The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-12-06
A Reasonable Price.

Crackers" or poor whites of the South,
in the November number of Lippinco6's
Monthly. The writer was engaged on a
survey for the United States Government
through the State of Florida. The clear
ings' thatwere rendered necessary brought
the surveying party in collision with the
Cracker natives. The writer says:
Sometimes the avenue would shave
mans house, and shade trees would have
to be sacrificed. Sometimes, but rarely,
an orchard would be ravaged. 1t is need
less to say that for all damage thus
done to the property the government un-
hesitatingly paid and paid as it does not
often do-in cash. This fact did not,
however, seem to be known to our Crack
er friends who sojourned in the county of
Starke. One day it happened that the
line struck " deadenin" belonging to an
agriculturist of that fertile tract, and
went first through his corn field (the corn
being about three feet high), and then
through a large and thrifty patch of
sweet potatoes The avenue was fifty
feet wide--the trees fell on all sides.-
What with the trampling of the negroes
and the falling of the trees, it may be
readily surmised that there were not ma
ny corn or potato plants left uninjured
through the length and breadth of that
avenue.
In the midst of the devastation the Of
fcer in charge-a stalwort Kentuckian,
now an able and eloquent clergyman
was sitting on the fence smoking and
calmly surveying the havoc, when to him
rode up youth, bare as to the feet and
legs, sunburnt as to the hair, but irate
and determined as to the countenance.
See hyar, stranger" said he, "this
hyar won't do"
Won't itl' said Y, imperturbly.-
"Well, if it isn't straight, it's BIS fault,
for he lined it."
don't know nothin' bout lines
'cept nam alters sez she hez hern but
this hyar cuttin' through folks deadenin'
an smashin' thar con and eaters-hit
won't do, an we're goin' tu stop hit p
Who are?"
Why, dad and the neighbors, an
an me-" Here he swelled and looked
important. "Dad's gone to rise the
neighbors now, and sent me over hyar tn
tell you to make tracks fore wuss comes
of hit"
While the boy was speaking quite a
eommotion was observed at the house,
which stood about quarter of mile off,
and several long, lean, sunburnt fellows,
each with his rife or double -barreled gun
across his horse rode up to the porch
Soon one of them detached himself from
the crowd and rode slowly and with dig
nifty toward the scene of destruction
AS he came near, the youngster said:
"That's dad. Now, you'll see, stran-
ger~
AS soon as the horseman arrived with
in speaking distance he reined up his
horse, and in a cool but earnest manner
began his parley.
a "Say, cap'n-"
WELL" from Y.
"This mus stop-hit really mus
stranger. Me an the neighbors has de-
termined tu stop hit, an we mean tu do
hit"
why" said Y, d" you don't mean tu
resist the United States Government, do
your"
"D---the UNITED States Govern
ment. STRANGER , said the indignant
Cracker. What do I keer for the Uni
ted States Government when my CON an
tater patch is consarned Hit hain't no
right-it hain't-fur government to cum
thru deadenin' KILN of the crops, an
loadin' of the field wifi light'ud, an a
given of us fur month to cum, an not
payin' us darn cent Pm a peaceable
man, cap'n, but right is right, dit p
A light suddenly illumined the hither-
to blank countenance of Y. In sur
prised and indignant tone of voice he in
qufscd who had said that the United
States dfd not pay for damages done to
crops.
"Who? Why Jim Darton"- pot
house pollution of that neighborhood--
can an'-why, cap'n you don't mean
to say you do pay ?" queried the Cracker,