Marse Tumlin laid his

han' on my shoulder an' say, ' Don't kick up no

racket, Minervy Ann; you got Hamp right whar

you want 'im. You know what we come fer.'

Well, suh, I hatter stan' dar an' swaller right hard

107

,

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
a time er two, 'kaze I ain't got no use fer mulatters; to make um, you got ter spile good white blood an* good nigger blood, an' when dey er made dey got in um all dat's mean an' low down on bofe sides, an' ef dey yever is ter be saved, dey'll all hatter be bap tize twice han' runnin'--once fer de white dat's in um, and once fer de black. De Bible mayn't sesso, but common-sense'll tell you dat much.
" Well, suh, I stood dar some little time watchin' Hamp's motions> an' he wuz makin' sech a big fool er hisse'f dat I des come mighty nigh laughin' out loud, but all dat time Marse Tumlin had de idee dat I wuz mad, an' when I start to'rds Hamp, wid my pairsol grabbed in de middle, he 'low, ' Min' yo' eye, Minervy Ann.' I walk up, I did, an' punch Hamp in de back wid de pairsol. Ef I'd 'a' hit 'im on de head wid a pile-driver, he couldn't 'a' been mo' dum'founderM. He look like he wuz gwine th'oo de sidewalk. I say, ' When you git time, I'd like ter .have a little chat wid you.' He 'low, ' Why, why'--an' wid dat he stuck de lit een' er his segyar in his mouf. Well, suh, you may b'lieve you done seed splutterin' an' splattering but you ain't never seed none like dat. He made a motion, Hamp did, like he wanter make me 'painted wid de mulatter gals, but I say, 'When you git
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HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE
time fum yo' Legislator', I got a sesso fer you ter hear.'
" Wid dat, suh, I turn 'roun' an' cross de street an' foiler on atter Marse Tumlin an' Marse Bolivar. I ain't mo'n git 'cross, 'fo' here come Hamp. - He 'low, l Why, honey, whyn't you tell me you wuz comin'? When'd you come?' I say, ' Oh, I'm honey, is I? Well, maybe you'll fin' a bee in de comb.' He 'low, l Whyn't you tell me you wuz comin' so I kin meet you at de train?' I say, *;I wanter see what kinder fambly you got in dis town. An' I seed it! I seed it!'
" Well, suh, I 'speck I'd 'a' got mad ag'in, but 'bout dat time we cotch up wid Marse Tumlin an' Marse Bolivar. Marse Tumlin turn 'roun', he did, an' holler out, ' Well, ef here ain't Minervy Ann! What you doin' up here, an' how did you lef yo' Miss Yallie?' He shuck ban's des like he ain't see me befo' in a mont', an' Marse Bolivar done de same. I humor'd um, suh, but I ain't know what dey wuz up ter fer long atterwards. Dey don't want Hamp ter know dat I come 'long wid urn. Den dey went on, an' me an' Hamp went ter whar he stay at.
" When I got 'im off by hisse'f, suh, he sot in ter tellin' me how come 'im ter be wid dem ar gals, an*
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he want me ter know um, an' he know mighty well I'd like um--you know how men-folks does, suh. But dey wa'n't na'er minit in no day dat yever broke when TTamp kin fool me, an' he know'd it. But I let 'im run on. Bimehy, when he get tired er splanifyin', I 'low, ' What dat paper what Marse Tumlin ax you ter put in de Legislator' ?' He say, 1 How you know 'bout dat?' I 'low, ' I hear Marse Tumlin tellin' Miss Yallie 'bout it, an' I hear Miss Vallie wonder an' wonder what de matter wid you.'
" I fotch Miss Vallie in, suh, bekaze Hamp think dey ain't nobody in de worl' like Miss Yallie. One time, des fo' de big turmoil, when Marse Tumlin hire TTamp fum de Myrick 'state, he fell sick, an' Miss Yallie (she wa'n't nothin' but a school-gal den) she got sorry fer 'im 'kaze he wuz a hired nig ger, an' she'd fill a basket wid things fum de white folks' table an' tote um to 'im. Mo' dan dat, she'd set dar whiles he's eatin' an' ax 'bout his folks. Atter dat, suh, de groun' whar Miss Yallie walk wuz better'n any yuther groun' ter Hamp. So when I call her name up, Hamp ain't say nothin' fer long time.
" Den he shuck his head an' say dey ain't no use talkin', he des can't put dat ar paper in de Legisla tor'. He say ef he wuz ter, 'twon't do no good,
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HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE
'kaze all de ex-publicans would jump on it, an' den dey'd jump on him ter boot. I 'low, { Whar you reckon I'll be whiles all dat jumpin' gwine on?' He say,' You'll be on de outside, an' ef you wuz on de inside, dey'd hike you out.' f An' who'd do de hikin'?' sez I. l De surgeon er de armies,' sez he. ' White er black? ' sez I. ' Yaller,' sez Hamp. I 'low, ' Good 'nufF; we'll see which un'll be hiked.' An' I told Hamp right den an' dar, dat ef he erfuse ter put dat paper in, I'll do it myse'f.
" Well, suh, whiles we settin' dar talkin', dey come a-rappin' at de do' an' in walk a big bushyhead mulatter, an' I ain't tellin' you no He, he de mos' venomous-lookin' creetur you ever laid yo' eyes on. His ha'r wuz all spread out like a scourin' mop, an' he had a grin on 'im ez big ez dat gate dar. Hamp call 'im Arion Alperiar Ridley."
At this point I was compelled to come to the rescue of Aunt Minervy Ann's memory. ,The stateman's real name was Aaron Alpeora Bradley, and he was one of the most corrupt creatures of that corrupt era. He had a superficial education that only added to the density of his ignorance, but it. gave him considerable influence with the negro members of the Legislature. Aunt Minervy Ann accepted the correction with alacrity.
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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
"I fergot his name, suh, but I ain't never fergit him. He so mean-lookin' he make de coP chills ran over me. He wuz a low-country mulatter, an* you know how dey talk. Eve*y time he look at me, he'd bow, an' de mo' he bowed de mo' I 'spized 'im. He call Hamp * ftfistooah Tummalin,' an' eve'y time he say sump'n', he'd gi' one er dem venomous grins. I declar' ter gracious, suh, I oughtn't ter talk 'bout dat man dis way, but de way he look wuz scan'lous. I done fergive 'im for dat long time 'go on 'count er what he done; but when I hear white folks 'busin' 'im in dat day an' time I know'd dey had mighty good groun', bekaze dey ain't no human kin look like dat TH^TI an' not be mean at bottom.
" Well, suh, Hamp, he up'n toP dis yer Alpory er Alpiry (whatsomever his name mought be) what I come ter town fer, an* Alpory, he say, ' Mistooah Tummalin, you kyarn't do it. Hit would-er ruin you in de-er party, suh--er ruin you.' I kinder fired up at dat. I 'low, i How come he can't do it ? Ain't he free? - OP Alpory, he grin an' he talk, lie talk an' he grin, but he ain't budge me. At de offstart I say ef Hamp don't put dat paper in de Legislatur7, I'll put it in myse'f, an' at de windin' up I still say dat ef he don't put Marse Tumlin's paper
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HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE
in de Legislating den I'll be de one ter do it. OP Alpory say, ' You-er is got no marster, ma'am.' Den I snapt 'im up an' cut 'im off short; I say, ' I got one ef I want one. Ain't I free?' Den he went on wid a whole passel er stuff dat I can't make head er tail un, ner him needer, fer dat matter, twel bimeby I say, ' Oh, hush up an' .go on whar you gwine.'
" Hamp look so broke up at dis dat I wuz kinder sorry I say it, but dat's de only way ter deal wid dem kind er folks, suh. OP Alpory wuz des famishin', suh, fer some un ter b'lieve he's a big Ike; dat 'uz all de matter wid 'im an' I know*d it. So he quit his jawin' when I snapped 'im up, an* he sot dar some time lookin' like a cow does when her cud don't rise. Bimeby he ax Hamp fer ter let 'im see de paper what I want 'im ter put in de Legislatur*. He tuck it, he did, an' look at it sideways an' upside down, an' eve'ywhichaway. Ez ef dat wa'n't 'miff, he took off his goggles an' wiped um an' put um on ag'in, an' read de paper all over ag'in, noddin' his head an' movin' his mouf, an' grinnin'.
" Atter he got th'oo, he fol' de paper up an' han* it back ter Hamp. He say he can't see no harm in it ter save his life, an' he 'low dat ef Hamp'll put it in at one een' er de Legislator', he'll put it in at de
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't'er een'. Dey call one part a house, but nobody ain't never tell me, why dey call a wranglin' gang er men a house. Dey des might ez well call um a boss an' buggy; eve'y bit an' grain. Well, suh, de house wuz de part what Hamp belongs ter, an' de 't'er part wuz whar ol' Alpory b'long'd at, an' by de time dey wuz ready fer ter set in dar dey had e'en 'bout 'greed fer put de paper in at bofe een's.
" I went 'long wid Hamp, suh, an' he show'd me de way ter de gall'ry, an' I sot up dar an' look down on um, an' wonder why all un um, white an 'black, wa'n't at home yearnm' der livin' 'stidder bein' in dat place a-wranglin' an' callin' names, an' howlin' an' wavin' der arms an' han's. Dey wuz a big fat white man settin' up in de pulpit, an' he kep' on a-maulin' it wid a mallet. I dunner what his name wuz, but I hear one big buck nigger call 'im Mr. Cheer. Marse Tumlin tol' me atterwards dat de man wuz de speaker, but all de res' done lots mo' speakin' dan what he did; all un um 'cep' Hamp.
" Yasser; all un um 'cep' Hamp, an' he sot dar so still dat 'twa'n't long 'fo' I 'gun ter git shame un him. He sot dar an' fumble wid some papers, an' helt his head down, an' look like he skeer'd. I watch 'im, suh, twel I got so res'less in de min' I can't set stilL Bimeby I got up an' went down ter
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HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE
de front do'; I wuz gwine ter make my way in dar whar Hamp wuz at, an* kinder fetch 'im out'n his dreams, ef so be he wuz dreamin'. An' I'd a gone in, but a nigger man at de do' barred de way. He say, e Who you want ter see?' I 'low, ' I wanter see Hamp Tumlin, dat's who.' He say, ' Does you mean de Honnerbul Hampton Tumlin?' I 'low, ( Yes, I does ef you wanter put it dat away. Go in dar an' tell 'im dat de Honnerbul Minervy Ann Perdue is out here waitin' fer 'im, an' he letter come quick ef lie Jcnow what good fer 'im.'
" Wid dat, suh, I hear somebody laugh, an' look up an' dar wuz Marse Tumlin standin' not fur fum de do' talkin' wid an'er white man. He 'low, 1 Scott, dis is Minervy Ann. She got mo' sense an' grit dan half de white folks you meet.' Well,'suh, de man come up, he did, an' shuck han's an' say he mighty glad ter see me. I never is ter fergit his name on 'count er what happen atterwards. 'Bout dat time Hamp conn- out an' Marse Tumlin an' de 't'er man draw'd off up Je hall.
" I say, ' Hamp, why in de name er goodness ain't you 'ten' ter yo' bizness? What you waitin'
;
fer? Is you skeer'd?' He vow an' declair7 dat he des waitin' a chance fer ter put de paper in. I tol' 'im dat de way ter git a chance wuz ter make one,
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THE CHBONICLES OF AUNT MINEKVY ANN
an' wid dat lie went on in, an' I went back in de gall'ry. Well, suli, 'twa'n't long 'fo' Hamp put in de paper. A man at de foot er de pulmt read it off, an' den a white man settin' not fur fum Hamp jump up an' say he want sump'n done wid it, I dunner what. Hamp say sump'n back at Jim, an' den de white man say he sorry fer ter see de honnerbul gem-man gwine back on de erpublican party. Den Mose Bently--I know'd Mose mighty well--he riz an' say ef de erpublican party is got ter be led 'roun' by men like de one what des tuck his seat, it's high time fer honest folks ter turn der backs on it
" Well, suh, when Mose say dat, I clap my han's, I did, an' holla ' Good! good! now you got it! ' I couldn't he'p it fer ter save my life. De man in de pulpit maul de planks wid de mallet like he tryin' ter split urn, an' he 'low dat ef folks in de gall'ry don't keep still, he'll have um cle'r'd out. I holla back at 'im, { You better some er dat gang down dar cle'r'd out!' Quick ez a flash, suh, dat ar Mr. Scott what been talkin' wid Marse Tumlin jump up an' 'low, ' I secon's de motion!' De man in de pulpit say, 'What motion does de gemman fum Floyd secon'?' Den Mr. Scott fling his head back an' low, 'De Honnerbul Minervy Ann Perdue
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HOW SHE JOINED THE LEGISLATURE

done move dat de fiV be cle'r'd 'stidder de gall'ry.

I seconds de motion/

"Den fum dat he went on an' 'buze de erpubli-

can party, speshually dat ar man what had de 'spute

wid Hamp. Mr. Scott say dey got so little sense

dat dey go ag'in a paper put in by one er der own

party. He say he ain't keer nothin' 'tall 'bout de

paper hisse'f, but he des wanter show um up fer

what dey wuz.

" He totch'd um, suh, ez you may say, on de raw,

an' when he git th'oo he say, ' Now, I hope de cheer

will deal wid de motion of de Honnerbul Minervy

Ann Perdue.' Mr. Scott say, ' She settin' up dar

in de galPry an' she got des ez much right ter set on

dis flo' ez nineteen out er twenty er dem settin'

.



.

here.' De man in de pulpit look at me right hard,

an' den he 'gun ter laugh. I say, ' You nee'n ter

worry yo'se'f 'bout me. You better 'ten' ter dem

ar half-drunk niggers an' po' white trash down dar.

I wouldn't set wid 'em ef I never did fin' a place fer

ter set at.'

" Wid dat, suh, I pickt up my pairsol an' make

my way out, but ez I went I hear um whoopin' an'

hollerin'."

"Well, they didn't pass the bill, did they?" I

asked.

