Daph’s Shopping.
Daph had observed a small cabinet-maker’s shop, not far from her new
home, and to it she easily made her way. The sight of two little wooden
chairs, painted with the usual variety of wonderfully bright colors,
attracted her attention, and suggested her plan of operations.
“It’s for de childen I’se buying,” she said, “and what’s de use ob
paying a big price for grown up things. I just wants two chairs and a
few tings to match for de dears.” While Daph was thus soliloquising,
the shopman came forward, and she promptly addressed him as follows,
“I’se jus come, sar, to buy de fixin ob a leetle room for my massa’s
childen, General Louis La Tourette.”
Daph mentioned her master’s name with a pompous air, and with great
distinctness, which had their effect on the humble cabinet-maker. He
moved about briskly, and Daph soon had displayed before her all the
small articles of furniture he had on hand.
The bright yellow chairs, adorned with the wonderful roses and tulips,
were first set aside; then followed a little table, painted in the same
fanciful manner, and lastly, a good-sized trundle bed, of a somewhat
less gaudy appearance.
“I’se in a most pertickler hurry, jus now,” said Daph; “would you jus
hab de kindness to get for de bed jus what will make it look neat and
comfable; not too nice for childen to play on, while I steps out for a
few notions as I’se ’bliged to git.”
The shopkeeper kindly complied, while Daph went on her way delighted
at being thus able to have what the children would need for comfort, a
matter about which she felt herself quite ignorant in this new climate.
Daph’s next stop was at a tinman’s. Two wash-basins, such as she had
seen on board ship, three shining tin cups, three pewter plates
and spoons, one strong knife and a capacious saucepan, completed
the purchases which she promptly made. Drawing a gold piece from
the captain’s purse, she laid it calmly down on the counter, then
gathered up the various articles selected. The tinker eyed her a
little suspiciously, but there was no look of shame or guilt in her
frank and honest face. He concluded she was a servant, sent out by
her mistress, and carefully gave her the right change, which seemed,
in Daph’s eyes, to double her possessions. When she returned to the
cabinet-maker’s, she found the trundle-bed neatly fitted out, while a
lad with a wheelbarrow was ready to take home the furniture. She added
to her purchases a plain wooden bench, and then said, composedly, “I
don’t know de valer ob such like tings, but General Louis La Tourette,
my massa, does, and you must deal right and honest.” As she spoke, she
laid down two of her precious gold pieces, then gathered up the small
change returned to her, not without some misgivings as to the accuracy
of the shopman.
When Daph reached home, she found the children still sleeping soundly,
and she was able to get the little room in order to her satisfaction
before they were fairly awake.
She turned up the trundle-bed on end, and threw over it as a curtain
the pure white spread the shopman had provided. The deep recess on one
side of the chimney, thus shut in, Daph intended to consider as her
private resort, and in the small cupboard in the wall, she laid out the
children’s clothes with scrupulous care. This done, she set out the
little table with the new cups and plates, and drew the chairs near it,
while the remaining tin treasures were ranged along the wash-bench in
the most attractive manner.
It was well for Louise and Charlie that they had been much accustomed
to being away from their mother, or they might have been poorly
prepared for their present lot.
General La Tourette had married a young American girl, who was then
living on an island near that on which his plantation was situated.
Shortly after this marriage, the husband received a dangerous wound in
his side, which unfitted him for active duty, and he resolved to settle
down on his own plantation, which had for a long time been under the
care of a most injudicious overseer.
Daph accompanied her mistress to her new home, and tried her utmost
skill in cookery to tempt her master’s now delicate appetite. Even her
powers were at last at fault, and General La Tourette could not taste
the tempting morsels which the faithful creature loved always to
prepare for him.
Frequent change of air was now prescribed for the invalid, and the
fond mother was almost constantly separated from the children she so
tenderly loved; yet her sweet, devoted, christian character had already
made its impression on the little Louise.
Thus situated, the children had learned to be happy for the present
hour, with any one who happened to have the charge of them. General La
Tourette, though a native of France, spoke English in his family, and
to that language his little ones were accustomed. They took no fancy to
the cross French nurse who had latterly had the charge of them, and
much preferred Daph, whose English was pleasant to their ears. They
loved to linger at the door of her southern kitchen, or play under the
wide-spreading tree that waved over its roof.
Daph returned their affection with all the strength of her warm heart,
and Mrs. La Tourette felt sure that in her absence, Daph would watch
over both children and nurse with an eagle-eye.
With more of the dove than the eagle in her expression, Daph now sat
beside the little ones in their new home, so far from the land of their
birth.
Not long after her preparations were completed, Daph had the
satisfaction of seeing the children awake, refreshed by their long
sleep, and full of eager delight at the wonders achieved by their new
nurse. She listened with hearty satisfaction to their exclamations of
surprise and pleasure at the shining tin and gayly painted chairs.
Daph was just wondering what was to fill plates and cups that looked
so attractive, when a bell was rung imperatively, in the street,
before the house. From all sides women and girls gathered round the
bell-ringer’s cart, and from his great cans he filled their vessels
with milk, which was at this moment most refreshing to the eyes of
Daph. She seized her new saucepan, and sallying out, presented it to
the milkman, and received her supply. She watched carefully the bits
of money given by other applicants and was fortunate enough to select,
from the change she had that day received, the right payment for the
milk.
In a few moments, the children were seated at the little table, and
enjoying their nice supper of crackers and milk, in a way that made
Daph’s eyes sparkle with delight.
“Daffy eat too!” said Charlie, motioning to her to put the spoon in her
mouth, instead of his own. “Yes, Daffy,” said Louise, “do take some
supper.”
Daph had hardly thought once of herself during the whole of this
busy afternoon, but when the children had finished their meal, she
filled her cup with the fare they had enjoyed, and ate it with no less
satisfaction.
“Daph knew de great Lord would take care of us!” she murmured, as she
looked round on the room that seemed to her so comfortable, and true,
fervent gratitude, undisturbed by one fear for the future, filled the
heart of the faithful negro.