Old Wash’s Ma.
Editor Trotwood’s:
Your writings as they appeared in the Horse Review always appealed to me, especially the “Old Wash” stories, and I remember some years ago that some one was impertinent enough to ask the age of Old Wash. Of course, that fellow wasn’t entitled to an answer, but as I have run across a clipping of an old negro woman whom I am sure must be old Wash’s mother (I hope you can verify it), I want him to look her up. The fact that he felt young enough to marry (the unlucky thirteenth) it might interest him to be able to tell his troubles to his ma.
Your magazine is a welcome monthly visitor, and may it always come up to the standard you have planned for it is my earnest wish. Here is the story:
Barnum, the great showman, hearing of an old negro woman down in Tennessee who claimed to be 125 years old, called to see her with a view to securing her for a side show. He found that the old woman was really very ancient, and commenced to question to find out just how old she really was. He said to her:
“Auntie, do you remember George Washington?”
“I reckon I duz, sah; I’se played wid him many a day.”
“Do you remember anything about the Revolutionary War?” asked Barnum.
“Well, I should say I duz,” replied the old lady. “I ’members when de bullets wuz a flyin’ and a zoonin’ round here laik bumblebees, sah.”
“What do you remember about the fall of the Roman empire?” said Barnum.
The old woman was “stumped” for a moment, but, recovering herself, replied:
“I wuz a mighty leetle gal den’ but I ’members hearin’ de ole folk say dat dey heerd sumpin’ drap.”
E. J. FERGUSON.
Washington, Pa.
Photo by Julie Royster, Raleigh, N. C.