The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-09-08
s e L E C I E D .
From the New York Tribune.l
IS H0t Corn ~

G1QQf aItef nour IaS1 evening as we SAT
over the desk, this cry came up in
soft plaintive voice under our window,
which told Us of one Of the ways of the
poof TO exc out means of subsistence in
this oser-bnrdened, ill-fed and worse
apdgsd home of misery-of SO many
without means, who are constantly
Srowding into the dirtiest purlieus of
this riosorio1sly dirty city, where they
afe exposed to the daily chance Of
Saath frem some sudden outbreaking
epidemic like that now desolating the
same kind of streets in New Orleans.
and swallowing up its thousands of
victims from the same class of poverty
stricken, uncomfortab bly, -provided-forh hu-
man beings, who know not how, or have
not the power. to fee to the healthy
hills and green fields of the county
Here they live-barely live-in holes
almost as hot as the hot corn, the cry
of which rung in our ears from dark till
midnight.
"Hot corn! hot cornI here's your
nice hot corn" rose up in faint, child
like voice, which seemed to have been
aroused by the sound of our step as we
were about entering the Park, while
the city clock told the hour when ghosts
20 forth upon their midnight rambles.
We started, as though a spirit had
given Us a rap, for the sound seemed TO
come out of one Of the iron posts which
stand as seniinels ever the main en-
trance, forbidding all vehicles to enter,
unless the diver takes the trouble to
pull up and tumble out of the way, one
of the aforesaid posts, which is not Of
ten done, because one of them often, if
not always is out of its place, giving
free ingress 10 the courtyard, or livery
stable grounds Of the City Hall, which.
in consideration of the growth of few
miserable dusty brown trees and doubt
fnl colored grass-patches, we call the
Park.
Looking over the post we discovered
the owner of the hot corn cry, in the
person of an emacialed little girl about
twelve years old, whose dirty frock was
nearly the color of the rusty iron, and
whose face, hands and feet, naturally
white and delicate, were grimmed with
dirt until nearly of the same color
There were two white streaks running
down from the soft blue eyes, that told
, of the hot scalding tears that were
coursing their way over that naturally
beautiful face.
Some corn, sir,' lisped the little
sufferer, as she saw we had stopped 10
look at her, hardly daring TO speak 10
one who did not address her in rough
tones of command. such as give me
some corn, you little VOLTS whelp," or
a name still more opprobrious both to
herself and mother. Seeing we had
no look of contempt for her, she said,
piteously. Please buy some corn, sir"
g No, my dear. we do not wish any;
1t is not very healthy in snch warm
weather as this, and especially so late
al night"
"Oh dear, then, what shall I do :"
= aWhy, go home. 1t is past midnight.
and such little girls you ought not
TO be in the streets of this bad city al
this time of night"
81 can't go home-and | am tired
and sleepy. Oh dear"
"Cannot go home! Why not2n
"0h, sir, my mother will whip me if
90 home without selling all my corn.
Oh, sir, do buy one ear, and then shall
have only two left, and am snte she
might let little sis and me eat them, for
/ have not had anything TO eat since
morning, only one apple the man gave
me, and one part of one ne threw
away. | could have stole tuInip at
the grocery when went 10 get-to get
something in the pitcher Tor mother,
'bnt dare not. did use to steal, bnt
Mr.. Pease says it is naughty TO steal.
and don't want TO be naughty, indeed
Id0n't; and ! don't want 10 be bad gil,
like Lizzy Smith, and she is only two
wears older than me, if she does dress
fine cause MIR. Pease says she will
be iusl like old drunken Kate, one Of
these days. On, dear, now there goes
. man and did not cry hot corn, what
shall do m
ssDo! There, that is what you shall
do,n as we dashed the corn in the gut
ter. "Go home tell your mother you
have sold it all, and here is the money"
IS g Went that be lie. sir! Mr. Pease
says we must not tell lies"
1ts, auF ASxSAs lttot Woais " q 'ASt oo-
cause | have bought it and thrown il
away, instead of eating it"
But, sir, may eat it then if you
dent want itan
aNo, it is not good for you; good
bread is better, and here is sixpence to
buy loaf, and here is another to buy
some nice cakes for you. Now that is
yonr money; don't give il to your
mother, and don't stay out so late again.
Go home earlier and tell your mother
you cannot sell all your corn and you |
scannot keep awake, aud if she is a
good mother she wont whip you.a
q Oh, sir. she is good mother some
times. Bot ! am sure the grocery man
at the corner is not good man or he
would not sell my mother rum, when
he knews--for Mr.. Pease told him So
that we poor children were starving
Oh, ] wish all the men were good men
like him, aud then my mother would
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