Central High School - Almanac Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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1 'cause heh little boy Jerome dun got married, an' one day when she was a-sittin' in her doah, Mister :Frome he come up with his wife, an' says he, 'Lois, dis here am Mammy Jane! An' she, yo' blessed mother, honey, she put her arms roun' my neck and kissed me an' sez, like de angel she is: ' I want you to like me an' to be good to me like you been to j'rome.' , Mammy's eyes beamed at the remembrance of that happy day, and she held baby closer. V f'Yes, Baby Lois, she added, you will hab the same blue eyes an' pretty curls an' kindly Ways dat yo' mother hab got, an' bless de Lord! you -will hab de same sweet sou1.?' . 'rn'

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his old colored Mammy. She thought of the times when he had come to her with his boyish griefs, and had sobbed himself quiet on the ever-ready refuge of her kind old breast. Then she could see the youth who gaily returned from the Northern school, and who always made a speedy visit to her cottage. She pictured him as he now was, tall and dark, with great, expressive dark eyes and lordly manners, but with ever a kind word for the dear old colored Mammy of his childhood days. By this time tears trickled slowly down Mammy's face, and rage gave way to grief. What a change would come over the plantation when the Northern bride came ! There would be no more moonlight dances in the darkey quarters. No more would Jerome visit her little cabin, scattering shining coins to the darkies by the doorway and speaking to her with tender fondness. The sun by this time had sunk in the west, and the glad Voices of Mammy's grand-children could be heard as they leaped up from the river bank and came merrily trooping home. For the few days following, Mammyfs moodiness astonished the other darkies on the plantation, and the cause was not explained to them until the night when, with the glare of lights at the old mansion, Ierome's home-coming was announced, and a young darkey, bounding into Mammy's cabin, was promptly hushed when he volunteered a description of the new mistress. Such miserable days for Mammy ! Moodily keeping out of her young master's sight,wearing her eyes dim with weeping, and listen- ing, nightly, in a crouched position by the willows, for the voices of the happy young couple as they rowed down the placid river, Mammy's eyes would gleam with suppressed hate when the silvery laughter of Lois rang over the silent waters. Truly pathetic it seemed-the happy young couple, and the neglected, grief-stricken Mammy watchin g them forlornly. Seated in a hammock on the broad veranda of the mansion was Mammy, in her lap, gleefully clutching with its dimpled lingers the bright ends of her scarlet kerchiei is a baby girl, who gurgles and chuckles at the story that Mammy is repeating to her. You pretty lamb! she is saying, 'twas jus' dis time two yeahs ago when yo' ol' Mammy was a-sittin' a-griebin' herself

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A Highland Lover. BY G. H. C. O ye ken the bonnie lassie, The bonnie lass called Mary? I am her aine braw-laddie And she's ma aine wee- fairy. They say she has no beauty, But the blueness of her een Makes me think of God's aine heaven When there's no' a dark cloud seen I was so vera bashfu' That I couldnal tell the lass How ina heart would leap with love When'er we chanced to pass. In dreaming of her pretty Ways, I oft would feel fair seek To think she would na' marry me Because I could na' speak. Ane day I thought upon a plan, And wandered on the brae, There I found a bunch of Lads-love . For my lass so blithe and gay. Sma' Jamie took the bonnie flowers And gave them to ma Mary. She was standing in the doorway Of -her Inother's shining dairy. Hesaid she took the blossoms, And her smile Was glad to see- 'Twas a Wee bit bunch 0, Hearts'-ease That the lad brought back to me.