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THE CHBONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
"What? dat paper er Marse Tumlin's? Bless yp' soul, suh, dey run'd over one an'er tryin' ter pass it. Mr. Scott fit it like he fightin' fire, an' make out he wuz terribly ag'in it, but dat des make um wuss. Hamp say dat inginer'lly dem ar laws has ter wait an' hang fire; but dey tuck up dat un, an* shove it th'oo. Dey tuck mo* time in de 't'er een' er de legislator'/whar oY Alpory wuz at, but it went th'oo when it start. I hope dey don't have no sech gwines-on now, suh. Ef dey does de whole county can't drag Paul Conant in dar. I'll jine um myse'f, 'fo' I'll let 'im git in dat kind er crowd."
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HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS
AUNT MINERVY ANN'S picturesque reminiscences were sufficiently amusing to whet my appetite for more. The county fair, which was the occasion of my visit to Halcyondale, was still dragging its slow length along, but it had lost its interest for me. The displays in the various departments were as attractive as ever to those who saw them for the first time, but it seemed to me that all my old ac quaintances, or their wives and daughters, had something on exhibition, and nothing must do but I must go around and admire it. A little of this goes far, and, as I had been through the various de partments a dozen times over, I concluded that it would be more comfortable to remain away from the grounds altogether, making more room for those who desired to see the judges deliver the prizes, or who were anxious to witness the trotting matches and running races.
Therefore, when Major Tumlin Perdue (whose
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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
guest I was) and his daughter, Mrs. Conant, made an early start for the fair grounds, on the fourth day, I excused myself, on the plea of having some letters to write. -The excuse was readily accepted, especially by Major Perdue, who expressed a very strong hope that I would do the fair justice in the Atlanta newspapers.
" If you can put in a word about Paul Conant, I'd be glad if you'd do it," the Major added. " He's come mighty near working himself down to get the blamed thing a-going. If it wasn't on account of Paul, me and Valentine wouldn't go any closer to the fair grounds than we are right now. But we think maybe we can help Paul, and if we can't do that, we hope to keep him from running his legs off. He ain't well a bit. Yallie says he didn't sleep more than two hours last night for the pains in his shoulder."
" It seems to be an old trouble," I suggested. "Yes, it's an old trouble," replied the Major. Then he looked over the treetops and sighed. Here was the same air of mystery that I had ob served when I first came, and I remembered that Aunt Minervy Ann had begun to tell me about it when she became entangled in her reminiscences. Therefore, when they were all gone, and Aunt
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HOW SHE WENT IXTO BUSINESS
Minervy Ann had cleaned up the house and coaxed the Conant baby to sleep (which was no hard thing to do, he was such a fat and good-humored little rascal), I ventured to remind the old negress that she had neglected to tell me why the Major and his daughter were so mysteriously solicitous about Paul Conant's shoulder.
" Well, de goodness knows!" Aunt Minervy Ann exclaimed, with well-affected surprise; " ain't I done tell you 'bout dat? I sho' wuz dreamin', den, bekaze I had it right on de tip-eend er my tongue, I dunno what got de matter wid me deze days, less'n I'm gettin' oP an' light-headed. Well, suh! an' I ain't toP you 'bout dat!"
She paused, as if reflecting, but continued to rock the baby's cradle gently, moving it slower and slower, until, finally, she ceased to move it alto gether. The baby merely gave a self-satisfied sigh, and settled into the profound and healthy sleep of infancy. Then Aunt Minervy Ann went out on the back porch, and seated herself on the top step. I followed, and found the rocking-chair I had occu pied on a former occasion.
" I'll set here, suh, twel Hamp gits back wid de carriage, an' den I'll see 'bout gittin' dinner, an' he better make 'as'e, too, bekaze I ain't got no time ter
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.THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
set here an' lis'n at dat baby, whiles he projickin' out dar at dem groun's. I kin wait, suh, but I can't wait all day/'
" Major Perdue said that Mr. Conant's shoulder was very painful last night," I suggested.
"Dat what Miss Vallie say, suh. She say dey wuz up an' down wid 'im mighty nigh all night long. I don't blame um, suh, but, dey ain't no use talkin', grown folks kin be waited on twey dey er sp'iled same ez chilluns. I'd cut my tongue out, suh, 'fo' I'd say it ter anybody else, but I done got ter b'lievin' dat Marse Paul Conant grunts an' groans many a time des bekaze he wants somebody fer ter worry wid 'im an' honey 'im up. I may be doin' 'im wrong, suh, but I done get a sneakin' no tion dat he's one er deze yer kinder menfoiks what likes to be much'd an' petted. An' dey5!! do it, suh --dey'll much 'im night er day, hot er col'. Des let 'im say, ' Oh, my shoulder!' an' bofe un um'll try ter outdo de udder in takin' keer un 'im.
" Marse Tumlin is got mo' ways like a 'oman dan any man I ever is laid eyes on. It's de Lord's trufe. He ain't fussy lib* de common run er wimmen, but his han' is des ez light an' his heart des ez soft ez any 'oman dat ever breave de breff er life, let er breave whence an' whar she mought. I look at 'im
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HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS
sometimes, an' I des nat'ally tease myse'f ter know how dat man kin stan' up an' shoot anybody like I done see 'im do. Hit's de same way wid Marse Bolivar Blasengame--you know him, I spec. Dey married sisters, suh, an' dey allers been monstus thick. Bern two wuz big dogs 'roun' here, suh, 'fo' de war. Ef you ain't never seed um in dem days, you never is ter know how folks looked up to um an' give way to um.
" But dey ain't put on no airs, suh. Dey des do like de quality all do. 'Taint money dat makes de quality; hit's dat ar kinder breedin' what'll make de finest folks stop an' shake han's wid a nigger des ez quick ez dey would wid de king er Rooshy--ef dey got any king dar. Long 'fo' de turmoil, suh, endurin' er de farmin' days, 'twuz des dat-a-way. When he 'uz at his richest, Marse Tumlin never did pass a nigger on de road, no matter how lonesome an' ragged he look, widout stoppin' an' axiri' who he b'long ter, an' what he name, an' how he gittin' on. An' he allers gi' um sump'n, maybe a piece er terbacker, er maybe a thrip. I know, suh; I done hear my color talk, an' dey talks it down ter dis ve'y day. Dey ain't never been a time in dat man's life when he ain't think mo' er somebody else dan what he think er hisse'f. Dat's what I call de quality,
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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
suh. 'Tain't money; 'tain't land; Hain't fine duds; 'tain't nothin' 'tall like dat. I tell you, suh, dem what want ter be de quality is got ter have a long line er big graveyards behime um, an' dem grave yards. is got ter be full er folks what use ter know how ter treat yuther folks. Well, suh, Marse Tumlin is got um behime him, an' dey retch fum here ter Ferginny an' furder. An' on dat account, he ain't 'shame' to show nobody dat he love um, an' he ain't afear'd ter tell nobody dat he hate um.
" I bet you right now, suh, ef you wuz ter ax Yallie ef she ever see 'er pa mad, she'd look
at you like she ain't know what you talkin' 'bout. Fum de time she has been born, suh, down ter dis ve'y day, she ain't never hear a cross word come from his mouf. She's seed 'im frownin' an' she's seed 'im frettin', but she ain't never hear no cross word. An' dat what make I say what I does. 'Taint nobody but de quality dat kin show der breedin' right in der own fambly."
" Why, I've heard that the Major has something of a temper," I remarked.
" Temper! " exclaimed Aunt Minervy Ann, holding up both hands; " temper, I hear you say! Well, suh, dat ain't no name fer it. I done seed bad men, but Marse Tumlin is de wuss man when
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M-irse Ti!}]i!5

.1 ni^c.'f "i? Jo r<>.uf."

HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS
he git his dander up dat I yever come 'cross in all my born days. De fust time I seed 'im mad, suh, wuz right atter de folks come home fum der fightin* and battlin'. It make me open my eyes. I been livin' wid 'im all dem years, an7 I never is know how servigrous dat man is.
" An' de funny part wuz, suh, dat he got mad 'bout a ole nigger 'oman." Aunt Minervy Ann paused to indulge in a very hearty laugh. " Yasser, all 'bout a ole nigger 'oman. In dem times we all had ter scuffle 'roun' right smart fer ter git vittles ter eat, let 'lone cloze ter w'ar. Miss Vallie wuz w'arin' a frock what her mammy had when she wuz a gal. An' de clof wuz right good an' look' mighty well on 'er. Ez fer me, I dunner whedder I had on any frock--ef I did 'twuz 'bout ter drap off'n me. 'Long 'bout dat time, court-week wuz comin' on, de fust court-week we had sence de folks come home fum battlin'. Dey wuz a great miration 'bout it, bekaze dey say ev'ybody gwine ter come an' see de lawyers rastle.
" Well, suh, it come 'cross my min' dat ef I kin bake some ginger-cakes an' make some chickenpies, maybe I kin pick up a little money. De dime an' thrip species had all done gone, but dey wuz oodles er shin-plasters floatin' ?roun' ef you had
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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
sump'n fer ter git urn wid. I dunner whar in de worl' we got 'nuff flour an' 'lasses fer ter make de cakes. I know I got one chicken, an' Hamp he went off one night and bonded two mo'. I ain't ax 'im whar he bony um, snh, bekaze 'twan't none er my business. We made de cakes, an' den we made de pies. Ef you ain't know how ter make um, suh, you'd be 'stonished ter know how fur dem ar chickens went. We made twelve pies ef we made one. Yasser! ez sho' ez I'm settin' here. We .strung um out--a wing here, a piece er de back dar, an' a neck yonner. Twelve pies, suh, an' miff chicken lef' over fer ter gi' Miss Yallie a right smart bait; an' de Lord knows she need it, an' need it bad.
" Well, suh, I make de ginger-cakes de week 'fo* court, bekaze it he'ps a ginger-cake ef you bake 'im an' den shet 'im up in a tight box whar he kin sweat, an' Monday we sot in ter bake de pies. I make de dough wid my own han's, an' I lef Miss Yallie fer ter bake um, wid Hamp ter keep de fire gwine. De word wuz dat 'bout half-pas' ten Hamp wuz ter fetch me all de pies dey had ready, an' den go back fer de yuthers.
" I ain't say nothin' 'bout de balance er de cakes; bekaze I 'low'd ter myse'f dat I had 'nuff. I had many ez I kin tote widout gittin' tired, an' I ain't
126

HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS
no baby when it comes ter totin' cakes. Well, suh, I been livin' a mighty long time, but I ain't never see folks wid such a cravin' fer ginger-cakes. Fum de word go dey wuz greedy fer 'm. Hit mought er been 'kaze dey wuz des natchally hongry, en den ag'in hit mought er been bekaze de cakes call up ol' times; but no matter 'bout dat, suh, dey des showered de shinplasters down on me. 'Twa'n't de country folks doin' de most er de buyin' at fust. It 'uz de town boys an' de clerks in de stores; an' mos' 'fo' I know'd it de cakes wuz all gone, an' Hamp ain't come wid de pies.
" I would V waited, suh, but dey kepy callin' fer cakes so ravenous dat bimeby I crumpled my shinplasters up in a wad an' tuck my basket an' went polin' home fer ter hurry Hamp up. He wuz des gittin' ready tcr start when I got dar. I gi' Miss Yallie de money--you kin count it up yourse'f, suh; 'twuz fer fo' dozen ginger-cakes at a thrip a-piece--an' tol' her ter sen' Hamp atter some mo' flour an' 'lasses 'fo' night, 'kaze de ginger-cakes half-gone an' court-week ain't skacely open up. Hamp,-he tuck de pies an' de cakes, an' I got me one er de low cheers out'n de kitchen, 'kaze I done tired er settin' on de een' uv a box.
"I 'speck you know right whar I sot at? suh;
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f
1'
ri
.

THE CHEONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
'twuz dar by dat big chany-tree front er Sanford's sto'. Hit sho' wuz a mighty tree. De win' done blow'd up an' blew'd it down, but de stump stan'in' dar sproutin' right now. Well, suh, right under de shadder er dat tree, on de outer aidge er de sidewalk, I tuck my stan', an' I ain't been dar long 'fo' de folks 'gun ter swarm atter my cakes, an' den when dey seed my pies--well! hit look like dey fair dribble at de mouf.
" I soF um all 'cep' one, an' ef I'd 'a' soP dat un, I don't 'speck dey'd 'a' been any trouble; but you know what a fool a nigger kin be, suh, speshually a nigger 'oman. I tuck a notion in my min' dat I done so pow'ful well, I'd save dat pie fer Marse Tumlin an' Miss Yallie. So ev'y time somebody's come 'long an' want ter buy de pie, I'd up an' say it done sold.
" Bimeby, who should come 'long but dat ar Salem Birch! He dead now, but I 'speck you done hear talk un 'im, bekaze he made matters mighty hot in deze parts twel--twel--well, suh, twel he 'gun ter hone atter dat pie, ez you may say." Aunt Minervy Ann paused and rubbed her hands to gether, as if reflecting. Then she shook her head and laughed somewhat doubtfully.
" What dey want ter name ?im Salem fer, I'D 138
J

HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS

never tell you. Hit's a Bible name, an* mo' dan

dat, hit's a church name. You know it yo'se'f, suh,

bekaze dey's a Salem church not mo'n seVm mile

fum whar we settin' at right now. Salem Birch I

Hit bangs my time how some folks kin go on--an'

I ain't nothin' but a nigger. Dey's mo' chillun

mint by der names, suh, dan any udder way. I

done notice it. Name one un um a Bible name, an'

look like he bleedze ter go wrong. Name one un

um atter some high an' mighty man, an' dey grows

up wid des 'bout much sense ez a gate-post. I done

watch um, suh.

" I 'speck dis yer Salem Birch would V been a

right good man but fer dat ar Bible name. Dat

mint 'im. I don't b'lieve dey's a man in de worl'

what kin walk straight under dat name less'n he

done been called fer ter be a preacher, an' Salem

Birch ain't had no sech call up ter dat time. Dat

much I know.

" "Well, suh, dar sot de pie, an' dar wuz de ginger-

cakes, ol' timers, big ter look at, but light ter han

dle. Eve'ybody want de pie, but my min' done

made up. Some bought cakes stidder de pie, an'

some des wipe der mouf an' go on. But, bimeby,

here come Salem Birch, six feet high, an' his hat

sot on de side er bis haid like he done bought de

139

:

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
whole town. I know'd de minnit I laid eyes on 'im dat lie had dram in 'im, an' dat he wuz up ter some devilment TTim an' his bre'r, Bill-Tom, snh, had tarryfied de whole county. Dey wuz constant a-fightin', an' ef dey couldn't git nobody else ter fight, dey'd fight 'mongst deyse'f. Yassir! dem ar Birches had done whip der own daddy.
"An' yit, suh, dis yer Salem wa'n't no badlookin' man. He had long curly ha'r, an' he wuz constant a-laughin'. Ef de fac' troof wuz ter come out, I 'speck he had more devilment in 'im dan downright meanness; an' he wuz mean nuff, de Lord knows. But, be sech as -it mought, bimeby here he come, sorter half tip-toein', like some folks do when dey feel der dram an' dunner how ter show it He stop right front er me, suh, an' time his eye fell on me he sung out:
" ' Whoopee! Ef here ain't ol' Minervy Ann! Wid pies! An* cakes! Come on, boys! Have some pies! An' calces!'
" Well, suh, you mought er heer'd 'im a mile. He holler des like de She'ff do when he stick his haid out'n de court-house winder an' call somebody in ter court--des dat ve'y way. He say, ( How much you take fer yo' chicken-pie?' I 'low, ' Hit done sol', suh.' He say, ' I'll gi' you a quarter fer
130

L! h.'tv ain't <\' Minorvv Ann \\ U pics!"

HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS
dat pie.' I 'low, ' De pie done sol', suh.? By dat time dey wuz a right smart clump er folks come up fer see what Salem Birch wuz holl'in' 'bout, an' you know yo'se'f, suh, how a half-drunk man'll do when dey's a crowd lis'nin' at him.
*' He say, ' Who done bought dat pie?' I 'low, ' Marse Tumlin Perdue.' He sorter draw'd hisse'f up, he did, an' say, * Ain't I des ez good ez Tumlin, Perdue?' I 'low, f I ain't know nothin' ter de con trary, suh, but ef you is, you got ter be a monstus good man.' He say, ' I is! I'm de bes' man in de county.' I 'low, ' Dat may be, suh; I ain't 'sputin' it.' By dat time I 'gun ter feel de Ol' Boy kinder ranklin' in my gizzard. He say, ' Why can't I git dat pie?' I 'low, ' Bekaze it done sol', suh.' He say, * Per cash ?' I 'low, ' ISTo, suh; but Marse Tumlin's word is lots better'n some folks' money.'
" Well, suh, I know'd 'fo' I open my mouf dat I ought'n ter say dat, but I couldn't he'p it fer ter save my neck. He say, ' Well, blast yo' black hide, my money's better'n anybody's money!' Wid dat he flung down a shinplaster quarter an' retch fer de pie. By de time he grabbed it, I grabbed it, an' he pulled an' I pulled. I dunner whedder 'twuz de strenk in me er de dram in 'im, but in de pullin', de box what de pie wuz on turnt over, an' my cheer
131

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN

turnt over, an' down come Salem Birch right spang

on top er me.

.

" I tell you now, suh, dis skeer'd me. 'Twuz

mo' dan I bargain fer. Eight at de minnit, I had

de idee dat de man had jumped on me an' wuz

gwine ter kill me--you know how some folks is

'bout niggers. So I des give one squall------

" l Marse Tumlin! Run here, Marse Tumlin!

He killin' me! Oh, Marse Tumlin! '

, "Well, suh, dey tell me dat squall wuz so in

human it made de country hosses break loose fum

de racks. One white lady at de tavern hear it, an'

she had ter be put ter bed. Bless yo' soul, honey!

don't never say you done hear anybody blate twel

you hear ol' Minervy Ann--an' de Lord knows I

hope you won't never hear me.

