Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-06-22
LETTERS FROM THE SOUTH.


While the boat wooded, we employed
an excellent opportunity in visit to one
of these enormous farms, with their
different type of industry 1t proved
to be the plantation of one Mr.. Miner.
IL contained two thousand acres under
cultivation, and about two hundred and
forty negroes. There was but one white
man on the premises. the son of tho
owner, who resides in Matches. Ho
greeted US very cordially, and in reply
to our request, granted us permission to
see whatever we were able. A polite
negro overseer conducted US through the
monsIrous sugar-house, and explained.
The ladies have declined molasses ever
since, and confess an aversion to tho
fluid which never felt before. A large
pond Of il lay under our shoes as We
trod from log to log of that species of
covering which constitutes a barn floor
before the boards are added. In all
their dealings with this sable and sweet
sauce, the Africans are bareiooted. But
! hurry you TO the huts. The quarters
were log-eabins, and not neat at all.
They were single-roomed, and contained
table, Fireplace, pot and a pan, and
bed or two. II was work hours"
and they were deserted, save the old
gray grandmother that hummed by the
nest of backing, and the older ur-
cbins that frolicked around the door-steps.
We approached one Of the gray grand
mothers.
How dye do, Auntie7 Is that your
little one2
%, la, no, massa. Her mothers out in
de field
Would she like US to take it away
with us r.
Don't know. just as massa says,
s'pose.'
Well, but would its mother like It sold
and sent off,?
No, sah-reckon not poor darksy
loves what's hern.'
Does poor darkey love Jesus, Aunt
ie?'
Yes, massa, dat's de iruf l love
Jesus
What did he do for you, Auntie 2
Died for me, massa.'
And you're going to heaven, ara
you, Auntie 2
Yes, sab, massa; de old 'omans
gwine dat track, now dat's de truf' and
the old slaye-saint's countenance shone
like the Law-giver's.
We came upon a group Of slave girls
and women hoeing the eorn-ground. A
mulatto "driver" walked among :hem,
with an sgly lash hung around his neck.
What do you do with that affair mis-
Ter?
20, dat's to keep the gals stralgb;
little
DO you use il sometimes
Not often. Don't like the business
much. Don't believe in whippen folks.
You wouldn't like, would you n
Not much
You don't seem to have any church
here. Do you go to meeting7'
No, sab. De fact is, all Of EN- are
Christians what are gwine to be. De
rest am fixed. Better for 'em if dey
would get religion; but de debil is so
sweet dat dey can't pray
/ We learned an almost incredible story
Of an old black woman, that the slaves
Of this plantation we're forbidden to at
tend the church that we saw standing
some three-quarters Of a mile from
where we stood. She said they had
been allowed the privilege for about a
year, and ever since it has been denied
them, notwithstanding tie earnest en-
treaties Of the preacher.
| We have passed the famous Orange
Grove Plantation" owned by one Burn
side, dry goods merchant Of New Or
leans. II contains, / am informed.
10000 aeres--l2,000 Of i, Is under cul-
tiyaiion--and 1000 negroes. Il was
purchased for one million collars, and
pays II l.2 per cent on Two millions
Exdm. Cor.
TnE Losr.-surely. were God bat