Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1869-03-13
RURAL INNOCENCE.

The following picture of that rura
innocence which must call to the mind o1
the reflective reader all the pastoral mar
~ratives of the more or less innocent 90
ings OF man some time after the fall
does great credit to the deserving powers
of our contributor no less than to the in
teresiog subjects Of buccolic simplicity
which it presents for our admiration
Wishing to learn all l could about
farming, l took myself to the cornfield
with John. He willingly provided me
with q hoe, and offered to show me how
to use it. When we arrived at the field,
be threw himself fat on the ground, say
ing ::
Nov, you try on. See how smart
You can hoe. One of ye can hoe six rows
'afore noon. There won't be no need Of
. my dom nothin'."
81 1marveled at the boys innocence, but
set about hoeiDg the corn. Along to-
wards noon the widow came out to the
field. ....a as.t. ..-. .
How dye make Z John ARENAS,
where's your hoin'2n grysinIyT
haint got ter hoe any more while
we have boarders. Mr.. Smith bere-he
can hoe six rows afore noon, an that's
all l can do. 'Spose don't make no odds
who hoes the corn, s'long it gets hoed p
mo. But don't you see if you take
hold an hoe with bin, bell be more en-
couraged, an you'll be gettin' along SO
much the faster +? Tuck in, Mr.. Smith.
You are asgood boer-tbe smartest hoer
l ever Gee. They used to tell me l was a
rippin' hoer. when l was asgal, but Pm
al broke down lat. years. Celtic mar
ried and havin' q family is what takes the
smartness out of a body /; but we'll all
have to come to it. It'll be your turn
n~ext-jes' likes not, Mr. Smith" And
Nj. Artemss besved q sigh.
Looking over the meadows, l saw the
pretty blue eyed girl who had laughed at
my milking. quietly picking greens for
dinner. I,dropped my hoe, aud s~trolled
over the Geld between. She did not see
my shadow upon the grass, nor hear my
footsteps as I approached her.
LET me assist you, Miss Artemas, /
said.
She gave one yell ard started for the
house, ,ber basket rolling ia one direction
and her dinoer-out.lines in another. OIL
course l watched her as she skipped over
the moving. Any mar would have felt
anxious to have seen the result of such a
race. l did, spyhow. 4 After she bad dis.
appeared within doors, l collected the
scattered greens I" and marched to the
house. s.l. i,,J. ., s"l9
Entering the kitchen I found Mr.. Arte
temss trying to comfort the weeping dam
sci who had fled from the meadow As l
entered the room Mrs. ARENAS exclaimed:
shouldn't think you'd do 50, Mr.. {
Smith. You've scarf her Almost ter
death f; sbe is dreadful virtuous, and can't
bear . man to speak to her. You must I
not do it againrbJ0EE F32F@ i
Emily rolled up her eyes and tried to
look injured. A loud ring at the door :
bell announced company. 1t proved to |
be Mrs. Bragg and her little boy, come
stay to dinper and tea. 10 the course &
Of the afternoon the minister happened in c
% sfrieudly visit. Mrs. Bragg took &C: q
casion TO- show"of the smartnessC of her '
before the minister, and l was amused
bis success. Adolphus was drawn out
BY the minister in this way:
."My little man, can you tell me how .
I'D you are ?" ''d" '- 80 S
"Five years old last 'cember." .t |C
Five years old! Can you read 7" v
Eyes, ] can" b
"Csn read. Well, little man, can you t
'pell p -" I
1eo, CaH. =5aFil 5JsrGl. r.. u
:" Well, now, spell cat."r aa... b
s"'C.srt, cat" said Adolphus, promptly. b
"That's right ; 10Y spell dog" 8
"Dog ! dog, dog" l,. ', B
fright again! Now, I will spell and +
,ou shall tell me how to pronounce.-e
} e'e'r spells what?"s
~ dunno y" ~ i .sttt b
"Yes, you do know, too I" corrected t
drs. Bragg. n
II tell you I don't |" rrooared Adolphus. E
Think . moment, Sonny; what does
'spa call mamma when be comes home
work r. said the mother. d
sob. is it that p, ,. ,,is. f., s,,sn,.ias %
Yes, dear ; now tell the minister. 7
"What does deer spell p asked the il
aaron, pleasantly, looking over bic d
leases. " El1r1Ja|9h .
"Spclls DID ole fool Z" shouted mas 4
or Adolphus. elated At bia aucceas o