Memoir of plantation childhood: dancing lessons, the measles, and Mr. Kershaw rector of St. Michael's

and entirely by air — and had a lovely voice. She decided to teach us to dance. So the Simmons children — who live in the Parsonage — Emily (now Mrs. Charles Russell), Sonnax — and Quillie (now Mrs. Tom White) used to come over. Mauma would play and Aunt Lil taught us to dance. I never hear the old waltz — “There is but one Paris” or the “Blue Danube” — that I can’t look back and see the living room. Mauma was at the piano — and Aunt Lil swung us up for steps.

Then the whole tribe came down with measles. Except me. I had had them — and beautifully in Charleston. I would look at my hands and weep because they looked so horrid — Mauma made me little white bags and tied my hands up in them so that I couldn’t see them. I didn’t seem to worry about my face. Aunt Louisa came in to see me and brought me some moss roses — from the garden — and a little china dog wearing spectacles. It’s queer the little memories that we keep through all the years.

Mr. Kershaw the rector of St. Michael’s church — in Charleston — was one of Mam’mie’s dear friends. She knew him when she was a girl in Camden. After her father’s death Mr.