" Dey ain't no use talkin', suh, hit 'larmed de

town. Eve'ybody broke an' run to'rds de place

whar de fuss come fum. Salem Birch got up des

ez quick ez he kin, an' I wuz up des ez quick ez he

wuz, an' by dat time my temper done run my skeer

off, an' I des blazed out at him. What I say I'll

never tell you, bekaze I wuz so mad I ain't never

hear myse'f talk. Some say I called ?im dis an'

some say I called 'im dat, but whatsomever 'twuz,

hit wa'n't no nice name--I kin promise you dat

132

HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS
" 'Twus 'nuff ter rise his dand er, an' he draw'd back his arm fer ter hit me, but des 'bout dat time Marse Tumlin shoved 'im back. Marse Tumlin 'low, f You dirty dog! You sneakin', nasty houn'! is dis de way you does yo' fightin' ?'
" Well, suh, dis kinder skeer me ag'in, kaze I hear talk dat Salem Birch went 'bout wid dirks an' pistols on 'im, ready fer ter use um. He look at Marse Tumlin, an' his face got whiter an' whiter, an' he draw'd his breff, deep an' long.
" Marse Tumlin 'low, i You see dat nigger 'oman? Well, ef she wuz blacker dan de hinges er hell'--he say dem ve'y words, suh--l ef she Wuz blacker dan de hinges er hell, she'd be whiter dan you er any er yo' thievin' gang.' An' den, suh--I 'clar' I'm nios' shame ter tell you--Marse Tumlin rise up on his tip-toes an' spit in de man's face. Yasser! Right spang in his face. You may well look 'stonish'd, suh. But ef you'd 'a' seed de way Marse Tumlin looked you'd know why Salem Birch ain't raise his han' 'cep' ter wipe his face. Ef dey ever wuz blood an' killin' in anybody's eyes, hit wuz in Marse Tumlin's right dat minnit. He stan' dar while you kin count ten, an' den he snap his thumb an' turn on his heel, an' dat ar Salem Birch tuck'n walk 'cross de public squar' an' sot down on de
188

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
court-house steps, an' he sot dar, suh, wid his haid 'twix* his ban's fer I dunner how Ion a:.
u "Well, suh, I know in reason da de een' er dat business ain't come. You know how our white folks is; you kin spit in one man's face an' he not take it up, but some er his kinnery er his frien's is sho ter take it up. So I say ter myse'f, ' Look here, nigger 'oman, you better keep yo' mouf shot an' bofe eyes open, kaze dey gwine ter be hot times in deze diggin's.' When I come ter look at um, suh, my ginger-cakes wa'n't hurt, an' de chicken-pie wuz safe an' soun' 'cep' dat er little er de gravy had sorter run out. When I git thoo brushin' an' cleanin' um, I look up, I did, an' dar wuz Marse Bolivar Blasengame walkin' up an' down right close at me. You oughter know 'im, suh, him an' Marse Tumlin married sisters, an' dey wuz ez thick ez two peas in a pod. So I 'low, ( Won't you have a ginger-cake, Marse Bolivar? I'd offer you de pie, but I'm savin' dat fer IVfias Vallie.' He say he don't b'lieve his appetite run ter cakes an' pies right dat minnit Dat make me eye 'im, suh, an' he look like he mighty glum 'bout sump'n. He des walk up an' down, up an' down, wid his ban's in his pockets. It come back ter me atterwards, but I ain't pay no 'tention den, dat de folks all 'roun'
.134

An' Ik' v >l il.ii. Mill, \\ul his haul 't\vi\' his h.in's KM 1 ilumu'i ho\\

HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS
town wuz kinder 'spectin' anudder fuss. Dey wuz all standin' in clumps here an' dar, some in de mid dle er de street, an' some on de sidewalks, but dey wa'n't nobody close ter me 'cep' Marse Bolivar. Look like dey wuz givin' us elbow room.
" De bigges' clump er folks, suh, wuz down at de public well, at de fur side er de squar*, an' I no tice dey kep' movin', now dis way, an' now dat, sorter swayin' like some uri wuz shovin' um 'bout an' pushin' um 'roun'. An' dat des de way it wuz, 'kaze 'twa'n't long 'fo' somebody broke loose fum um an' come runnin' to'rds whar I wuz settin' at.
" I know'd in a minnit, suh, dat wuz Bill-Tom Birch. He wuz holdin' his han' on his wes'cut pocket fer ter keep his watch fum fallin' out. He come runnin' up, suh, an' he wuz so mad he wuz cryin'. His face wuz workin' des like it hurted 'im. He holler at me. ' Is you de ------?' I won't name de name what he call me, suh. But I know ef he'd 'a' been a nigger I'd V got up fum dar an' brained 'im. I ain't say nothin'. I des sot
dar an' look at 'im. " Well, suh, he jerk a cowhide fum under his
cloze--he had it run down his britches leg, an' say, ' I'll show you how you erfuse ter sell pies when a gemman want ter buy um.' I dunner
135

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
i
what I'd 'a' done, suh, ef he'd V hit me, but he ain't hit me. Marse Bolivar walk right 'twix' us an' 'low, ' You'll settle dis wid me, right here an' now.' Wid dat, Bill-Tom Birch step .back an' say, ' Colonel, does you take it up?' Marse Bolivar 'low, 'Dat's what I'm here fer.' Bill-Tom Birch step back a little furder and make as ef ter draw his pistol, but his han' ain't got ter his pocket 'fo' bang! went Marse Bolivar's gun, an' down went Bill-Tom Birch, des like somebody tripped 'im up.
" I know mighty well, suh, dat I ain't no hard. hearted nigger--anybody what know me will tell you dat--but when dat man drapt, I ain't keer no mo' dan ef he'd 'a' been a mad dog. Dat's. de Lord's trufe, ef I ever tol' it. I ain't know wharbouts de ball hit 'im, an' I wa'n't keerin'. Marse Boli var ain't move out'n he tracks. He stood dar, he did, an' bresh de cap ofFn de bairl what shot, an' fix it fer ter shoot ag'in. 'Twuz one er deze yer ervolvers, suh, what move up a notch er two when you pull de trigger.
" Well, suh, time de pistol went off, folks come Ftumin' fum eve'ywhars. Salem Birch, he come runnin' 'cross de public squar*, bekaze he had de idee dat sump'n done happen. Marse Bolivar, he
186

HOW SHE WENT INTO BUSINESS

see Salem Birch a-comin', an' he walk out fum de

crowd ter meet 'im. Dat make me feel sorter

quare, kaze hit look like he wuz gwine ter shoot de

man down. But Salem Birch seed 'im, an' he stop

an' say, l Colonel, what de name er God is de mat

ter?' Marse Bolivar make answer,' Salem, I had

ter shoot yo' bre'r.' Salem Birch say, '* Is he

dead?' Marse Bolivar 'spon', ' He ain't nigh dead.

I put de ball 'twix' de hip an' de knee-j'int. He'll

be up in a week.' Salem Birch say, ' Colonel, I

thank you fer dat. Will you shake han's?' Marse

Bolivar say dey ain't nothin' suit 'im better, bekaze

he ain't got a thing ag*m' de Birches.

"An' 'twuz des like Marse Bolivar say. Bill-

Tom Birch wuz wuss skeer'd dan hurt, an' 'twa'n't

long 'fo' he wuz well. Salem Birch, he went off

ter Texas, an' dem what been dar an' come back, say

dat he's one er deze yer ervival preachers, gwine

'bout doin' good an' takin' up big collections. Dat

what dey say, an' I hope it's des dat way. I don't

begrudge nobody de money dey makes preachin*

ter sinners, bekaze hit's des natchally w'arin' ter

de flesh." ,

,

At this juncture Aunt Minervy Ann called to

Hamp and informed him, in autocratic toned, that

it was time to cut wood with which to cook dinner. 187

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
" I don't keer ef you is been ter de legislatur'," she added, " you better cut dat wood, an' cut it quick."
I suggested that she had started to tell me about Paul Conant's shoulder, but had neglected to do so.
" Ain't I tell you 'bout dat? Well, ef dat don't bang my time! Hamp, you hear dat? You bet ter go an' make 'rangements fer ter have me put in de as'lum, bekaze I sho' I's gittin' light-headed. Well, suh, dat beats all! But I'll tell you 'bout it *fo' you go back."
Then Aunt Minervy Ann went to see about din ner.
188

HOW SHE AND MAJOR PERDUE FRAILED OUT THE GOSSETT BOYS
DURING the progress of the fair, there was some discussion of financial matters in Major Perdue's family. As I remember, someone had given Paul Conant a check which was thrown out by the At lanta bank on which it was drawn. The sum was not a considerable one, but it was sufficiently large to attract Aunt Minervy Ann's attention.
" I 'speck dey got mo' banks in Atlanty dan what we-all got down here/' she remarked, the next time I had an opportunity to talk with her. She laughed so heartily as she made the remark that I regarded her with some astonishment. " You may look, suh, but I ain't crazy. When I hear anybody say ' bank ' it allers puts me in min' er de time when me an' Marse Tumlin frailed out de Gossett boys."
" Frailed out the Gossett boys? " I exclaimed. 139

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
" Yasser, frailed is de word." " But what has that to do with a bank?" I in quired. " Hit got all ter do wid it, suh," she replied. We were in the sitting-room, and Aunt Minervy A Tin sank down on a footstool and rested one arm on the lounge. "Right atter freedom dey waVt nothin' like no bank down whar we live at; you know dat yo'se'f, suh. Folks say dat banks kin run widout money, but 'fo' you start um, dey got ter nave money, er sump'n dat look like money. An' atter freedom dey wasn't no money 'roun' here 'cep' dat kin' what nobody ain't hankerin' atter. " But bimeby it 'gun ter dribble in fum some'rs; fus' dem ar little shinplasters, an' den de bigger money come 'long. It kep' on dribblin' in an' dribblin' in twel atter while you could git a dollar here an' dar by workin' yo' han's off, er spraining' yo' gizzard to git it Bimeby de news got norated 'rounr dat ol' Joshaway Gossett gwine ter start a bank. Yasser! ol' Joshaway Gossett. Dat make folks open der eyes an' shake der head. I 'mem ber de time, suh, when ol' Joshaway wuz runnin' a blacksmith shop out in de country. Den he sot in ter make waggins, Atter dat, he come ter be over seer fer Marse Bolivar Blasengame, but all de time
140

HOW SHE TRAILED OUT THE GOSSETT BOYS
he wuz overseein' lie wuz runnin' de blacksmith shop an' de waggin fact'ry.
" When de war come on, suh, dey say dat ol' Joshaway tuck all de money what he been savin* an' change it inter gol'; de natchul stuff. An* he had a pile un it. He kep' dat up all endurin' er de turmoil, and by de time freedom come out he had mo' er de natchul stuff dan what Cyarter had oats. Dat what folks say, suh, an' when eve'ybody talk one way you may know dey ain't fur fum de trufe. Anyhow, de word went 'roun' dat ol' Joshaway gwine ter start a bank. Folks waVt 'stonished 'kaze he had money, but bekaze he gwine ter start a bank, an' he not much mo' dan knowin' B fum bullfoot. Some snicker, some laugh, an' some make fun er ol' Joshaway, but Marse Tumlin say dat ef he know how ter shave a note, he bleeze ter know how ter run a bank. I ain't never see no body shave a note, suh, but dat 'zackly what Marse Tumlin say.
" But ol' Joshaway, he ain't a-keerin' what folks say. He start de bank, an' he kep' it up twel de time I'm gwine tell you 'bout. He bought 'ixn a big strong safe, an' he had it walled up in de back er de bank, an' dar 'twuz. Don't make no diffunce what folks say 'bout ol' Joshaway, dey can't say he

THE CHBONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN

ain't honest. He gwine ter have what's his'n, an'

he want yuther folks fer ter have what's der'n.

When dat de case, 'tain't no trouble ter git folks ter

trus' you. Dey put der money in jol' Joshaway's

bank, whar he kin take keer un it, bekaze dey

know'd he wa'n't gwine ter run off wid it.

" Well, suh, de bank wuz runnin' 'long des like

'twuz on skids, an' de skids greased. Ol' Josha-

way ain't move ter town, but he hired 'im a clerk,

an' de clerk stayed in de bank night an' day, an'

I hear folks say de town wuz better'n bigger

on 'count er oY Joshaway's bank. I dunner how

dey make dat out, 'kaze de bank wa'n't much big

ger dan de kitchen back dar. Anyhow, dar she

wuz, and dar she stayed fer a time an' a time.

" But one day Marse Tumlin Perdue tuck de no

tion dat he got ter borry some money. He seed

yuther folks gwine in dar an' borryin' fum ol' Josh-

away, an' he know he got des ez much bizness fer



*

, ter borry ez what dey is. Mo' dan dat, when he

had plenty er money an' niggers, he done ol' Josh-

away many a good turn. I know'd dat myse'f, suh,

an' 'tain't no hearsay; I done seed it wid my own

eyes. On de day I'm talkin' 'bout, Miss Yallie

sont me up town fer ter ax Marse Tumlin kin he

spar' two dollars--dat wuz befo' Miss Yallie wuz 142

HOW SHE TRAILED OUT THE GOSSETT BOYS
married; 'bout a mont' befo', an' she wuz makin' up her weddin' fixin's.
." 'Twa'n't no trouble ter fin' Marse Tumlin. He wuz settin' in de shade wid a passel er men. He seed me, he did, an' he come ter meet me. When I tell 'im what Miss Vallie want, he kinder scratch his head an' look sollum. He studied a minit, an' den he tell me ter come go 'long wid 'im. He cut 'cross de squar' an' went right ter ol' Joshaway's bank, me a-follerin' right at his heels. He went in, he did, an' 'low, ' Hello, Joshaway!' Ol' Joshaway, he say, t Howdy, Maje?' He wuz settin' in dar behime a counter what had wire palm's on top un it, an' he look fer all de worl' like some ongodly creetur what dey put in a cage for ter keep 'im fum doin' devilment.
" Marse Tumlin 'low, ' Joshaway, I want ter borry a hunderd dollars for a mont' er so.' Ol' Joshaway kinder change his cud er terbacker fum one side ter de yuther, an' cle'r up his th'oat He say, ' Maje, right dis minit, I ain't got fifty dollars in de bank.' Mgger ez I is, I know'd dat wuz a lie, an' I couldn't help fum gruntin' ef I wuz gwine to be kilt fer it. At dat ol' Joshaway look up. Marse Tumlin stood dar drummin' on de counter. Bimeby ol' Joshaway say, ' Spoze'n I had it, Maje,
143

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
who you gwine git fer yo' skyority?' des so. Marse Tumlin 'low, '"Per my what?" ' Fer yo' skyority,' sez ol' Joshaway. I up an' say, ( Des lissen at dat!' Marse Tumlin 'low, f Who went yo' skyor ity when I use ter loan you money?' ( Times is done change, Maje,' sez ol' Joshaway. Marse Tumlin flirted de little gate open, an' went 'roun' in dar so quick it made my head swim. He say, ' I ain't change!' an' wid dat, he took ol' Joshaway by de coat-collar an' cuff'd 'im 'roun' considerbul. He ain't hurt ol' Joshaway much, but he call 'im some names dat white folks don't fling at one an'er widout dey's gwine ter be blood-lettin' in de neigh borhoods.
" Den Marse Tumlin come out fum behime de counter, an7 stood in de do' an' look up town. By dat time I wuz done out on de sidewalk, 'kaze I don't want no , pistol-hole in my hide. When it come ter fa'r fis' an' skull, er a knock-down an' drag-out scuffle, I'm wid you; I'm right dar; but deze yer guns an' pistols what flash an' bang an' put out yo' lights--an' maybe yo' liver--when it come ter dem, I lots druther be on t'er side de fence. Well, suh, I fully 'spected ol' Joshaway to walk out atter Marse Tumlin wid de double-bairl gun what I seed behime de counter; an' Marse
144

HOW SHE TRAILED OUT THE GOSSETT BOYS
Tumlin 'spected it, too, 'kaze he walk up an' down befo' de bank, an' eve'y once in a while he'd jerk his wescut down in front like he tryin' ter t'ar de bindin' off. Bimeby I see Marse Bolivar Blasengame git up fum whar he settm* at, an' here he come, swingin' his gol'-head cane, an' sa'nt'in' 'long like he gwine on a promenade.
" I know'd by dat, suh, dat Marse Bolivar been watchin' Marse Tumlin's motions, an' he seed dat trouble er some kind wuz on han'. He walk up, he did, an' atter he cut his eye at Marse Tumlin, he turn ter me an' laugh ter hisse'f--he had de purtiest front teef you mos' ever is see, suh--an' he 'low, ' "Well, dang my buttons, ef here ain't ol' Minervy Ann, de warhoss fum Wauhoo! Wharsomever dey's trouble, dar's de ol' warhoss fum Wauhoo.' Wid dat, he lock arms wid Marse Tumlin, an' dey march off down de street, me a-follerin'. You ain't kin fin' two men like dem anywhar an' eve'ywhar. Dey wa'n't no blood-kin--dey married sisters--but dey wuz lots closer dan br'ers. Hit one an' you'd hurt de yuther, an' den ef you wa'n't ready ter git in a scuffle wid two wil'-cats, you better leave town twel dey cool off.
" Well, suh, dey ain't took many steps 'fo' dey wuz laughin' an' jokin' des like two boys. Ez we
145

