Written by Katherine Haas, Marshall Haas' daughter, who was a school teacher in Bunkie. The language is indicative of the era. Marshall was a country doctor in the highest sense of that profession, tending to patients of all races and economic backgrounds, often receiving payments in the form of chickens rather than cash.
In Memoriam
By Katherine Haas
(written in honor of her father, A. Marshall Haas)
The Master of the House lay dead
All day
The gentry came their last respects
To pay
To that dear dust, and with a love
Sincere
They heaped their costly blossoms
On his bier.
Their kindness touched my heart;
But how much more
Those humble ones came to the
Back door,
Shy, ignorant, inarticulate, yet each
Striving to comfort me with loving
Speech.
"Honey" said one "We's black and
He was white
But Darktown's gonner be flood
Wid tears dis nite!
De Marster always was de niggers
Friend.
He was so good to us!" Yas Lawd"
"Amen!"
Another came who had just heard
The news.
The dust of country roads was on
Her shoes
And grimed her tear-wet face for
All to see,
She held a scrawny chicken out to
Me.
"I thought he'd lak some broth,"
She bowed her head
"An so I brung dis hen. An' now
He's-Dead!"
Then Jake, a graceless rogue just
Out of jail,
"De Marster was de one what paid
My bail.
If you needs any thing jes' ask,
Kaze law Miss.
I aint' got no money but I sho'
Got sarvice."
I tried to thank him and the
Ragged crowd
Echoed, "Jes' call on us Ma'am.
We'd be proud!"
A slim mulatto, usually so gay,
Then handed me a gaudy, small
Bouquet.
"Miss dese ain't lak de white folk's
Flowers I know
But Martser always 'mired mah
Flowers, so
Could you jes' slip dem down
Behin' des res'?"
"Oh, thank you, Mandy! He would
Like these best"
Poor Mandy choked. "Gawd know
Bes" she said.
"But look like he mighter took
Someone else instead!"
Old Uncle John laid his black hand
On her shoulder.
"Gawd do know best. You'll know
When you gets older.
Gawd do know best, aldo hits hard
To bear.
Maybe us niggers needs a friend
Up dere."
1903 - 1984