R J Reynolds High School - Black and Gold Yearbook (Winston Salem, NC)

Page 17 text:

THE BLACK AND GOLD 15 my Nannie wasn't there to tuck me in bed at night and Uncle Jan to graciously serve the dinner. Elizabeth, assisted by the chaieur, tucked Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jan in the back of the car, and then crawled in herself. It was the first time either the old man or his wife had ever been in an automobile, and they were as happy as children as they sped through the frosty air back to the HCld Home. lt was a happy Christmas they spent at the 'Cold Home. Elizabeth did everything she could for their comfort and happiness, and everybody from Ulllarse Robert down showered them with presents. But the Christmas dinner was the crowning joy of all. As the guest of honor, they sat at the servants' table in the kitchen 'fob de Big House. Little did they think it was the last Chrismas dinner they would ever eat, but the next Christmas found snow six inches deep on the graves of Uncle Jan and Aunt Nancy. -Eula Wall, '14. in iii 1..' .?.'2 'tb F. A -1

Page 16 text:

1!, THE BLACK AND GOLD bless 'emi I sez nuthin' 't all 'gin Marse Robert, but I tell yo' dat's a new Missus ob de Big House, Uncle Jan re- marked, huskily. It jes 'pears ter me dat ef I aint at the Big House to welcum my precious chile hum from school, it won't be Christmas 't all. Dat hit wont, Aunt Nancy replied, re- ferring to Elizabeth, who was now attending a fashionable boarding school in the city. HCose I likes it here wid Jacob, but seems ter me dat my days air done en de Lawd jes' fergits ter let me die, poor Jan slowly remarked from his corner by the fire. 4'Jan, dunno yo' talk lak dat! De good Lawd knows his business mo' den us po' niggers does, Aunt Nancy severely rebuked him. Early next morning Aunt Nancy was brushing up the hearth, and Uncle Jan, who could scarcely walk even with a cane, was laboriously bringing in wood from the snowy yard without, when a big gray touring car came driving up in front of Jacob 's cabin. In an instant, dozens of little negroes were upon the scene, for the appearance of an au- tomobile was quite an event in such a little village at this time. A well dressed little girl of about thirteen years of age got out of the car and hurriedly ran into the cabin. Ch, Mammy Nannie! she cried, Hyou didn't think I'd let you spend Christmas in such a place as this, did you? And she threw her arms around the old negro 's neck. f'Honey! Honey! was all Aunt Nancy could say, as the tears streamed down her black face. '4And here's Uncle Jan, Elizabeth continued. '4How good it is to see you all. Now both of you hurry and get ready, for I've come to take you back home to spend Christ- mas. When I came home and found that you were not at home, I simply couldn't stand it, so I made papa let me come over after you, for it wouldn 't be Christmas if Mam-

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16 THE BLACK AND GOLD 1HHammg'n Anzmrrrh Idragvr Lv Qfgqf ITTLE LUCY was sitting in black Mammy's lap before the big fire in the library. Oh, lXIammy, said the little one, Hwhy did those old Yankees come and take my papa away Rd break my mamais heart so that she died? -les ,cause theyls natu'ally low down white trash, replied black mammy. But never mind, honey, she ad- ded in a soothing tone, Mammy's gwine take care er baby. fi know, mammy, but I want my mama andupapa. And just think, it is Christmas, too! Santa Claus doesn't come to orphans, does he, mammy? 'fiawd hab mercy! Cose he do, child. Mammy done forgot all about its being Christmas Eve. You better take off your clothes and hustle your little self into bed, 'cause you know Santa Claus won't come 'till you are fast asleep. Lucy willingly obeyed and ten minutes later was fast asleep in her little bed. lllammy stayed with her until she was asleep, and then went back into the library to think how she was going to get money to buy the child something for Christmas. Finally she dropped down by the chair, which her little mistress had vacated only a few minutes before, and with the tears streaming down her black face she prayed: Oh, Lawd, help me to git money from some whar to buy my darling baby a present with. I don 't know whar its coming from, Lawd, but 17111 a trusting you to hear de prayer ob dis poor niggar dis night, Amen. As she rose from her knees, Uncle Zeke, her husband came in with an armful of wood. 'cHey, man. You is jist the person I's a seeking. Do you know dat dis am Christmas Eve night, and our poor