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN
went up de street Marse Tumlin drapt in a sto' er two an' tol' um dat oP Joshaway Gossett vow'd dat he ain't got fifty cash dollars in de bank. Dish yer money news is de kin' what spreads, an' don't you fergit it. It spread dat day des like powder ketchin' fire an' 'twa'n't no time 'fo' you could see folks runnin' 'cross de squar* des like dey er rabbithuntin', ah' by dinner-time dey wa'n't no bank dar no mo' dan a rabbit. Folks say dat oP Joshaway try mighty hard ter 'splain matters, 1 lem what had der money in dar say dey'd take de spondulix fus' an' listen ter de 'splamin' attenvards. 'Long to'rds de noon-hour ol' Joshaway hatter fling up his han's. All de ready money done gone, an' folks at de do' hollin' fer dat what dey put in dar. I dunner how he ever got 'way fum dar, 'kaze dey wuz men in dat crowd ripe ter kill 'im; but he sneaked out an' went home, an' lef' some un else fer ter win' up de shebang.
" De bank wuz des ez good ez any bank, an' folks got back all dey put in dar des ez soon ez dey'd let oP Joshaway show his head in town; but he drapt dat kinder bizness an' went back ter farmin' an' note-shavin'. An' all bekaze he want skyority fer Marse Tum lin, which his word des ez good ez his bon'.
146

HOW SHE FRAILED OUT THE GOSSETT BOYS
He mought not er had de money when de clock struck de minit, but what diffunce do dat make when you know a man's des ez good ez gol' ? Huh! no wonder dey broke o\f Joshaway down 1"
Aunt Minervy Ann's indignation, was a fine thing to behold. Her scorn of the man who wanted Major Perdue to put up security for his note was as keen and as bitter as it had been the day the epi sode occurred. She paused at this point as if her narrative had come to an end. Therefore, I put in a suggestion.
" Was this what you call frailing out the Gossett boys?"
"No, suh," she protested, with a laugh; "all deze yer gwines-on 'bout dat ar bank wuz des de 'casion un it. You bleeze ter know dem Gossett boys, suh. Dey had sorter cool down by de time you come here, but dey wuz still ripe fer any devilment dat come 'long. Dar wuz Rube an" Sam an' John Henry, an' a'er one un um wuz big ez a hoss. Dey use ter come ter town eve'y Chuseday an' Sat'day, an' by dinner-time dey'd be a-whoopin' an' hollin' in de streets, an' a-struttin' 'roun' mashin' folks' hats down on der eyes. Not all de folks, but some un um. An' all fer fun; dat what dey say.
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" Tooby sho', dey had a spite ag'in Marse Tumlin and Marse Bolivar atter de bank busted. Dey showM it by gwine des so fur; dey*d fling out der hints; but dey kep' on de safe side, 'kaze Marse Tumlin wa'n't de man fer ter go 'roun' huntin' a fuss, ner needer wuz Marse Bolivar; but fetch a fuss an' lay it in der laps, ez you may say, an' deyM play wid it an' dandle it, an' keep it fum ketchin* col.' Dey sho' would, suh. When dem Gossett boys'd come ter town, Marse Tumlin an' Marse Bolivar would des set' 'roun' watchin' um, des waitin' twel dey cross de dead-line. But it seem like dey know des how fur ter go, an' right whar ter stop. ." Well, suh, it went on dis away fer I dunner how long, but bimeby, one day,, our ol' cow got out, an' 'stidder hangin' 'roun' an' eatin' de grass in de streets like any yuther cow would 'a' done, she made a straight shoot fer de plantation whar she come fum.
Miss Vallie to? Marse Tumlin 'bout it, an' he say he gwine atter her. Den some er de niggers in de nex* lot tol' me dat de cow wuz out an' gone, an' I put out atter her, too, not knowin' dat Marse Tumlin wuz gwine. He went de front street an' I went de back way. Ef de town wuz
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HOW SHE TRAILED OUT THE GOSSETT BOYS
big ez de streets is long, we'd have a mighty city down here; you know dat yo'se'f, suh. De place whar. de back street jines in wid de big road is mighty nigh a mile fum de tempunce hall, an7 when I got dar, dar wuz Marse Tumlin polin' 'long. I holler an' ax 'im whar he gwine. He say he gwine atter a glass er milk. Den he ax me whar I gwine. I say I'm gwine atter dat ol' frame dat nigh-sighted folks call a cow. He 'low dat he'd be mighty thankful ef de nex' time I tuck a notion fer ter turn de cow out I'd tell 'im befo'han' so he kin run 'roun' an' head 'er off an' drive 'er back. He wuz constant a-runnin' on dat away. He'd crack his joke, suh, ef he dyin'.
" We went trudgin' 'long twel we come 'pon de big hill dat leads down ter de town branch. You know de place, suh. De hill mighty steep, an' on bofe sides er de road der's a hedge er Cherrykee roses; some folks calls urn Chickasaw; but Chicky er Cherry, dar dey wuz, growin' so thick a rabbit can't hardly squeeze thoo um. On one side dey wuz growin' right on de aidge uv a big gully, an' at one place de groun' wuz kinder caved in, an' de briar vines wuz swayin' over it.
" Well, suh, des ez we got on de hill-top, I hear a buggy rattlin' an' den I hear laughm* an' cussin'.

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I lookt 'roun', I did, an' dar wuz de Gossett boys, two in de buggy an' one ridin' hossback; an' all un tun full er dram. I could tell dat by de way dey wuz gwine on. You could hear urn a mile, cussin' one an*er fer eve'ything dey kin think tin an' den laughin* 'bout it. Sump'n tol' me dey wuz gwine ter be a rumpus, bekaze three ter one wuz too good a chance for de Gossett boys ter let go by. I dunner what make me do it, but when we got down de hill a little piece, I stoop down, I did, an' got me a good size rock.
" Terreckly here dey come. Dey kinder quiet down when dey see me an' Marse Tumlin, Dey driv up, dey did an' driv on by, an' dis make me b'lieve dat dey wuz gwine on 'bout der bizness an' let we-all go on 'bout our'n, but dat idee wa'n't in der head. Dey driv by, dey did, an' den dey pulled up. We walkt on, an' Marse Tumlin lookt at um mighty hard. Rube, he was drivin', an' ez we come
\
up even wid um, he 'low,' Major Perdue, I hear tell dat you slap my pa's face not so mighty long ago.' Marse Tumlin say, * I did, an' my han' ain't clean yit.' He helt it out so dey kin see fer deyse'f. ' I b'lieve/ sez Rube, ' I'll take a closer look at it.' Wid dat he lipt out er de buggy, an' by de time he hit de groun?, Marse Tumlin had knockt 'im a-wind-
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in' wid his eurly-hick'ry walkin'-cane. By dat time, John Henry had jumpt out'n de buggy, an' he went at Marse Tumlin wid a dirk-knife. He kep' de cane offn his head by dodgin', but Marse Tumlin hit a back lick an' knock de knife out'n his han' an' den dey clincht. Den Rube got up, an' start to'rds uin on de run.
" Well, suh, I wuz skeer'd an' mad bofe. I seed sump'n had ter be done, an' dat mighty quick; so I tuck atter Rube, cotch 'm by de ellybows, shoved 'im ahead faster dan he wuz gwine, an' steer'd 'im right to'rds de caved-in place in de brier-bushes. He tried mighty hard ter stop, but he wuz gwine down hill, an' I had de Ol' Boy in me. I got 'im close ter de place, suh, an' den I gi' 'm a shove, an' inter de briers he went, head over heels. All dis time I had de rock in my han'. By de time I turn 'roun' I see Sam a-comin'. When de rumpus start up, his hoss shied an' made a break down de hill wid 'im, but he slew'd 'im 'roun', an' jumped off, an' here he come back, his face red, his hat off, an' ol' Nick hisse'f lookin' out'n his eyes. I know'd mighty well I can't steer him inter no brier-bush, an' so when he run by me I let 'im have de rock in de burr er de year. 'Twa'n't no light lick, suh; I wuz plum venomous by den; an' he went down des
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like a beef does when you knock 'im in de head wid a ax."
Aunt Minervy A Tin, all unconscious of her atti tudes and gestures, had risen from the floor, and now stood in the middle of the room, tall, towering, and defiant
" Den I run ter whar Marse Tumlin an' John Hemy Gossett had been scufflin'; but by de time I got dar John Henry squalled out dat he had 'nuff; an' he wa'n't tellin' no lie, suh, fer Marse Tumlin bad ketched his cane up short, an' he used it on dat man's face des like you see folks do wid ice-picks. He like to V ruint 'im. But when he holla dat he got 'nuff, Marse Tumlin let 'im up. He let 'im up, he did, an' sorter step back. By dat time Rube wuz a-climbin' out'n de briers, an' Sam wuz makin' motions like he comin'-to. Marse Tumlin say, e Lemme tell you cowardly rascals one thing. De nex' time a'er one un you bat his eye at me, I'm gwine ter put a hole right spang th'oo you. Ef you don't b'lieve it, you kin start ter battin' urn right now.' Wid dat, he draw'd out his ervolver an' kinder played wid it Rube say, ( We'll drap it, Major; we des had a little too much licker. But 111 not drap it wid dat nigger dar. I'll pay her fer dis day's work, an' I'll pay 'er well'
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HOW SHE FRAILED OtTT THE aoSSETT BOYS
" Well, suh, de way he say it set me on fire. I stept out in de middle er de road, an' 'low, e Blast yo9 rotten heart, ef you'll des walk out here I'll whip you in a fa'r fight. Fight me wid yo' naked han's an1 I'll eat you up, ef I hatter pizen myse'f terdoit:"
Once more Aunt Minervy Ann brought the whole scene mysteriously before me. Her eyes gleamed ferociously, her body swayed, and her out stretched arm trembled with the emotion she had resummoned from the past We were on the spot. The red hill-side, the hedges of Cherokee roses, Major Perdue grim and erect, Sam Gossett strug gling to his feet, John Henry wiping his beaten face, Rube astounded at the unwonted violence of a negro woman, the buggy swerved to one side by the horse searching for grass--all these things came into view and slowly faded away. Aunt Minervy Ann, suddenly recollecting herself, laughed sheep ishly.
" I ain't tellin' you no lie, suh, dat ar Rube Qoesett stood dar like de little boy dat de calf run over. He mought er had sump'n ugly ter say, but Marse Tumlin put in. He 'low, ' Don't you fool yo'se'f 'bout dis nigger 'oman. When you hit her you hits me. Befo' you put yo' ban' on 'er you come an'
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spit in my face. You'll fin' dat lots de cheapes' way er gittin' de dose what I got fer dem what hurts Minervy Ann.'
" Well, suh, dis make me feel so funny dat a lit tle mo' an' I'd a got ter whimperin', but I happen ter look 'roun', an' dar wuz our ol' cow lookin' at me over a low place in de briers. She done got in de fiel' by a gap back up de road, an' dar she wuz a-lookin' at us like she sorry. Wid me, suh, de diffunce 'twixt laughin' an' cryin' ain't thicker dan a fly's wing, an' when I see dat ol' cow lookin' like she ready ter cry, I wuz bleeze to laugh. Marse Tumlin look at me right hard, but I say, ' Marse Tumlin, ol' June lis'nin' at us,' an' den he laughed.
" Dem Gossett boys brush deyse'f off good ez dey kin an' den dey put out fer home. Soon ez dey git out er sight, Marse Tumlin started in ter projickin'. He walk all 'roun' me a time er two, an' den he blow out his breff like folks does when dey er kinder tired. He look at me, an' say, ' Welly / le dam! ' ' Dat would 'a' been de word,' sez I, ' ef ol' Minervy Ann hadn't 'a' been here dis day an' hour.' He shuck his head slow. ( You hit de mark dat time,' sez he; ' ef you hadn't 'a' been here, Minervy Ann, dem boys would sholy 'a' smasht me; but ef I hadn't 'a' been here, I reely b'lieve
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you'd 'a' frailed out de whole gang. You had two whipt, Minervy Ann, an' you wuz hankerin' fer de yuther one. I'll hatter sw'ar ter de facts 'fo' anybodv/ 'll b'lieve um.' I 'low * 'Tain't no use ter tell nobody, Marse Tumlin. Folks think I'm bad 'nuff now.'
" But, shoo! Marse Tumlin would 'a' mighty nigh died ef he couldn't tell 'bout dat "day's work. I ain't min' dat so much, but it got so 4at when de Gossetts come ter town an' start ter prankin', de town boys 'ud call um by name, an' holla an' say, ' You better watch out dar! Minervy Ann Perdue comin' 'roun' de cornder!' Dat wuz so errytatin', suh, dat it kyo'd um. Dey drapt der dram-drinkin' an' spreein', an' now dey er high in Horeb Church. Dey don't like me, suh, an' no wonder; but ef dey kin git ter hev'm widout likin' me, I'd be glad ter see um go.
" Well, suh, I call de ol' cow, an' she foller long on 'er side er de briers, an' when she got whar de gap wuz, she curl 'er tail over 'er back an' put out fer home, des for all de worl' like she glad 'kaze me an' Marse Tumlin frailed out de Gossett boys.
" I say, * Marse Tumlin, I'm a member er de church an' I don't b'lieve in fightin', but ef we hadn't er fit wid dem Gossetts we'd 'a' never foun'
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dat oF cow in de roun' worlV He 'low, ' An' ef we hadn't er fit wid um, Minervy Ann, I'd 'a' never knowM who ter take wid me fer ter keep de boogerman fum gittin' me/
"Dat night, suh, Marse Bolivar Blasengame come rappin' at my do'. Hamp wuz done gone ter bed, an' I wuz fixin' ter go, Marse Bolivar come in, he did, an' shuck ban's wid me like he ain't seed me sence de big war. Den he sot down over ag'in' me an' look at me, an' make me tell 'im all 'bout de rumpus. "Well, suh, he got ter laughin', an' he laughed twel he can't hardly set in de cheer. He say, ' Minervy Ann, ef dem folks say 'a word ter hurt yo' feelin's, don't tell Tumlin. Des come a-runnin' ter me. He done had his han's on um, an' now I want ter git mine on um.'
" Dat 'uz de way wid Marse Bolivar. He wa'n't no great han' ter git in a row, but he wuz mighty hard ter git out'n one when he got in. When he start out he stop on de step an' say, * Minervy Ann, I didn't know you wuz sech a rank fighter.' * I'm a Perdue,' sez I. Wid dat he got ter laughin', an' fur ez I kin hear 'im he wuz stifl a-laughin'. He b'longed ter a mighty fine fambly, suh; you know datyo'se'f."
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MAJOR PERDUE'S BARGAIN
WHEN next I had an opportunity to talk with Aunt Minervy Ann, she indulged in a hearty laugh before saying a word, and it was some time before she found her voice.
" What is so funny to-day?" I inquired. " Me, suh--nothin' tall 'bout me, an* 'tain't only ter-day, nudder. Hit's eve'y day sence I been big 'miff fer to see myse'f in de spring branch. I laughed den, an' I laugh now eve'y time I see my se'f in my min'--ef I' got any min'. I wuz talkin' ter Hamp las' night an' tellin' 'im how I start in ter tell you sump'n 'bout Marse Paul Conant' shoul der, an' den eend up by tellin' you everything else I know but dat. " Hamp 'low, he did, * Dat ain't nothin', bekaze when I ax you ter marry me, you start in an' tell me 'bout a nigger gal' cross dar in Jasper County, which she make promise fer ter marry a man an*
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*
she crossed her heart; an' den when de time come she stood up an' marry 'im an' fin' out 'tain't de same man, but somebody what she ain't never see' befo'.'
" I 'speck dat's so, suh, bekaze dey wuz sump'n like dat happen in Jasper County. You know de Waters fambly--dey kep' race-hosses. Well, suh, 'twuz right on der plantation. Warren Waters tol' me 'bout dat hisse'f. He wuz de hoss-trainer, an' he 'uz right dar on de groun'. When de gal done married, she look up an' holler, ' You ain't my husban', bekaze I ain't make no promise fer ter marry you/ De man he laugh, an' say, Don't need no promise after you done married.'
" Well, suh, dey say dat gal wuz skeer'd-- skeerM fer true. She sot an' look in de fire. De man sot an' look at 'er. She try ter slip out de do', an' he slipped wid 'er. She walked to'rds de big house, an' he walkt wid 'er. She come back, an' he come wid 'er. She run an' he run wid 'er. She cry an' he laugh at 'er. She dunner what to do, Bimeby she tuck a notion dat de man mought be de OF Boy hisse'f, an' she drapped down on her knees an.' 'gun ter pray. Bis make de man restless; look like he frettin'. Den he 'gun ter shake like he havin' chill. Den he slip down out'n de cheer.
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MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN
1 &
Den he got on his all-fours. Den his cloze drapped off, an' bless gracious! dar he wuz, a great big black shaggy dog wid a short chain roun' his neck. Some un um flung a chunk of fire at 'im, an' he run out howlin'.
" Dat wuz de last dey seed un 'im, suh. Dey flung his cloze in de fire, an' dey make a blaze dat come plum out'n de top er de chimbley stack. Dat what make me tell Hamp 'bout it, suh. He ax me fer ter marry 'im, an' I wan't so mighty sho' dat he wan't de OP Boy."
"Well, that is queer, if true," said I, " but how about Mr. Conant's crippled shoulder? "
" Oh, it's de trufe, suh. Warren Waters toP me dat out'n his own mouf, an' he wuz right dar. I dunno but what de gal wuz some er his kinnery. I don't min' tellin' you dat 'bout Marse Paul, suh, but you mustn't let on 'bout it, bekaze Marse Tumlin an' Miss Vallie des' ez tetchous 'bout dat ez dey kin be. I'd never git der fergivunce ef dey know'd I was settin' down here tellin' 'bout dat.
" You know how 'twuz in dem days. De folks what wuz de richest wuz de wussest off when de army come home from battlin'. I done toP you 'bout Marse Tumlin. He ain't had notion' in de roun' worP but a whole passel er lan', an' me an*
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Miss Vallie. I don't count Hamp, 1 ekaze Hamp 'fuse ter b'lieve he's free twel he ran.ble 'roun' an' fin' out de patteroUers ain't gwine ter take 'im up. Dat how come I had ter sell ginger-cakes an' chicken-pies dat time. De money I made at dat ain't last long, bekaze Marse Tumlin he been use' ter rich vittles, an' he went right down-town an' got a bottle er chow-chow, an' some olives, an' some sardines, an' some cheese, an' you know yo'se'f, suh, dat money ain't gwine ter las' when you buy dat kin' er doin's.
"Well, suh, we done mighty well whiles de money helt out, but 'tain't court-week all de time, an' when dat de case, money got ter come fum some'rs else 'sides sellin' cakes an' pies. Bimeby, Hamp he got work at de liberty stable, whar dey hire out bosses an' board urn. I call it a hoss tavern, suh, but Tramp, he 'low its a liberty stable. Any how, he got work dar, an' dat sorter he'p out. Sometimes he'd growl bekaze I tuck his money fer ter he'p out my white folks, but when he got right mad I'd gi' "Miss Vallie de wink, an' she'd say: 'Hampton, how'd you like ter have a little dram ter-night? You look like youer tired.' I could a-hugged 'er fer de way she done it, she 'uz dat cute. An' den Hamp, he'd grin an' 'low, * I ain't
160
I

