The Little Immigrant | Page 9

up in the pilot house, waving his cap in
return until the churning side-wheel carried him around the bend.
New houses were dotting the town here and there, some of them large
and handsome with spacious grounds. Kerosene oil lamps were put up
to light the streets and an "Opera House" was built, where many a stock
company came to play in tragedy or comedy. Shakespeare's plays were
the favorites of the community and Jaffray and Renestine went often to
the theatre, accompanied by their two daughters, who were in their
advanced school-day years and able to appreciate it. There were two
little sons added to their family circle; they remained asleep in their
trundle beds with old Aunt Caroline watching over them, as she had
watched over the little daughters. Josiah had died right after the war
was over, but he lived to see his people freed and schools opened where
they could be taught to read and write--a precious privilege. He had
said to Aunt Caroline just before his last illness: "Thanks be to God that
He has set the colored folks free, but thanks be to Him mosen for
gibbin' me a good marsa and missus who gibs me my close, my vittles
and my me'cine."
The relation of the household servants to the Southern family was that
of trust and affection after their liberation. In advanced years, like old
Aunt Caroline, the younger servants saved them unnecessary steps and
their days were happy and peaceful.
Near the home which Renestine and Jaffrav occupied almost touching
the porch was a huge oak tree spreading wide shade around it. Here the
children played; or, if it was a rainy day, they carried their precious
dolls and drums into the latticed summer house built for ornamentation
and use in very hot weather, where woodbine and honeysuckle ran
along its diamond-shaped walls and hung thick and colorful in great
waves. Jaffray loved his home and spared nothing that would make it
comfortable and attractive.
His days were very arduous now, as he had to learn the methods of a
government position. It appealed to him, though, for it was a pursuit

which required reading up on rules, laws and regulations, and his bent
was for books and instruction from them. While his days passed in
attending to the business of the Post Office, his nights were given to
study and self-improvement. He was never satisfied with what he
achieved; to learn and to know more and more was his ruling passion.
Many citizens now called upon him for advice. He would be asked to
speak when a new building was opened or a public movement was on
foot. They knew him to be generous and full of civic pride. He
belonged to the Board of Aldermen and at one time was offered the
office of Mayor. He had the confidence and respect of all the
inhabitants of the town and his politeness and gentleness were the
qualifications which made them love him.
He was a tall, spare figure, with black, well-set eyes, black hair, now
showing thin at the temples and somewhat bald; he had a short black
beard and moustache and his carriage was upright and dignified. He
could be stern, even severe, when things aroused his anger, and nothing
could touch his temper quicker than underhand dealings or a mean act.
But his whole being was steeped with love of his kind and sympathy
with the poor.
In the early days of Jefferson he and a friend bought a deed for a
cemetery and presented it to the Jewish community. His home was
opened to social and political gatherings where his friends were sure of
a warm welcome. Renestine was always the center of attraction of these
social affairs. She was proud of her husband and flushed with
happiness when she saw him surrounded by admiring groups of men.
At this time a new influence came into their lives. It was a fine old
Frenchman, who had drifted down to Jefferson from Alabama, where
he had been a professor of piano teaching. His name was D'Archais,
and by degrees they learned his history. But the immediate result of
their meeting was to give their two little daughters, now eight and ten
years old, to him to be instructed in music.
The history of this new friend was a romantic one. During the time of
Louis Philippe he left Paris. His property and title had been taken by
the revolutionists for he was an aristocrat, a Count, and he found that

he was safer with the ocean between him and his beloved Paris.
He landed in Mobile, Alabama, and used his accomplishments of
painting and music as a means of gaining a livelihood. For many years
he worked in his profession