Thomas Nelson Page

“ The Frenches were generally esteemed to be among the oldest and best families in the county, and the Château plantation, with its wide fields and fine old mansion, was commonly reckoned one of the finest in that section. But no such comparative statement would have satisfied Mam' Lyddy. She firmly believed that the Frenches were the greatest people in the world, and it would have added nothing to her dignity had they been princes, because it could have added nothing to it to be told that she was a member of a royal house. ”

“ As long as the old people lived, the French place was kept up; but the exactions of hereditary hospitality ate deeply into what the war had left, and after the death of old Colonel French and Mrs. French, and the division of the estate, there was little left but the land, and that was encumbered.
Happily, Cabell Graeme was sufficiently successful as a lawyer, not only to keep his little family in comfort, but to receive an offer of a connection in the North, which made it clearly to his interest to go there. One of the main obstacles in the way of the move was Mam' Lyddy. ”

“ Graeme soon discovered her mistake. One after another was tried and discarded. Those who knew nothing remained until they had learned enough to be useful and then departed, while those who knew a little thought they knew everything and brooked no direction. ”

“ He is a preacher, sure.”
“He is,” observed the small boy on the floor. “That 's the Reverend Mr. Johnson. And, oh! He certainly can blow beautiful smoke-rings. He can blow a whole dozen and make 'em go through each other. You just ought to see him, papa.”
His father glanced casually at the cigar box on the table.
“I think I will some day,” said he, half grimly.
“I never would know her for the same person. Why, she is so changed!” pursued Mrs. Graeme. “She goes out half the time, and this morning she was so cross! She says she is as good as I am if she is black. ”

“ Partly in terror of Mam' Lyddy and partly in hopes of saving his money, the old man made a full disclosure of the scheme, and with the proof he furnished, Cabell Graeme and others succeeded in sending the statesman to the penitentiary.
What Caesar possibly had to endure from Mam' Lyddy, only those could imagine who knew her blistering tongue. From that time she took herself not only everything that she made, but every cent that old Caesar made.
“You keep 'dis for me, Marse Cab. I 'm never goin' to trust dat Caesar wid a cent long as I live. A nigger ain't got a bit o' sense about money.” ”

“ The child was begging the latter to blow smoke-wreaths, and the man was bartering with him.
“Well, you must get me more cigars; remember what I told you—six wreaths for one cigar.”
At this moment the mammy evidently came in, for Mr. Graeme heard the man caution the child, and heard her voice for the first time,
“What dat you telling dat chile?” she demanded, suspiciously.
“Nothing. I was just entertaining him by blowing a few of those artistic wreaths he admires so much. My good friends keep me in cigars. It is one of the few consolations in a hard-working pastor's life. ”

“ She leaned forward, moving up slowly.
“What's dat?—'Amos Brown'? What's dat you said, Marse Cabell? 'Amos Brown'?”
Mr. Graeme nodded. “Yes. This is Amos Brown, 'a friend of Caesar's.'”
“Indeed, I ain 't suh. I'm de Reverend Amos Johnson—” began the preacher, but his looks belied him. Mammy Lyddy took in the truth, and the next second the storm broke.
“'Amos Brown' you is? I might 'a' knowd it! You thief! You a friend of Caesar's! Whar's my money?—My money you stole from Caesar? You come talkin' to me 'bout rec'nition? I done rec'nize you, you black nigger. ”

“ Many a young man who passed that silent figure without a greeting, or spoke lightly of some one, unheeding her presence, wondered at his want of success and felt without knowing why that he was pulling against an unseen current.
“We must drop him—he ain't a gent'man,” she said of one. Of another: “Oh! Oh! honey, he won't do. He ain't our kind.” Or, “Betty, let him go, my Lamb. De Frenches don't pick up dat kine o' stick.”
Happily for Cabell Graeme, he had the old woman's approval. In the first place, he was related to the Frenches, and this in her eyes was a patent of gentility. ”

“ Mrs. Graeme laughed. “Oh! you must pay for being in society. We all do.”
“I know I ain't,” declared the old woman, “and I don't reckon you gwine to gi' me a dollar ev 'y Sunday.”
“I certainly am not. I am only getting you launched.”
The following week Mrs. Graeme said to her husband, “I think Mammy is launched. The preacher came to the front door to-day and asked to see Mrs. Quivers. At first I did not know whom he meant. Then he said it was 'a colored lady.' You never saw any one so gotten up—silk hat, kid gloves, and ebony cane. And Mammy was quite set up by it. ”

“ He is a fine preacher, I hear! Keeps quite up with the times—interested in the races in more senses than one.”
“Yes, sir; he preaches very well.”
“That is all. Well, your friend must have 'rec'nition.'”
The old woman withdrew.
The following day Graeme went down to a detective agency and left a memorandum. A few days later he received a message from the agency: “Yes, he is the same man. He frequents the pool-rooms a good deal. Came from Kentucky. He used to be known as 'Amos Brown.'”
IV
For some days Mr. Graeme took to coming home earlier than usual, and one evening he was rewarded. ”

“ She appeared half startled for an instant, then answered more sharply: “Nor, I don't wan' go home. I ain' got no home to go to.”
“Oh, yes, you have. Well, what is the matter? Out with it. Have you lost any money!” ”