"Dat money ain't gwine ter las' when you buy dat kin' er doin's."

MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN
honin' fer it, Miss Vallie, but 'twon't do me no harm, an' it may do me good.'
" An' den, suh, he'd set down, an' atter he got sorter warmed up wid de dram,4ie'd kinder roll his eye and 'low, f Mias Vallie, she is a fine white 'oman!' Well, suh, 'tain't long 'fo' we had dat nigger man trained--done trained, bless yo' soul! One day Miss Vallie had ter go 'cross town, an' she went by de liberty stable whar Hamp wuz at, least ways, he seed 'er some'rs; an' he come home dat night lookin' like he wuz feelin' bad. He 'fuse ter talk. Bimeby, atter he had his supper, he say, * I seed Miss Vallie downtown ter-day. She wuz wid Miss Irene, an' dat 'ar frock she had on look mighty shabby.' I 'low, ' "Well, it de bes' she got She ain't got money Kke de Chippendales, an' Miaa Irene don't keer how folks' cloze look. She too much quality fer dat.' Hamp say, ' Whyn't you take some er yo' money an' make Miss Vallie git er nice frock?' I 'low, ' Whar I got any money? Hamp he hit his pocket an' say, ' You got it right here.'
" An' sho' 'nuff, suh, dat nigger man had a roll er money--mos' twenty dollars. Some hoss drovers had come 'long an' Hamp made dat money by trimmin' up de ol' mules dey had an'
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look young. He's got de art er dat, sub, an' dey paid 'im weB. Dar wuz de money, but how wuz I gwine ter git it in Miss Vallie's ban'? I kin buy vittlea an' she not know whar dey come fum, but when it come ter buyin' frocks--well, suh, hit stumped me. Bey wan't but one way ter do it, an' I done it I make like I wuz mad. I tuck de money an' went in de house dar whar Miss Vallie wuz sewin' an' mendin'. I went stompin' in, I did, an' when I got in I started my tune.
" I 'low, ' Ef de Perdues gwine ter go scandalizin' deyse'f by trottin' down town in broad daylight wid all kinder frocks on der back, I'm gwine 'way fum here; an' I dun'ner but what I'll go anyhow. 'Tain't bekaze dey's any lack er money, fer here de money right here.' Wid dat I slammed it down on de table. 'Dar! take dat an' git you a frock dat'll make you look like sump'n when you git out side er dis house. An' whiles you er gittin', git sump'n for ter put on yo' head!' "
Whether it was by reason of a certain dramatic faculty inherent in her race that she was able to summon emotions at will, or whether it was mere unconscious reproduction, I am not prepared to say. But certain it is that, in voice and gesture, in tone and attitude, and in a certain passionate earnestness
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Trimmin' Up de OP Mules.


MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN
of expression, Aunt Minervy Ann built up the whole scene before my eyes with such power that I seemed to have been present when it occurred. I felt as if she had conveyed me bodily into the room to become a witness of the episode. She went on, still with a frown on her face and a certain violence of tone and manner:
" I whipped 'roun' de room a time er two, pickin' up de cheers an* slammin' um down ag'in, an' knockin' things 'roun' like I wuz mad. Miss Vallie put her sewin' down an' lay her han' on de money. She 'low, * What's dis, Aunt Minervy Ann?' I say, 'Hit's money, dat what 'tis--nothin' but nasty, stinkin' money! I wish dey wan't none in de worl' less'n I had a bairlful.' She sorter fumble at de money wid 'er fingers. You dunno, suh, how white an' purty an' weak her han' look ter me dat night. She 'low, ' Aunt Minervy Ann, I can't take dis.' I blaze'out at 'er, ' You don't haf'ter take it; you done got it! An' ef you don't keep it, I'll rake up eve'y rag an' scrap I got an' leave dis place. Now, you des' try me!' "
Again Aunt Minervy Ann summoned to her aid the passion of a moment that had passed away, and again I had the queer experience of seeming to wit ness the whole scene. She continued:
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" Wid dat,. I whipt out er de room an' out er de house an' went an' sot down out dar in my house whar Hamp was at Hamp, lie 'low, e What she say?' I say, ' She ain't had time ter say nothin'-- I come 'way fum dar.' He 'low, * You ain't hnmg 1 dat money back, is you?' I say: ' Does you think I'm a start naked fool? * He 'low: * Kaze ef you is, Fll put it right spang in de fire here.'
" Well, suh, I sot dar some little time, but eve'ything wuz so still in de house, bein's Marse Tumlin done gone down town, dat I crope back an' crope in fer ter see what Mim Vallie doin'. Well, suh, she wuz cryin'--settin' dar cryin'. I 'low, c Honey, is I say anything fer ter hurt yo' feelin's?' She blubber' out, 'You know you ain't!' an' den she cry good-fashion.
" Des 'bout dat time, who should come in but Marse Tumlin. He look at TW^gg Vallie an' den he look at me. He-say, * Valentine, what de matter?' I say, 'It's me! I'm de one! I made 'er cry. I done sump'n ter hurt 'er feelin's.' She 'low, ( 'Tain't so, an' you know it. I'm des cryin' bekaze you too good ter me.'
" Well, suh, I had ter git out er dar fer ter keep fum chokin'. Marse Tumlin foiler me out, an' right here on de porch, he 'low, ' Minervy Ann,
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She wuz cryin'--settin' dar cryin'."

MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN
nex' time don't be so dam good to 'er.' I wuz doin' some snifflin' myse'f 'bout dat time, an' I ain't keerin' what I say, so I stop an' flung back at 'im, ' Til be des ez dam good ter 'er ez I please--I'm free!' Well, suh, stidder hittin' me, Marse Tumlin bust out laughin', an' long atter dat he'd laugh eve'y time he look at me, des like sump'n wuz ticklin' 'im mighty nigh ter death.
" I 'speck he must er toF 'bout dat cussin' part, bekaze folks 'roun* here done got de idee dat I'm a sassy an' bad-tempered 'oman, Ef I had ter work fer my livin', suh, I boun' you I'd be a long time findin' a place. Atter dat, Hamp, he got in de Leg islate', an' it sho wuz a money-makin' place. Den we had eve'ything we wanted, an' mo' too, but bimeby de Legislate' gun out, an' den dar we wuz, flat ez flounders, an' de white folks don't want ter hire Hamp des kaze he been ter de Legislate*; but he got back in de liberty stable atter so long a time. Yit 'twan't what you may call livin'.
" All dat time, I hear Marse Tumlin talkin' ter IVfisa Vallie 'bout what he call his wil' lan'. He say he got two thousan' acres down dar in de wiregrass, an' ef he kin sell it, he be mighty glad ter do so. Well, suh, one day, long to'rds night, a twoho88 waggin driv* in at de side gate an' come in de
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THE CHEONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
back-yard. Or Ben Sadler wuz driving an* he 'low, 'Heyo, Minervy Ann, whar you want deze goods drapped at?' I say, ' Hello yo'se'f, ef you wanter hello., What you got dar, an' who do it 'blong ter?' He 'low, 'Hit's goods fer Major Tumlin Perdue, an' whar does you want um drapped at? ' "Well, suh, I ain't know what ter say, but I run'd an' ax'd MIM Yallie, an' she say put um out anywheres 'roun' dar, kaze she dunner nothin' 'bout um. So ol' Ben Sadler, he put um out, an' when I come ter look at um, dey wuz a bairl er sump'n, an' a kaig er sump'n, an' a box er sump'n. De bairl shuck like it mought be 'lasses, an' de kaig shuck like it mought be dram, an' de box hefted like it mought be terbarker. An', sho' 'nuff, dat what dey wuz--a bairl er sorghum syi^p, an' a kaig er peach brandy, an' a box er plug terbarker.
" I say right den, an' Miss Vallie'll tell you de same, dat Marse Tumlin done gone an' swap off all his wiP lan', but Miss Yallie, she say no; he won't never think er sech a thing; but, bless yo' soul, suh, she wan't nothin' but a school-gal, you may say, an' she ain't know no mo' 'bout men folks dan what a weasel do. An den, right 'pon top er dat, here come a nigger boy leadin' a bob-tail hoss. When I see dat, I dez good ez know'd dat de wil' lan' done
166

"Here come a nigger boy leadin' a bob-tail boss.'

MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN
been swap off, bekaze Marse Tumlin ain't got nothin' fer ter buy all dem things wid, an' I tell you right now, suh, I wuz rank mad, kaze what we want wid any ol' bob-tail hoss? De sorghum mought do, an* de dram kin be put up wid, an' de terbarker got some comfort in it, but what de name er goodness we gwine ter do wid dat ol' hoss, when we ain't got hardly 'miff vittles fer ter feed ourse'f wid? Dat what I ax Miss Vallie, an' she say right pine-blank she dunno.
" "Well, suh, it's de Lord's trufe, I wuz dat mad I dunner what I say, an' I want keerin' nudder, be kaze I know how we had ter pinch an' squeeze fer ter git 'long in dis house. But I went 'bout gittin* supper, an' bimeby, Hamp, he come, an' I tol' 'im 'bout de !' bob-tail hoss, an' he went out an' look at 'im. Atter while, here he come back laughin'. I say, ( You well ter laugh at dat ol' hoss.' He 'low, ' I ain't laughin' at de hoss. I'm laughin' at you. Gal, dat de finest hoss what ever put foot on de groun' in dis town. Dat's Marse Paul Conant's trottin' hoss. He'll fetch fi' hunder'd dollars any day. What he doin' here?' I up an' tol' 'im all I know'd, an' he shuck his head; he 'low, * Gal, you lay low. Dey's sump'n n'er behime all dat.'
" What Hamp say sorter make me put on my 167

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
studyin'-cap; but when you come ter look at it, suh, dey wan't nothin' 'tall fer me ter study 'bout. All I had ter do wuz ter try ter fin' out what wuz behime it, an' let it go at dat. When Marse Tumlin come home ter supper, I know'd sump'n wuz de matter wid 'im. I know'd it by his looks, suh. It's sorter wid folks like 'tis wid chillun. Ef you keer sump'n 'bout um you'll watch der motions, and ef you watch der motions dey don't hatter tell you when sump'n de matter. He come in so easy, suh, dat Miss Vallie ain't hear 'im, but I hear de do' screak, an' I know'd 'twuz him. We wuz talkin' an' gwine on at a mighty rate, an' I know'd he done stop ter lisn'.
"Miss Vallie, she 'lowshe 'speck somebody made 'im a present er dem ar things. I say, ' Uh-uh, honey! don't you fool yo'se'f. Nobody ain't gwine ter do dat. OUT folks ain't no mo' like dey useter wuz, dan crabapples is like plums. Dey done come ter dat pass dat whatsomever dey gits der han's on dey 'fuse ter turn it loose. All un Tim, 'cep' Marse Tumlin Perdue. Dey ain't no tellin' what he gun fer all dat trash. Trash! Hit's wuss'n trash! I wish you'd go out dar an' look at dat oP bob-tail hoss. Why dat oP hoss wuz stove up long 'fo' de war. By rights he ought ter be in
168

MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN
de bone-yard dis ve'y minnit. He won't be here two whole days 'fo' you'll see de buzzards lined up out dar on de back fence waiting an* dey won't bat ter wait long nudder. Ef dey sen' any corn here fer ter feed dat bag er bones wid, I'll parch it an' eat it myse'f 'fo' he shill have it. Ef anybody 'speck I'm gwine ter 'ten' ter dat ol' frame, deyer 'speckin' wid de wrong specks. I tell you dat right now.'
" All dis time Marse Tumlin wuz stan'in' out in de hall lis'nin'. Miss Yallie talk mighty sweet 'bout it. She say, ' Ef dey ain't nobody else ter 'ten' de boss, reckin I kin do it.' I 'low, ' My life er me, honey! de nex' news you know you'll be hirin' out ter de liberty stable.'
" Well, sub, my talk 'gun ter git so hot dat Marse Tumlin des had ter make a fuss. He fumbled wid de do' knob, an' den come walkin' down de hall, an' by dat time I wuz in de dmin'-room. I walk mighty light, bekaze ef he say anything I want ter hear it. You can't call it eave-drappin', suh; hit look ter me dat 'twuz ez much my business ez 'twuz dern, an' I ain't never got dat idee out*n my head down ter dis day.
" But Marse Tumlin ain't say nothin', 'cep' fer ter ax Mifia Vallie ef she feelin' well, an' how eve'y-
169

THE CHEONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN

thing wuz, but de minnit I hear 'im open his mouf

I know*d he had trouble on his min'. I can't tell

you how I know'd it, suh, but dar 'twuz. Look like

he tried to hide it, bekaze he to? a whole lot of

funny tales 'bout folks, an' 'twan't long befo' he

had Misfl Vallie laughin' fit ter kill. But he ain't

fool me, suh.

"Bimeby, Miss Vallie, she come in de dinin'-

room fer ter look atter settin' de table, bekaze fum

a little gal she allers like ter have de dishes fix

des so. She wuz sorter hummin' a chune, like she

ain't want' ter talk, but I ain't let dat stan' in my

way.

.

" I low/1 wish eve'ybody wuz like dat Mr. Paul

Conant I bet you right now he been down town

dar all day TnflTrin* money ban' over fist, des ez fast

ez he can rake it in. I know it, kaze I does his

washin' and cleans up his room fer 'im.'

"Miss Vallie say, 'Well, what uv it? Money

don't make 'im no better'n anybody else.' I 'low,

'Hit don't make 'im no wuss; an' den, 'sides dat,

he ain't gwine ter let nobody swindle 'im.'

