The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-17
CHAPTER XvIII-Con,inued.


.or most large plantations, whether of rice
/. c.rr,m. IN Eastern Georgia and South Caro-
t.a saws Omsted, nearly all ordinary and
aar work is performed by tasks.
H.. tasks certainly would not be considered
1s.ss.rely hard By a Northern laborer; and,
nojut Of fact. The more industrious and active
zpls finish them often by two o'clock. n
4 neatly ali ordinary work, custom has settled
al extent of the task, and it is difficult to in
,reas' il. In iact, II Is looked upon
.,,bi, region as a proscriptive Iprescriptive?l
,,ift If the negroes 10 have this Indictment to
sd,eace offered them. Notwith-
.radng This, | have heard a man assert, boast
+, b. thar he made his negroes habitually per-
lam double the customary tasks
That Colonel Rochemaurice did not do.
Hi5her motives apart he was vain of his ad-
illustrative and versatile powers. He was
rn,ai 10 show how wonderfully it was possible
fr him to combine the accomplishments of the
.tl5ar. the gentleman, and the planter. He
gRhel TO raise the largest crops of any one in
Stih Carolina, 10 be sure but he also wished
,5dspav the finest stock of negroes. To see
tttm lGok sick, squalid, and over-worked, would
t,g- been proof of bad management, and a
Modification 10 him.
Bur what would You have, sir ?" said he,
one lay, after dinner, to an old classmate,
vi+n "reminiscences of boyhood and an extra
g.s Of his rare Moselle-he seldom took an
-xta LAS Of anything-had made him genial
and lawful " anegro as never happy but when
hes keeping or eating, and never out of mis-
dei but when he's sleeping, eating or work
int Nov, know TO a nicety-Tve made a
.ildy Of these things-just how much he can
Eork without iniuring himself, and make him
Wora as much as he can; and then he has a
Inc appetite, and eats all the food he can get :;
aud thea he Is drowsy, and sleeps all the time
n- can eei.
10 the mean while, while Herman was ma
kng the reflections which gave rise to our digres.
-ou, the Colonel was surveying the children,
giih BIS critical connoiSSeur eve. He asked the
I'D vJlaan whether they were all well, and was
u.iorned that they were, Z" All peart, 'ceptin
jas ,iai dar. sleep in dat pGsner dar-Ben's
Lrr t,eth. Got one a-comin now, mos big Us
be head. Reckon she gettin she secon ones
hn -doc. 50 SqIeal mos dis yer whole NOR
Nm lid IT, poor little nigger."
The Colonel dismOunted, gave his horse
rem TO the old woman, turned up his cuffs,
fraf 10 the slumbering child, picked il up by
Laadldl Of the back oi It's frock, as some per
.ou, do Kittens by the skin at the back of their
neeks turned it over, and set ii up III sitting
posture ON the piazza, not violently, but with a.
tu>a ike disregard 40 It's shrieks of fright
and anger. as if he had been a dog fancier, and
Il it'll, puppy. Holding the back on its bead
hrmy between the thumb and fore-6nger of one
Land, be put one finger of the other into its
crr,.lnins mouth. and ascertained that one OF
Z, sams was much sweled. He released it,
siksn a word of reproof or consolation, fun
aled Ia His pockets, produced lancet, opened
i. reeaptifel the baby. which was scrambling
OF Cil all-fours v0rifrously towards nanny,
ance,i The gum, let the patient 60 once more
Washed his hands, and remOunted. Not par
ide Of UNNECESSARY suffering had been inflicted
il VI accept the shock of the nerves Of q fever
,h child "a being Suddenly awakened. to find
r-rli in the glipe of stern and silent stranger
bat there had been an indescribable absence o
geEjienasS and consideration aboUi the whole
proceeding. The Colonels air and expression
lad leen anything but those Of a compassion
ale mai mnistering 10 suffering infancy they
Ssrr simply that of an economical proprietor o.
i've stock. taking care of his properly. Herman
aopeI 10 hear an order given to the nurse 4
keep the mother in from the field, that the chile
might sleep upon her knees insteaa Of the floor
Il east until II was well again; but no suGt
order was given. No, the Colonel did not ap
f'gss cruel-that is, not wan:only SO, from an
a5'irsf love OF crueliy-but dry, hard, and nj
'eTir distinguishing.
pl this. Herman had another instance pres
enily They rode slowly through the little vii
iaae a white-washed woodap cabins, the Colo
tel expstiatirg with much pride upon their supe
nor obstruction, dryness, airiness, and SO fos iE
but it'll AFTER that odd. cold, extraordinary fash
ion of his, as if he had been exhibiting his owl
modelSiabes or dog-kennels, or Een-houses, o
Rnything but the habi,ations of his fellow men
when ia his thorough supervision, standing VI
N has stirrups, and leaning upon his horse
neck. % peer round a corner, not easily acces
sble from ths street, which ran between tn
eahins, he spied line climbing-rose, CAREFUL
trained out OF sight, by SOME sable florist, owe
The further wall and window of the hut, Hal
zoo. cried he, here, mammyi" Mama
came hurrying, with the gait and general as
peet OF tortoise from Brobdignag, rampan,
That rascal Joe has been at his tricks again
'rzlhirg creepers over his cabin. Here, TAX
my knife and tumble over the fence, and Gu
them, close TO the root, do you hear?"
les, masr"
have told them before" continued h6, i
expaHatOn. turning to Herman, with an az
grleved air, that ! will not have it; and
vii nT. II rots the boards. They may hav
as many flowers in their gardens as they ca
get, and not be interfered with but this is
>pee.men Of their habitual conduct. As man
Of wear directions as they think they can disr
gard without your knowledge, they will
Herman said nothing. What was there ,
az. eScela tba. it was yery hard if grow
man could rot arrange and decorate bis ow
home TO suit himself, without SO much as =
oeylng any directions upoa the subject fro
anqheT man; and where would the use ha'
peen Of saying that 10 Colonel Rochema1rice
ferllaps the latter began TO notice and wes
q niS silence for, after making few inqu;si
about the public schools of the North, and as
ing whether itdid NOT make " the Democracy
turbulent 10 give them liberal education,
winch Herman. considering the question on
n fhe abstract, answered, very innocently, tn
ne nld : not think that il had that effect upon
democracy more than it did upon an aristc
'Afy or an oligarchy." he also held his tongu
Aaeegant little luncheon Of cold meat, frli
ana iofs, was served as soon as they returns
70 the house: and Herman, in watching Il
Noicnel courtly and very engaging attentio
'Sms wife and daughters. could scarcely belle
mat he vas the cold-bloodsd and seeming
nearless despct of half an hour before but
IS The affections Of some men are III
Nens, stony on the outside, narrow yet de-
sHhin, not flowing forth Ike a river to Sc
1lfsiy souls far and near. and GLADDEN. Coz
F@rth' nor gushing up and around Ike fou
IAN ih Ia u.e sun. for ali who seek them, but ii:
az not%ithstsnd ing, aud very precious each
sumo one indiNiAual LIZ hnl,sahold L. = :.