Mam Lyddys Recognition | Page 5

civility they had never shown
before.
For the first time the Graemes knew what comfort was in their new
home.
"Well, this is something like home," said Mrs. Graeme that evening as
she sat by the lamp. "Why, I feel like little Ben. He said to-night,
'Mamma, Mammy brought old times with her.'"
"May she live forever!" said Graeme.
In time, however, Mrs. Graeme began to feel that the old woman was
confining herself too closely to the house. She needed some recreation.
She had not even been to church, and Mrs. Graeme knew that this was
her chief delight.
Yes, she would like to go to church, she said, but she did not know
"about dese fine chutches." She did not like much to go on the streets.
"Dere was too many strange folks around for her. Dey did n't keer
nuthin' for her ner she for dem." And it was "de same way, she
reckoned, with de chutches. Dey wuz new niggers, and she did n't had
no use for dem, nor dey for her."
Mrs. Graeme, however, was insistent. Not far off, she had learned, was
a colored church, "Mount Salem," over which the Reverend Amos

Johnson presided with much show of broadcloth and silk hat. He had
considerable reputation as a speaker, and from time to time appeared in
the newspapers as a rather ranting writer on matters with a political
coloring. Mrs. Graeme explained to the old woman that she need have
no more to do with the people than she wished, and the following
Sunday she went herself with her to the door of the church. Before
leaving her she gave her a half-dollar to put in the plate, and asked a
solemn-looking usher to show her a good seat.
When the old woman returned she was interested, but critical. "I'se
been used to chutch all my life," she declared, "but I never saw no
fixin's like dat. Br'er George Wash'n'ton Thomas of Mount Zion was de
fancies' one I ever seen; but he could n't tetch dat man. Why, dey
outdoes white folks!"
"Were n't they nice to you!" asked her mistress.
"Nor 'm', none too nice. Dat one what you spoke to for me wuz gwine
to give me a seat; but a uppish young yaller one stopped him an' made
him teck me back and stick me in a corner behind a pillar. But he did
n't stick me so fur back 't dey did n't fine me when dey tecked up de
money. When I put in dat fif'-cent you gi' me, he jumped like a pin had
stick him. I dropped 't in so 't would soun', I tell you!"
This gave Mrs. Graeme an idea, and she encouraged her to go again the
following Sunday, and this time gave her a dollar to put in the plate.
"Be sure and drop it in so it will sound," she said to her.
"I 'm gwine to."
"Well, how did you come out to-dayf" she asked her on her return.
"Right well. Dey did n't stick me quite so fur back, and when I drap de
dollar in dey wuz several on 'em lookin', and when de chutch was over
dey come runnin' arter me, an', tell me ef I come next time dey 'll have
a good seat for me. I 'm gwine agin, but fust thing dey know I 'm gwine
to fool 'em. I ain't gwine put a dollar in agin, I know."

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. She
says the preacher is from home and knew Caesar. She was really airy
afterward."
Mr. Graeme uttered an objurgation. "You will ruin that old woman, and
with her the best old negro that ever was."
"Oh, no," said Mrs. Graeme, "there is no danger of that. You could n't
spoil her."
A few weeks later she said: "Yes, Mammy is launched. She told me
to-day she wanted to join the club, and when I asked, what club, she
said, 'the Colored Ladies Siciety Club.'" "I should say she was
launched," sniffed Mr. Graeme. "She told me she wanted her money to
invest