" By dat time, I hatter go out an' fetch supper

in, an' 'tain't take me no time, bekaze I wuz des'

achin' fer ter hear how Marse Tumlin come by dem

ar contraptions an' contrivances. An' I stayed in

170

MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN
dar ter wait on de table, which it ain't need no waitin' on.
" Atter while, I 'low, ' Marse Tumlin, I like ter forgot ter tell you--yo' things done come.' He say, ( What things, Minervy Ann?' I 'low, ' Dem ar contraptions, an' dat ar bob-tail hoss. He look mighty lean an' hongry, de hoss do, but Hamp he say dat's bekaze he's a high-bred hoss. He say dem. ar high-bred bosses won't take on no fat, no matter how much you feed urn.'
" Marse Tumlin sorter drum on de table. Atter while he 'low, ( Dey done come, is dey, Minervy Ann?' I say, ' Yasser, dey er here right now. Hamp puts it down dat dat ar hoss one er de gayHeat creatur's what ever make a track in dis town.'
" Well, suh, 'tain't no use ter tell you what else wuz said, kaze 'twan't much. I seed dat Marse Tumlin want gwine ter talk 'bout it, on account er bein' 'fear'd he'd hurt Miss Vallie's feelin's ef he tol' 'er dat he done swap off all dat wil' lan' fer dem ar things an' dat ar bob-tail hoss. Dat what he done. Yasser! I hear 'im sesso atterwards. He swap it off ter Marse Paul Conant
" I thank my Lord it come out. all right, but it come mighty nigh bein' de ruination er de fambly."
" How was that? " I inquired. 171

THE CHBONICLES OP AUNT MINEBVY ANN
" Dat what I'm gwine ter tell you, suh. Right atter supper dat night, Marse Tumlin say he got ter go down town fer ter see a man on some business, an* he ax me ef I won't stay in de house dar wid Miss Vallie. 'Twa'n't no trouble ter me, bekaze I'd 'a* been on de place anyhow, an' so when I got de kitchen cleaned up an' de things put away, I went back in de house whar Miss Vallie v r. Marse Tumlin wuz done gone.
" Mias Vallie, she sot at de table doin' some kind er rufflin', an' I sot back ag'in de wall in one er dem ar high:back cheers. What we said I'll never tell you, suh, bekaze I'm one er deze kinder folks what ain't no sooner set down an' git still dan dey goes ter noddin'. Dat's me. Set me down in a cheer, high-back er low-back, an' I'm done gone! I kin set here on de step an' keep des ez wide-'wake ez a skeer'd rabbit, but set ine down in a cheer--well, suh, I'd like ter see anybody keep me 'wake when dat's de case.
" Dar I sot in dat ar high-back cheer, Miaa Vallie rufflin' an' flutin' sump'n, an' tryin' ter make me talk, an' my head rollin' 'roun' like my neck done broke. Bimeby, blam! blamf come on de do'. We got one er dem ar jinglin' bells now, suh, but in dem times we had a knocker, an' it soun' like de
172

" He been axin' me lots 'bout Miss Vallie."

MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN

roof fallin' in. I like ter jumped out'n my skin.

Miss Vallie drapped her conflutements an' 'low,

' What in de worl'! Aunt Minervy Arm, go ter

dedoV

" Well, suh, I went, but I ain't had no heart in

it, bekaze I ain't know who it mought be, an' whar

dey come fum, an' what dey want. But I went.

'Twuz me er Miss Vallie, an' I want gwine ter let

dat chile go, not dat time er night, dough 'twa'n't so

mighty late.

" I open de do' on de crack, I did, an' 'low,' Who

dat?' Somebody make answer, ' Is de Major in,

Aunt Minervy Ann?' an' I know'd right den it wuz

Marse Paul Conant. An' it come over me dat he

had sump'n ter do wid sendin' er dem contraptions,

mo' 'speshually dat ar bob-tail hoss. An' den, too,

suh, lots quicker'n I kin tell it, hit come over me

dat he been axin' me lots 'bout Miss Vallie. All

come 'cross my min', suh, whiles I pullin' de do'

open.

"I 'low, I did, 'No, suh; Marse Tumlin gone

.

'

'

f-

down town fer ter look atter some business, but he

sho ter come back terreckly. Won't you come in,

suh, an' wait fer 'im?' He sorter flung his head

back an' laugh, saft like, an' say,' I don't keer ef I

do, Aunt Minervy Ann.'
178

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MENEBVY ANN
" I low, * Walk right in de parlor, suh, an' I'll make a light mos' 'fo' you kin turn 'roun'. He coine in, he did, an' I lit de lamp, an' time I lit 'er she 'gun ter smoke. Well, suh, he tuck dat lamp, run de wick up an' down a time er two, an' dar she wuz, bright ez day.
" When I went back in de room whar Miss Vallie wuz at, she wuz stan'in' dar lookin' skeer'd. She say, 'Who dat?' I 'low, ' Hit's Marse Paul Conant, dat's who 'tis. She say,' What he want?' I 'low, 'Nothin' much; he does come a-courtin'. Better jump up an' not keep 'im waitin'.'
" Well, suh, you could V knock'd 'er down wid a fedder. She stood dar wid 'er han' on 'er th'oat takfn' short breffs, des like a little bird does when it flies in de winder an' dunner how ter fly out ag'in.
" Bimeby, she say, l Aunt Minervy Ann, you ought ter be 'shame or yo'se'f! I know dat man when I see 'im, an' dat's all.' I 'low, ' Honey, you know mighty well he ain't come callin'. But he waiiter see Marse Tumlin, an' dey ain't nothin' fer ter hender you firm gwine in dar an' makin' 'im feel at home while's he waitin'.' She sorter study awhile, an' den she blush up. She say, ' I dunno whedder I ought ter.'
*f Well, suh, dat settled it. I know'd by de way

MAJOE PERDUES BARGAIN .
she look an talk dat she dont need no mo swadin.. I say, All right, honey, do ez you please; but its yo house; you er de inistiss; an itll look mighty funny ef dat young man got ter set in dar by hissef an look at de wall whiles he waitin fer Marse Tumlin. I dunner what hell say, kaze I aint never hear im talk bout nobody; but I know mighty well hell do a heap er thinkin.
" Des like I tell you, suh she skipped roun dar, an flung on er Sunday frock, shuck out er curls, an sorter fumble roun wid some ribbons, an dar she wuz, lookin des ez fine ez a fiddle, ef not finer. Den she swep inter de parlor, an, you maynt blieve it, suh, but she mighty nigh tuck de mans breff way. Mon, she wuz purty, an she aint do no mo like deze evey-day gals dan nothin. When she start way fum me, she wuz a gal. By de time she walk up de hall an sweep in dat parlor, she wuz a grown oman. De blush what she had on at fust stayed wid er an look like t wuz er natchual color, an her eyes shine, suh, like she had fire in um. I peeped at er, suh, fum behime de cur tains in de settin-room, an I know what Im talkin bout. Its de Lords trufe, suh, ef de men folks could tote dersef like de wimmen, an do one way whiles dey feelin annuder way, dey wouldnt be no
175

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN
livin' in de worl'. You take a school gal, suh, an' she Inn fool de smartest man what ever trod shoe leather. He may talk wid 'er all day an* half de night, an' he never is ter fin* out what she thinkin' Txrat Sometimes de gals fools deyse'f, suh, but dat's mighty seldom.
" I dunner what all dey say, kaze I ain't been in dar so mighty long 'fo' I wuz noddin', but I did hear Marse Paul say he des drapt in fer 'pollygize 'bout a little joke he played on Marse Tumlin. Miss Vallie ax what wuz de joke, an* he 'low dat Marse Tumlin wuz banterin' folks fer ter buy his wil' lan'; an' Marse Paul ax 'im what he take fer it, an' Marse Tumlin 'low he'll take anything what he can chaw, sop, er drink. Dem wuz de words--chaw, sop, er drink. Wid dat, Marse Paul say he'd gi' 'im a box er terbarker, a bairl er syr'p, an' a kaig er peach brandy an' th'ow in his buggy-hoss fer good medjer. Marse Tumlin say ' done ' an' dey shuck nan's on it. Dat what Marse Paul tol' Miss Vallie, an he 'low he des done it fer fun, kaze he (lone looked inter dat wil' lan', an' he 'low she's wuff a pile er money.
" Well, suh, 'bout dat time, I 'gun ter nod, an' de fus news I know'd Miss Yallie wuz whackin' 'way on de peanner, an' it look like ter me she wuz
176

" Marse .Tumlin 'low he'll take anything what he can chaw, sop, er drink,'

MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN

des tryin' 'erse'f. By dat time, dey wuz gettin'

right chummy, an' so I des curl up on de fiV, an'

dream dat de peanner chimes wuz comin' out'n a

bairl des like 'lasses.

" When I waked up, Marse Paul Conant done

gone, an' Marse Tumlin ain't come, an' Miss Yallie

wuz settin' dar in de parlor lookin' up at de ceilin'

like she got some mighty long thoughts. Her color

wuz still up. I look at 'er an' laugh, an' she made

a mouf at me, an' I say ter myse'f, * Hey! sump'n

de matter here, sho,' but I say out loud, ' Marse

Paul Conant sho gwine ter ax me ef you ain't had a

dram,' She laugh an' say, ' What answer you

gwine ter make?' I 'low, ' I'll bow an' say, " No,

suh; I'm de one dat drinks all de dram fer de fam-
bly."

" Well, suh, dat chile sot in ter laughin', an' she

laugh an' laugh twel she went inter highsterics.

She wuz keyed up too high, ez you mought say, an'

dat's de way she come down ag'in. Bimeby, Marse

Tumlin come, an' Miss Vallie, she tol' 'm 'bout how

Marse Paul done been dar; an' he sot dar, he did,

an' hummed an' haw'd, an' done so funny dat,

bimeby, I 'low, ' Well, folks, I'll hatter tell you

good-night,' an' wid dat I went out."

At this point Aunt Minervy leaned forward,

'

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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
clasped her hands over her knees, and shook her head. When she took up the thread of her narra tive, if it can he called such, the tone of her voice was more subdued, almost confidential, in fact.
" $"ex mornin wuz my wash-day, suh, an* bout ten oclock, when I got ready, dey want no bluin in de house an* mighty little soap. I hunted high an* I hunted low, but no bluin kin I fin. An dat make me mad, bekaze ef I hatter go down town atter de bluin, my wash-dayll be broke inter. But taint no good fer ter git mad, bekaze I wuz bleeze ter go atter de bluin. So I tighten up my head-hankcher, an flung a cape on my shoulders an put out.
" I speck you know how tis, suh. You cant go down town but what youll see nigger wimmen stanin out in de front yards lookin over de palins. Dey all knowd me an I knowd dem, an de las blessed one un um hatter hail me ez I go by, an I hatter stop an pass de time er day, kaze ef Id a whipt on by, deyd a said I wuz gwine back bofe on my church an on my color. I dunner how long dey kep me, but time I got ter Proctors sto, I knowd Id been on de way too long.
*f I notice a crowd er men out dar, some settin* an some stanin, but I rund in, I did, an de young
178

"\ h.uUT st .p ar.' pass lit- \\}r,j si j.tv."

MAJOR PERDUES BABGAIN
man what do de clerkin', he foiler me in an' ax what
t
I want. I say I want a dime's wuff er bluin', an* fer ter please, suh, wrop it up des ez quick ez he kin. I tuck notice dat while he wuz gittin' it out'n de box, he sorter stop like he lis'nin' an' den ag'in, whiles he had it in de scoop des ready fer ter drap it in de scales, he helt his han' an' wait. Den I know'd he wuz lis'nin'.
" Dat makes me lis'n, an' den I hear Marse Tumlin talkin', an' time I hear 'im I know'd he wuz errytated. Twa'n't bekaze he wuz talkin' loud, suh, but 'twuz bekaze he wuz talkin' level. When he talk loud, he feelin' good. When he talk low, an' one word soun' same ez anudder, den somebody better git out'n his way. I lef de counter an' step ter de do' fer ter see what de matter wuz betwix' urn.
" Well, suh, dar wuz Marse Tumlin stan'in' dar close ter Tom Ferryman. Marse Tumlin, 'low, ' Maybe de law done 'pinted you my gyardeen. How you know I been swindled?' Tom Ferry man say,' Bekaze I hear you say he bought yo' wil' lan' fer a little er nothin'. He'll swindle you ef you trade wid 'im, an' you done trade wid 'im.' Marse Tumlin, 'low, ' Is Faul Conant ever swindle
Tom Ferryman say, 'No, he ain't, an' ef
179

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
he wnz ter Fd give 'im a MckinV Marse Tumlin 'low, * Well, yon know yon is a swindler, an' no body ain't kick you. How come dat?' Tom Ferryman say, ' Ef yon say I'm a swindler, you're a liar.'
" Well, suh, de man ain't no sooner say dat dan bang! went Marse Tumlin's pistol, an' des ez it banged Marse Paul Conant run 'twix' um, an' de ball went right spang th'oo de collar-bone an* sorter sideways th'oo de p'int er de shoulder-blade. Marse Tumlin drapt his pistol an' cotch 'im ez he fell an' knelt down dar by 'im, an' all de time dat ar Tom Ferryman wuz stan'in' right over um wid his pistol in his han'. I squall out, I did, ' Whyn't some er yon white men take dat man pistol 'way fum 'im? Don't you see what he fixin' ter do? '
" I run'd at 'im, an' he sorter flung back wid his arm, an' when he done dat somebody grab 'im fum behime. All dat time Marse Tumlin wuz axin' Marse Faul Conant ef he hurt much. I hear 'im say, ' I wouldn't 'a' done it fer de worl', Conant-- not fer de worl'.' Den de doctor, he come up, an' Marse Tumlin, he pester de man twel he hear 'im say, ' Don't worry, Major; dis Day'11 live ter be a older man dan you ever will.' Den Marse Tumlin got his pistol an' hunt up an' down fer dat ar Tom
180
1:

Hunt up .in' J"\vn tcr Jat .ir Tm I'cn'ytri.m.

MAJOR PERDUES BARGAIN
Ferryman, but he done gone. * I seed 'im when he got on his hoss.
" I say to Marse Tumlin, ' Ain't you des ez well ter fetch Marse Paul Conant home whar we all kin take keer uv 'im?' He 'low, ' Dat's a facie. Go home an' tell yo' Miss Vallie fer ter have de big room fixed up time we git dar wid 'im.' I say, ' Humph! I'll fix it myse'f; I know'd I ain't gwine ter let Miss Vallie do it'
" Well, suh, 'tain't no use fer ter tell yer de rest. Par's dat ar baby in dar, an* what mo' sign does you want ter show you dat it all turned out des like one er dem ol'-time tales?"
181

vm
THE CASE OF MARY ELLEN

IT came to pass in due time that Atlanta, follow ing the example of Halcyondale, organized a fair. It was called the Piedmont Exposition, and, as might be supposed, Aunt Minervy Ann was among those attracted to the city by the event. She came to see whether the fair was a bigger one than that held at Halcyondale. Naturally enough she made my house her headquarters, and her coming was fortunately timed, for the cook, taking advantage of the heavily increased demand for kitchen ser vants, caused by the pressure of strangers in the city, had informed us that if we wanted her services we could either double her wages or dispense with her entirely. It was a very cunningly prepared plan, for there was company in the house, friends from middle Georgia, who had come to spend a week while the exposition was going on, and there would have been no alternative if Aunt Minervy Ann,
182

THE CASE OF MARY ELLEN
her Sunday hat sitting high on her head, had not walked in the door.
" I hope all er yon-all is well," she remarked. " Ef you ain't been frettin' an' naggin' one an'er den my nose done been knocked out er j'int, kaze I know sump'n 'bleeze ter be de matter."
The truth is, the lady of the house was blazing mad with the cook, and I was somewhat put out myself, for the ultimatum of the servant meant robbery. Aunt Minervy Ann was soon in posses sion of the facts. At first she was properly indig nant, but in a moment she began to laugh.
" Des come out on de back porch wid me, please'm. All I ax you is ter keep yo' face straight, and don't say a word less'n I ax you sumpV." She flung her hat and satchel in a corner and sallied out. " I don't blame cooks fer wantin' ter quit when dey's so much gwine on up town," she remarked, in a loud voice, as she went out at the back door. " Dey stan' by a stove hot wedder er col', an' dey ain't got time ter go ter buryin's. But me! I don't min' de work; I'm ol' an' tough. Why, de well ain't so mighty fur fum de steps, an' dar's de wood-cellar right dar. How much you pay yo' cooks, ma'ain? "
"What wages have you been getting?" asked the lady of the house.
185
IL

