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sat with them in the gallery。 I imbibed some of their superstitions。
They consider it bad to allow a sharp tool； as a spade； hoe or ax； to be
taken through the house； to throw salt in the fire； for you would have to
pick it out after death。 They would kill a hen if she crowed； looked for
a death； if a dog howled； or； if one broke a looking…glass； it meant
trouble of some kind for seven years。 They believed that persons had
power to put a 〃spell〃 on others； would； if taken sick； frequently speak of
having 〃stepped on something〃 put in their way or buried in their dooryard。
There is no dialect in the world that has the original characteristics so
pleasing to the ear as the negro。 There is a softness and music in the
voice of a negro not to be found in any other race on earth。 No one can
sing a child to sleep so soothingly as a negro nurse。 After I left Texas
and went to Medicine Lodge； Kansas； when I had a headache or was
otherwise sick； I would wish for the attendance around my bed of one of
the old…fashioned colored women； who would rub me with their rough
plump hands and call me 〃Honey Chile；〃 would bathe my feet and tuck
the cover around me and sit by me； holding my hand； waiting until I
fell asleep。 I owe much to the colored people and never want to live
where there are none of the negro race。 I would feel lonesome without
them。 After I came to Medicine Lodge； I did not see any for some
time。 One day； while looking out； I saw one walking up the street
toward the house。 I ran to the kitchen； cut an apple pie； and ran out
and said： 〃Here； Uncle； is a piece of pie。〃 He was gray…headed； one of
the old slaves。 He seemed so glad to see my friendly face and took the
pie with a happy courtesy。 I watched for his return； as he came in on
the train； and was going out。 At last he came。 I asked him in the
kitchen； fixed a meal for him； and waited on him myself。 Before eating；
he folded his hands； closed his eyes； with his face toward heaven； thanked
God for the meal； as I had often seen them do in slave time。 As a
race； the negroes have not the characteristics of treachery。 They are
faithful and grateful。
In my hotel experience； I would often ask Fannie； my cook： 〃What
kind of a man is that？〃 Fannie would say： 〃Don't trust him too far
Mrs。 Nation； he steps too light。〃 When a child my playmates were a
lot of colored children。 Betsy came to the table with the children and
ate with us。 But the sweetest food was that left in the skillets； both
black and white children would go around the house； sit down and 〃sop〃
the gravy with the biscuits the cooks would give us。 I was fond of
hearing ghost stories and would； without the knowledge of my mother；
stay in the cabin late at night listening to the men and women telling
their 〃experiences。〃 The men would be making ax handles and beating
the husk off of the corn in a large wooden hopper with a maul。 The
women would be spinning with the little wheel； sewing； knitting and
combing their children's heads。 I would listen until my teeth would
chatter with fright； and would shiver more and more； as they would tell
of the sights in grave…yards； and the spirits of tyrannical masters； walking
at night； with their chains clanking and the； sights of hell； where
some would be on gridirons； some hung up to baste and the
devil with his pitchfork would toss the poor creatures hither
and thither。 They would say： 〃Carry； you must go to the house；〃
and I would not go with one； but have two； one on each side of me。 I
remember seeing the negro men laugh at me； but the women would shake
their heads and say： 〃You better quit skeering that chile。〃 But there
was one pleasure above all the rest； it was to hear any one tell 〃tales。〃
When my mother would have a visitor； very frequently the lady would
bring a nurse to care for one child or children； she might bring with her。
Oh； how pleased the black and white children would be to see such visitors。
We would gather around and in every way made our pleasure
known。 Would give them doll…rags； nuts； or apples； and in many ways
express our delight at having them come。 As soon as they were made
comfortable； the next thing was： 〃Tell us a tale。〃 And seating ourselves
around on the floor； or in a close group； we would be all attention。
Of course there would be some raw heads and bloody bones； but not so
much as the stories told at night in the cabins。
One of the prettiest stories I ever heard； and never tired of hearing；
that taught me a great moral； was about two girls the children of a
couple who were hard working people。 One of the girls was named
Sarah； the other Mary。 Sarah was a very pretty girl with curls。 Mary
was rather ugly and had straight hair。 Curls in my childhood days were
something very much sought for。 Although Sarah was pretty in the face
she had very rude ways； she would not speak kindly and politely； would
not help her hard working mother； but was idle and quarrelsome； always
wanted some one to wait on her； while Mary was the reverse； would pick
up chips to make a fire； would sweep the yard and bring water； and was
kind to all； especially to her mother。 One day the well went dry and
there was no water to make the tea for supper。 Mary saw her mother
crying and said： 〃Don't cry； mother； I will go and get some at the
Haunted Spring。〃
Her mother said： 〃Oh； no； dear sweet child； those goblins will kill
you。〃
〃No； mother；〃 replied Mary。 〃I will beg them to let me have some
water for dear father； and I am not afraid。〃
So her mother got a light bucket for her； and went to the top of
the hill with her； and said： 〃God bless you； my dear child； and bring
you back to me。〃
Then Mary went on until she came to the high iron gate。 She said：
〃Please gate open and let me through。 I mind my father and mother
and love everybody。〃
And the gate opened and she passed into the 〃haunted〃 grounds
She saw a funny； little； short man come running with a stick and said：
〃Please； nice man； don't hit me。 I have come down to get some good
water to make tea for my father's supper。 He has been working all
day； and our well has gone dry。 May I please have some of your spring
water？〃
〃Well； little girl； as you talk so nice； you can have some。 Tell the
little folks to open the briars for you。〃
So she went on and came to a briar patch and saw down at the roots
little people； not much longer than your finger。 Mary spoke so kindly to
them； said she would be so glad if they would open a path for her to
walk in； she would thank them so much； so they began to pull the briars
back until there was a good path。 Mary thanked them and went on until
she came to the spring and there was a rabbit jumping up and down in
it。 Mary said： 〃Please Mr。 Rabbit； don't muddy the water for I would
like to get a bucket of nice clean water to take home to make tea for
supper。〃 The rabbit ran off and she dipped her bucket full of pure
water。
Then she looked down the branch； and there was a little lamb that had
fallen in and was lying down； and could not get up。 The lamb said：
〃Little girl； please pick me up and lay me on the grass to dry。〃 Mary
stepped on some rocks till she got to the lamb and lifted