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
" Wellum, down dar whar I come fum dey "been payin' me four dollars a mont'--dat de reason I come up here. Ef you gi' me six 111 stay an' you won't begrudge me de money. Tu'n me loose in de kitchen an' I'm at home, ma'am--plum' at home."
The lady seemed to be hesitating, and the silence in the kitchen was oppressive.
" I'll decide to-day," she remarked. " Our cook is a good one, but she has been thinking of resting awhile. If she goes, you shall have the place."
"Den she ain't gone?" cried Aunt Minervy Ann. " Well, I don't want de place less'n she goes. I ain't gwine ter run my color out'n no job ef I kin he'p it We got 'nuff ter contend wid des dry so." Then she turned and looked in the kitchen. " Ain't dat Julie Myrick? " she asked.
" How you know me? " cried the cook. " I b'lieve in my soul dat's Miss 'Nervy Ann Perdue! "
With that Aunt Minervy Ann went into the kit chen, and the two old acquaintances exchanged reminiscences for a quarter of an hour. After awhile she came back in the sitting-room, stared at us with a half-indignant, half-quizzical expres sion on her face, and then suddenly collapsed, fall ing on the floor near a couch, and laughing as only an old-time negro can laugh. Then she sat bolt
184

THE CASE OF MARY ELLEN
upright, and indignation, feigned or real, swept the smiles from her countenance, as if they had been suddenly wiped out with a sponge.
" You know what you got in dat kitchen dar? You ain't got nothin' in de worl' in dar but a. Injun merlatter; dat zackly what you got. I know'd her daddy and I know'd her mammy. OP one-legged Billy Myrick wuz her daddy, an' he wuz one part white an' one part nigger, an' one part Injun. Don't tell me 'bout dem kind er tribes. Dey ain't no good in um. Hamp'll tell you dat hisse'f, an' he b'longed ter de Myrick 'state. Merlatter is bad 'nuff by itse'f, but when you put Injun wid it-- well, you may hunt high an' you may hunt low,
X
but you can't git no wuss mixtry dan dat. I tell you right now," Aunt Minervy Ann went on, " I never did see but one merlatter dat wuz wuff a pinch er snufF, an' she wuz so nigh white dat de oP boy hisse'f couldn't 'a' toP de diffunce. Seem like you must 'a' knowed Mary Ellen Tatum, suh ?" she suggested, appealing to my memory.
I had heard the name somehow and somewhere, but it was as vague in my recollection as a dream.
" Maybe you didn't know 'er, suh, but she was born an' bred down whar I cum fum. Dat's so! She woz done gone fum dar when you come. Wuz
185

THE CHEONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
ol' Fed Tatum dead? Yasser! oF Fed died de year dey quit der battlin', an' 'twuz de year atter dat when you come; an' you sho did look puny, suh, ter what you does now. Well, oF Fed Tatum, he wuz one er deze yer quare creeturs. He made money han' over fist, an' he had a sight er niggers. He had a place sorter close ter town," but he didn't stay on it; an' he had a house not fur fum Marse Bolivar Blasengame, but he'd des go out ter his place endurin' er de day, an' den he'd come back, git his vittles, an' walk ter de tavern an' dar he'd take a cheer an' go off by hisse'f, an' set wid his chin in his coat collar, an' look at his foots an' make his thum's turn somersets over one an'er. Ef you wanted ter talk wid ol' Fed Tatum, you'd hafter go whar he wuz settin' at an' do all de talkin' yo'se'f. He'd des set back dar an' grunt an' maybe not know who you wuz. But when he come huntin' you up, you better watch out. Dey say dey ain't nobody ever is make a trade wid ol' Fed but what dey come out at de little een' er de horn.
" Well, ol' Fed had a nigger 'oman keepin' house fer 'im, an' doin' de cookin' and washin'. I say ' nigger,' suh, but she wuz mighty nigh white. She wuz Mary Ellen's mammy, an' Mary Ellen wuz des white ez anybody, I don't keer whar dey cum
186

THE CASE OF MAEY ELLEN
fum, an' she wuz purty fum de word go. Dey wasn't never no time, suh, atter Mary Ellen wuz born dat she wa'n't de purtiest gal in dat town. I des natchully 'apises merlatters, but dey wuz sump'n 'bout Mary Ellen dat allers made a lump come in my goozle. I tuck ter dat chile, suh, de minnit I laid my eyes on 'er. She made me think 'bout folks I done forgot ef I ever know'd um, an' des de sight un 'er made me think 'bout dem ol' time chunes what mighty nigh break yo' heart when you hear urn played right. Dat wuz Mary Ellen up an' down.
" Well, suh, when Mary Ellen got so she could trot 'roun', old Fed Tatum sorter woke up. He stayed at home mo', and when de sun wuz shinin' you might see 'im any time setting in his peazzer wid Mary Ellen playin' roun', er walkin' out in de back yard wid Mary Ellen trottin' at his heels. I'm telling you de start-naked trufe--by de time dat chile wuz six-year ol' she could read; yasser! read out'n a book, an' read good. I seed her do it wid my own eyes, an' heer'd 'er wid my own years. 'Tain't none er dish yer readin' an' stoppin' like you hear de school chillun gwine on; no, suh! 'Twuz de natchual readin' right 'long. An' by de time she wuz eight, dey wa'n't no words in no book in
187

THE CHBONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
dat town but what she could take an' chaw um same as lawyers in de cote-house. Mo' dan dat, suh, she could take a pencil, an' draw yo' likeness right 'fo' yo' face.
" 'Long 'bout dat time she struck up wid little Sally Blasengame, an' when dem two got tergedder dar wuz de pick er de town ez fer ez de chillun went. I don't say it, suh, bekaze Marse Bolivar was Marse Tumlin's br'er-in-law--dey married sisters--but his little gal Sally wuz ez fine ez split silk. Mary Ellen had black hair an' big black eyes, an' Sally had yaller hair an' big blue eyes. Atter dey come ter know one an'er dey wa'n't a day but what dem two chillun wuz playin' tergedder. How many an' many is de times I seed um gwine 'long wid der arms 'roun' one an'er!
" "Well, one day atter dey been playin' tergedder a right smart whet Marse Bolivar 'gun ter make inquirements 'bout Mary Ellen, an' when he foun' out who an' what she wuz, he went out whar dey at an' tol' her she better go home. I wuz right dar in de back yard when he said de word. Mary Ellen stood an' looked at 'im, an' den she picked up her bonnet an' marched out'n de yard holdin' her head up; she wuz twelve year ol' by den.
" Sally seed Mary Ellen go out, an' she turn 188

THE CASE OF MARY ELLEN
'roun' on her daddy, her face ez white ez a sheet* Den her whole frame 'gun ter shake. She 'low, ' I been lovin' you all dis time, an' I didn't know you could be so mean an' low-life.' She flung at 'im de fust words dat pop in her min'.
" Marse Bolivar say, ' Why, honey! Why, pre cious!' an' start ter put his arm 'roun' 'er. She flung fum 'im, she did, an' cry out, ( Don't you never say dem words ter me no mo' ez long ez you live, an' don't you never tetch me no mo'.' Den she seed me, an' she come runnin' des like she wuz skeer'd. She holler, ' Take me 'way! take me 'way! Don't let 'im tetch me!' Talk 'bout tem per--talk 'bout venom! All dem Blasengames had it, an' when you hurt de feelin's er dat kind er folks dey are hurted sho 'nuff. Marse Bolivar couldn't 'a' looked no wuss ef somebody had 'a' spit in his face while his han's tied. You talk 'bout people lovin' der chillun, but you dunner nothin' 'tall 'bout it twel you see Marse Bolivar lovin' Sally. Why, de very groun' she walkt on wnz diffunt ter him fum any udder groun'. He wuz ready ter die fer 'er forty times a day, an' yit here she wuz wid her feelin's hurt so bad dat she won't let 'im put his han's on 'er. An' he ain't try; he had sense 'miff fer dat. He des walk 'roun' and kick up de

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
gravel wid de heel er Ms boots. But Sally, she had 'er face hid in my frock, an* she ain't so much ez look at 'im. Bimeby he went in de house, but he ain't stay dar long. He come out an' look at Sally, an' try ter make 'er talk, but she erfuse ter say a word, an' atter while he went on up-town.
" Ef dey ever wuz hard-headed folks, suh, dat wuz de tribe. He went uptown, but he ain't stay long, an' when he come back he foun' Sally in de house cryin' an? gwine on. She won't tell what de matter, an' she won't let nobody do nothin' fer 'er. Now, ef she'd 'a' been mine, suh, I'd 'a' frailed 'er out den an' dar, an' I'd 'a' kep' on frailin' 'er out twel she'd 'a' vowed dat she never know'd no gal name Mary Ellen. Dat's me! But Marse Bolivar ain't look at it dat away, an' de man what never knuckle ter no human bein', rich er pb', high er low, had ter knuckle ter dat chile, an' she wa'n't much bigger dan yo' two fists.
" So bimeby he say, ' Honey, I'm gwine atter Mary Ellen, ef dat's her name, an' she can stay here all day an' all night,, too, fer what I keer.'
" Sally 'low, e She sha'n't come here! she sha'n't! I don't want nobody ter come here dat's got ter git der feelin's hurted eve'y time dey come.'
" Kight dar, suh, is whar my han' would 'a' come
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THE CASE OF MABY ELLEN
down hard; but Marse Bolivar, he knuckle. He say, ' Well, honey, you'll hafter fergive me dis time. I'll go fetch 'er ef she'll come, an' ef she won't 'tain't my fault.'
" So out he went. I dunner how he coaxed Mary Ellen, but she say he tol' 'er dat Sally wuz feelin' mighty bad, an' wuz 'bleeze ter see 'er; an' Mary Ellen, havin' mo' heart dan min', come right along. An' Marse Bolivar wuz happy fer ter see Sally happy.
" Dis wuz long 'fo' de battlin', suh, but even dat fur back dey wuz talkin' 'bout war. OF Fed Tatum wuz a mighty long-headed man, an' he know'd mighty well dat ef Mary Ellen stayed dar whar she wuz at, she won't have no mo' show dan a chicken wid its head wrung off. So he fixed 'er up an' packed 'er off up dar whar de Northrons is at. He'd V sont her mammy wid 'er, but she say no; she'd be in de way; folks would 'spicion what de matter wuz; an' so she shet her mouf an' stayed. Ef Mary Ellen had 'a' been my chile, suh, I'd 'a' gone wid 'er ef I had ter claw my way wid my naked han's thoo forty miles er brick wall. But her mammy was diffunt; she stayed an' pined.
" Now, ef anybody want pkiin' done dey'll hafter go ter somebody else 'sides ol' Minervy Arm Per-
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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEEVY ANN
due. When you see me pinin', suh, you may know my tongue done cut out an' my ban's pairlized. Ef Mary Ellen Had V been my chile dey'd V been murder done, suh. I'd 'a' cotch ol' Fed Tatum by what little hair he had an' I'd 'a' mint 'im; an' ez 'twuz, I come mighty nigh havin* a fight wid 'im. An' ef I had--ef I had-----"
Aunt Minervy Ann was on her feet. Her right arm was raised high in the air, and her eyes blazed with passion. It was not a glimpse of temper she gave us, but a fleeting portrayal of mother-love at white heat. She had been carried away by her memory, and had carried us away with her; but she caught herself, as it were, in the act, laughed, and sat down again by the sofa, caressing it with both arms. Presently she resumed her narrative, ad dressing herself this time to the lady of the house. It was a stroke of rare tact that had its effect.
"Wellum, Mary Ellen wa'n't my chile, an' ol' Fed Tatum sont 'er off up dar 'mongst de !N"orthrons; an' 'bout de time de two sides 'gun der battlin' he sol' some lan' an' sont her 'nuff money ter las' 'er twel she got all de larriin' she want. Den de war come, an' nobody ain't hear no mo' 'bout Mary Ellen. Dey fit an' dey. fout, an' dey fout an' dey fit, an' den, bimeby, dey quit, an' fer long
192

I
THE CASE OP MABY ELLEN
days nobody didn't know whedder ter walk backerds er go fomids.
" OF Fed Tatum wuz one er dem kinder folks, ma'am, what you been seem' an' knowin' so long dat you kinder git de idee dey er gwine ter stay des like dey is; but one day ol' Fed Tatum fetch'd a grunt an' went ter bed, an' de nex' day he fetch'd a groan an' died. He sho did. An' den when dey come ter look into what he had, dey fpun' dat he ain't got nothin' he kin call his own but a little cabin in one een' er town, an' dis went ter Mary Ellen's mammy.
" I tell you now, ma'am, dat 'oman tried me. She wuz long an' lank an' slabsided, an' she went 'bout wid 'er mouf shet, an' 'er cloze lookin' like somebody had flung um at 'er, I like ter hear folks talk, myself, an' ef dey can't do nothin' else I like ter see um show dey temper. But dat 'oman, she des walk 'roun' an' not open her mouf fum mornin' twel night, less'n you ax 'er sump'n. I tried ter git her ter talk 'bout Mary Ellen, but she ain't know no mo' 'bout Mary Ellen dan a rabbit.
" I dunner but what we'd 'a' got in a fuss, ma'am, kaze dat 'oman sho did try me, but 'long 'bout dat time Marse Bolivar's gal tuck sick, an' 'twa'n't long 'fo' she died. 'Twuz a mighty pity, too, kaze dat
m

THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
chile would V made a fine 'oman--none better. 'Long todes de las' she got ter gwine on 'bout Mary Ellen. Look like she could see Mary Ellen in de fever-dreams, an' she'd laugh an' go on des like she useter when she wuz a little bit er gal.
" Wellum, when dat chile died Marse Bolivar come mighty nigh losin' 'is min'. He ain't make no fuss 'bout it, but he des fell back on hisse'f an' walk de fiV night atter night, an' moan an' groan when he think nobody ain't lis'nin'. An' den, atter so long a time, here come a letter fum Mary Ellen, an' dat broke 'im all up. I tell you right now, ma'am, Marse Bolivar had a hard fight wid trouble. I don't keer what folks may say; dey may tell you he's a hard man, ready ter fight an' quick ter Mil. He's all dat, an' maybe mo'; but I know what I know.
" Wellum, de days went an' de days come. Bimeby I hear some er de niggers say dat Mary Ellen done come back. I laid off ter go an' see de chile; but one day I wuz gwine 'long de street an' I met a white lady. She say, ' Ain't dat Aunt Minervy Ann?' I 'low, ' Yessum, dis is de remnants.' Wid dat, ma'am, she grab me 'roun' de neck an' hug me, an' bu'st out a-cryin', an' 'twa'n't nobody in de worl' but Mary Ellen.
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THE CASE OF MAKY ELLEN
" Purty! I never has foun' out, ma'am, how any human can be ez purty ez Mary Ellen. Her skin wnz white ez milk an' her eyes shine like stars. I'd V never know'd her in de worl'. But dar she wuz, cryin' one minnit an' laughin' de nex'. An' she wuz in trouble too. She had a telegraph in her ban' tellin' 'er dat one er her ol' schoolmates gwine on ter Flurridy wuz gwine ter stop over one train des ter see Mary Ellen. Hit seem like dat up dar whar she been stayin' at she ain't never tell nobody but what she wuz white, an' de human wa'n't born dat could tell de diffunce. So dar 'twuz. Here wuz de Northron lady comin' fer ter see Mary Ellen, an' what wuz Mary Ellen gwine ter do?--whar wuz she gwine ter take de Northron lady? Dar wiiz de ram shackle cabin, an' dar wuz my Mtchen. You may think 'twuz funny, ma'am------"
" Eut I don't," said the lady of the house, abrupt ly and unexpectedly; " I don't think it was funny at all."
Aunt Minervy Ann looked at me and lifted her chin triumphantly, as she resumed: " ^o'm, 'twa'n't funny. Mary Ellen wuz proud an' high-strung; you could read dat in de way she walk an' eve'y motion she make, an' dat ar telegraph dat de Northron lady sont 'er fum Atlanty kinder run 'er in a
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THE CHBONICLES OP AUNT MINEEVY ANN
corner. She dtumer what ter do, ner which way ter turn. Look at it yo'se'f, ma'am, an* see whar she wuz.
" She laughed, ma'am, but she wuz in trouble, an* I'm sech a big fool dat I'm allers in trouble long wid dem what I like. Take de tape-line ter der trouble an' den ter mine, an' you'll fin' dat dey medjer 'bout de same. Mary Ellen laugh an' say,' Bey's two things I kin do; I kin leave town, er I kiri go down dar ter de cabin an' kill myse'f.' Oh, she wuz in a corner, ma'am--don't you doubt it.
" Bight den an' dar sump'n pop in my head. I low, ' Is you been ter call on Marse Bolivar Blasengame?' She say f No, I ain't, Aunt Minervy Ann. I started ter go, but I'm afear'd ter.' I 'low, ' Well, I'm gwine dar right now; come go wid me.'
" So we went dar, and I left Mary Ellen on de back porch, an' I went in de house. Marse Bolivar wuz settin' down, gwine over some papers, an' Mis' Em'ly wuz darnin' an' patchin'.
" I say, e Marse Bolivar, dey's a gal out here dat I thought maybe you an' Mis' Em'ly would be glad ter see?"
" He 'low, ' Dang you' hide, Minervy Ann! You 196

THE CASE OF MAEY ELLEN

Hke ter make me jump out'n my skin. Who is de

gal?'

"I say, 'I wanter see ef you know 'er.' Wid

dat I went back an' fotch Mary Ellen in. Well, dey

didn't know 'er, ma'am, na'er one un um; an' I

dunner how it all happened, but de fust thing I

know Mary Ellen fell on 'er knees, by a lounge what

sot under de place whar Miss Sally's pictur' wuz

hangin'.at. She fell on her knees, Mary Ellen did,

and 'low, f She'd know who I is,' an' wid dat she

bust aloose an' went ter cryin' des like 'er heart wuz

done broke in two.

" Marse Bolivar stood dar an' wait twel Mary

Ellen cool off, an' quiet down. Mis' Em'ly, ma'am,

is one er dem ar primity, dried-up wimmen, which,

ef dey ain't fightin' you wid bofe han's, er huggin'

you wid bofe anns, ain't sayin' nothin' rtall. An'

ef Mis' Em'ly ain't sayin' nothin' you can't put de

key in de Bible an' fin' no tex' dat'll tell you what

she got in 'er min'. But she wuz darnin', an' I see

'er wipe one eye on de leg er de sock, an' den pres-

ent'y she wipe t'er eye.

.

" Wellum, Marse Bolivar stood dar an' look at

Mary Ellen, an' when she riz fum her knees an'

stood dar, her head hangin' down, still a-cryin', but

mo* quieter, he went close up an' 'low, ( I know you,

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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN

Mary Ellen, an' I'm mighty glad ter see you. Dat

ar letter what you writ me, I got it yit, an' I'm

gwine ter keep it whiles I live.'

"He talk right husky, ma'am, an' I 'gun ter feel

ii

husky myse'f; an' den I know'd dat ef I didn't

1

change de tune, I'd be boo-hooin' right dar 'fo' all

un um wid needer 'casion nor 'skuce. I went up

ter Mary Ellen an' cotch 'er by de shoulder and say,

'Shucks, gal! Dat train'll be here terreckly, an'

den what you gwine ter do?'

" 'Twuz a hint ez broad ez a horse-blanket,

ma'am, but Mary Ellen never tuck it. She des

stood dar an' look at me. An' 'bout dat time Marse

Bolivar he ketch'd holt er my shoulder an' whirlt

me 'roun', an' 'low, 'What de matter, Minervy

Ann? Talk it right out!'

" Wellum, I let you know I tol' 'im; I des laid

it off! I tol' des how 'twuz; how Mary Ellen been

sbnt up dar by ol' Fed Tatum, an' how, on de 'count

er no fault er her'n de Northron folks tuck 'er ter

be a white gal; an' how one er de gals what went

ter school wid 'er wuz gwine ter come ter see 'er an'

stay 'twixt trains. Den I 'low, ' Whar is Mary

Ellen gwine ter see 'er? In dat ar mud-shack whar

her ma live at? In de big road? In de woods? In

de hoss-lot?" 108

THE CASE OF MAKY ELLEN
The whole scene from beginning to end had been enacted by Aunt Minervy Ann. In the empty spaces of the room she had placed the colonel, his wife, and Mary Ellen, and they seemed to be before us, and not only before us, but the passionate ear nestness with which she laid the case of Mary Ellen before the colonel made them live and move under our very eyes.
"In de "big road? In de woods? In de fiosslot?"
And when she paused for the reply of the colonel, the look of expectation on her face was as keen and as eager as it could have been on the day and the occasion when she was pleading for Mary Ellen. The spell was broken by the lady of the house, who leaned forward eagerly as if expecting the colonel himself to reply. Perhaps Aunt Minervy Ann misunderstood the movement. She paused a mo ment as if dazed, and then sank by the sofa with a foolish laugh.
" I know you all put me down ter be a fool," she said, " an' I 'speck I is."
" ^onsens^l " cried the lady of the house, sharp ly. " What did the colonel reply? "
Aunt Minervy remained silent a little while, picking at one of the fringes of the sofa. She was
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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN
evidently trying to reassemble in her mind the in cidents and surroundings of her narrative. Pres ently she began again, in a tone subdued and con fidential:
" Marse Bolivar loot at me right hard, den he look at Mary Ellen, an' den he pull at de tip-een' er his year. Wellum, I fair helt my breff; I say ter myse'f, * Man, whyn't you look at poor Miss Sally's pictur* ? I wuz feared a fly might light on 'im an' change his min'. But, look at de pictur* he did, an' dat settled it.
"He 'low, ' Set down, Mary Ellen; you look tired. Minervy Ann, fetch 'er a drink er water.' Wellum, you may well b'lieve dat I flied up an' fleVd 'roun' an' fotch dat water. Den he 'low, 'Minervy Ann, go in dar an' straighten out dat parlor; fling open de blinds an' do 'bout in dar!'"
Again Aunt Minervy Ann arose from her re clining position by the sofa and stood in the floor; again, by a wave of her hand, she brought the scene before our eyes.
" I stood dar, I did, an' look at dat man. I 'low, e Marse Bolivar, less'n it's Marse Tumlin, youer de bes* man dat God A'mighty ever breathe de breath er life inter!' He rub his han' over his face an'
200

THE CASE OF MAKY ELLEN
say, ' Dang yo' ol' hide! go on an* hush up! Fum de time I fust know'd you, you been gittin' me an' Tumlin in hot water.'
"I flung back at 'im, * 'J'ain't never scald you! 'Tain't never been too deep fer you! ' He straight en hisse'f up an' helt his head back an* laugh. He 'low, 'Dang it all, Minervy Ann! Dey er times when I want it bofe hot an' deep. You go an' scuffle 'roun' in dat parlor, an' don't you let yo' Mis' Em'ly do a han's-turn in dar.'
" Wellum, dat uz 'bout de upshot un it. De Northron lady wuz name Miss Wilbur, er Willard, I disremember which, but she was a mighty nice white gal. Marse Bolivar an' Hamp wuz bofe at de train ter meet 'er, an' Marse Bolivar fotch 'er right ter de house, an' show'd 'er in de parlor. Atter while, Mary Ellen went in dar, an' 'twuz a mighty meetin' 'twix um. Dey chattered same ez a flock er blackbirds on a windy day; an' atter so long a time Marse Bolivar went in dar. 'Twa'n't long 'fo' he got ter tellin' tales, an' de Northron lady laugh so she kin hardly set on de cheer. Den he open de pianner, an' ax de white lady ter play, but she vow she can't play atter he been hearin' Mary Ellen. Den he say, ' Won't you play me a chune, Mary Ellen? Sump'nol'timey?'
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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINERVY ANN
" Dat gal went ter de planner, ma'am, an* sot dap wid her ban's over her face like she prayin', an* den she laid her han's on de keys an' started a chune des like yo' hear in yo' dreams. It got a little louder, an' den present'y you could hear 'er singin*. I never did know whar'bouts her voice slipped inter dat ch une; but dar 'twuz, an' it fit in wid de pianner des like a flute does.
" Wellum, it tuck me back, way back dar in de oP days, an* den brung me down ter later times, fer many a moonlight night did I hear Miss Sally an' Mary Ellen sing dat song when dey wuz chillun. Den atter dat de Northron lady plump herse'f down at de pianner, an' she sho did shake dat oP shebang up. ^Twuz dish yer highfalutin' music what sprung up sence de war, an' it sho sound like war ter me, drums a-rattlin', guns a-shootin', an' forty-levm brass horns all tootin' a diffunt chune.
" When train-time come, ma'am, de Northron lady ax Mary Ellen ef she won't go ter de train wid 'er. But Marse Bolivar spoke up an' say dat Mary Ellen been feelin' bad all de mornin', an' she hatter skuzen 'er. He went wid de lady hisse'f, an' when he come back Mary Ellen tol' 'im she never would fergit what he done fer her dat day, an' say she gwine ter pay 'im back some day.
202

THE CASE OP MARY ELLEN
" What did the neighbors say about it? " the lady of the house asked, in her practical way.
" Dat what pestered me all de time, ma'am," Aunt Minervy Ann replied. " I ax Marse Bolivar, ' What de folks gwine ter say when dey hear 'bout dis come off?' He stuck his thum's in de armholes er his wescut, an' 'low, l Dat what I wanter know, an' I wanter know so bad, Minervy Ann, dat ef you hear anybody talkin' loose talk 'bout it, des come runnin' ter me while it's hot. Now don't you fail.'
" But Marse Bolivar ain't wait fer me ter hear what folks say. He went polin' up town de nex' day, an' tol' 'bout it in eve'y sto' on de street, an' de las' man in town vow'd 'twuz de ve'y thing ter do. An' dat ain't all, ma'am! De folks dar raise a lot er money fer Mary Ellen, an' de way dat chile went on when Marse Bolivar put it in 'er han' an' tol' er whar it come fum wuz pitiful ter see.
" Dat's de way 'tis, ma'am; ketch um in de hu mor an' eve'ybody's good; ketch um oiit'n de hu mor an' dey er all mean--I know dat by my own feelin's. Ef a fly had lit on Marse Bolivar's face dat day, Mary Ellen would 'a' had ter face 'er trouble by 'er own 'lone self. Ef some sour-minded man had gone up town an' told how Marse Bolivar
208

THE CHRONICLES OP AUNT MINEBVY ANN
wuz en'tainin' nigger gals an' a Yankee 'oman in his parlor, deyM all been down on 'im. An' den----"
" What, then? " the lady of the house asked, as Aunt Minervy Ann paused.
" Dey'd 'a* been weepin' an' whailin' in de set tlement sho. Ain't it so, suh? "
It was natural, after Aunt Minervy Ann had nar rated the particulars of this episode, that her state ments should dwell in my memory, and sally forth and engage my mind when it should have been con cerned with other duties. One of these duties was to examine each day the principal newspapers of New England in search of topics for editorial com ment
An eye trained to this business, as any exchange editor can tell you, will pick out at a glance a fa miliar name or suggestive phrase, no matter what its surroundings nor how obscurely it may be printed. Therefore, one day, weeks after Aunt Minervy Ann's recital, when I opened the Boston Transcript at its editorial page, it was inevitable that the first thing to catch my eye was the familiar name of "Mary Ellen Tatum." It was printed in type of the kind called nonpareil, but I would have seen it no sooner nor more certainly if it
304

THE CASE OF MARY ELLEN
had been printed in letters reaching half across the page-
Mary Ellen Tatum! The name occurred in a three-line preface to the translation of an art note from a Paris newspaper. This note described, with genuine French enthusiasm, the deep impression that had been made on artists and art circles in Paris by a portrait painted by a gifted young Amer ican artist, Mile. Marie Helen Tatum. It is need less to transcribe the eulogy--I have it in my scrapbook. It was a glowing tribute to a piece of work that had created a sensation, and closed with the announcement that another genius had "arrived."
The comments of the Boston editor, following the sketch, declared that the friends of Miss Mary Ellen Tatum in Boston, where she spent her early years and where she was educated, were proud of her remarkable success, and predicted for her a glorious career as an artist.
I had no more than cut this piece from the news paper when the door-bell rang, arid as there hap^ pened to be no one in the house to answer it at the moment, I went to the door myself, the clipping still in my hand, and there before my eyes was Col onel Bolivar Blasengame, his fine face beaming
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with good-nature, He had come at a moment when

I most desired to see him, and I greeted him cor

dially.

" I see now," 'said the colonel, " why it is I can

never catch you in your office in town; you do your

work at home. Well, that's lots better than workin'

where any and everybody can come in on you. I

thought Fd find you out here enjoying your otium

cum digitalis, as old Tuck Bonner used to say;

f

but instead of that you're waist-deep in news

papers."

I assured the colonel that there were some peo

ple in the world whom I would be glad to see, no

. matter how busy I might be.

"I know the feeling," replied Colonel Blasen-

game; "but you'll be cussing me as sure as the

world, for I haven't a grain of business to see you

about. But I hear Tumlin and old Aunt Minervy

Ann talking about you so constantly that I thought

I'd come out and say howdye, if no more."

" Well, you'll have to say more than that this

time," I remarked; " I was just thinking, when

you rang the door-bell, that I would give some

thing pretty to see you."

"Now, is that reely so?" cried the colonel.

" Then I'm twice glad--once because I took a no206

THE CASE OF MAEY ELLEN
tion to come, and once again because you're glad. You used to fight so shy of me when you lived among us that I was afraid I wouldn't get on wi' you; but I'm sorter offish myself."
" Colonel," said I, " did you ever know Mary Ellen Tatum?"
He rubbed his face and forehead with his hand, and regarded me with a slight frown, and a smile that seemed to mean anything except pleasure.
"Will you allow me to ask you why you put such a question to me? "
" Why, certainly, Colonel; read that." I placed the clipping from the Transcript in his hand. He held it off at arm's length and tried to decipher it, but the print was too fine. Placing it on his knee, he searched in his pockets until he found his specta cles, and then he read the article through carefully --not once, but twice.
Then smoothing the clipping out on his knee, he looked at me inquiringly.
" Do you know Mary Ellen?" he asked. I did not, and said so. " Did you ever hear of her be fore?"
" Why, yes," I replied. " Aunt Minervy Ann told me some very interesting things about her, and I wanted to ask you if they were true."
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The colonel jumped to his feet with a laugh. "Plague on old Minervy Ann!'7 he exclaimed. " Why, I came out here purposely to tell you about Mary Ellen. This tiring," indicating the clipping, " is away behind the time with its news. The pict ure it tells about is at my house this very minute, and another one in the bargain. The first chance you get, come down home and look at 'em. If you don't open your eyes I'll never sign my name S. B. Blasengame again." He walked up and down the room in a restless way. " What do you reckon that gyurl did?" he asked, stopping before me and stretching out his right arm. " Why, she sent a TTiflTi with the pictures--a right nice fellow he was, too. He said it cost a pile of money to git 'em through the custom-house at New York; he had to hang around there a week. When I asked him for his bill he raised his hands and laughed. Every thing was paid."
The colonel continued to walk up and down the room. He was always restless when anything interested him, unless it happened to be a mat ter of life and death, and then he was calmness itself.
"Did Aunt Minervy Ann--blame her old hide! --I wanted to tell you the whole story myself--did
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THE CASE OF MARY ELLEN
she tell you about a letter Mary Ellen wrote me when "--the colonel paused and cleared his throat --"about a letter Mary Ellen wrote me in the seventies? "
" She did," I replied. "Well, here's the letter," he said, after fum bling in his big pocketbook. " It's not a matter to be showing around, but you seem almost like one of the family, and you'll know better how to appre ciate the pictures when you read that." He turned and went out of the room into the hallway and then to the veranda, where I heard his firm and measured step pacing back and forth. The letter was not a very long, one, but there was some thing in it---a vague undertone of loneliness, a muffled cry for sympathy, which, as I knew all the facts of the case, almost took my breath away. The letter was dated " Boston, September 8th, 1878," and was as follows:

" COLONEL BLASENGAME--Two days ago the home paper came to me bringing the news of the great loss which has come to your household, and ta me. I feel most keenly that a letter from me is an unwarranted intrusion, but I must speak out my thoughts to some one. Miss Sallie was almost the only friend I had when she and I were children together--almost the only per son that I ever cared for. I loved her while she lived, and I shall cherish her memory to the day of my death.

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THE CHRONICLES OF AUNT MINEBVY ANN " You do not know me, and you will not recognize the name signed to this. It is better, far better that this should be so. It is enough for you to know that a stranger in a strange land will lie awake many and many a long night, weeping for the dear young lady who is dead.
" MABY ELLEN TATUM."
What has become of Mary Ellen? the reader may ask* I have asked the same question hundreds of times and received no reply to it. So far as we provincials are concerned, she has disappeared ut terly from the face of the earth.
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