Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-10-24
Aumuruus 9epartment.
SUCKERING TOBACCO.

A correspondent in southern Missouri gives
the following delightful picture of society in
that delectable region:
Driving along the road we encountered a
slender, sallow female, with arms bare to the
shoulders, and not much clothes on, if we ex-
cept the copper-colored petticoat, who was
working in small patch of tobacco. The
work was that Of pulling off the shoots which
are known as suckers" and crushing the
monstrous green worms
inquired if we could get drink of water.
She spat out mouthful of Tobacco juice with
a "chirt," and said:
"Thar's the spring over yander, and thar's
gourd in it"
Having slaked my thirst with draught of
highly medicated fluid, which tasted strongly
of old horse shoes and hoop iron, sought to
strike up conversation. In passing to the
spring, saw man with very red and
scorched face and two fearful bunged eyes,
sneak off in the corn.
"Is that your husband back there" I in
quired.
"Him! Not much, I reckon. My old
mans gone down in the bottom to see if he
kin kill mess of squirrels, or mebbe young
tridinist, good-for-nothinist whelp this side of
the nation. He hangs round and helps my
old man with the hosses, but he amt worth
his salt. Come out of thar, ye darned galoot,
and show yerself Yesterday he TUX a COW
down to Bresh Crick, that we sold to Ferris,
and he got holt of some whisky, and got drunk,
as matter of course. Then he got into
fight, and the other feller ruther got away
with him, guess. I wish he'd killed the
blarsted beastp'
"What is that truck?" 1 inquired, inno-
Gently, pointing to the tobacco.
"Well, stranger" she replied, with twin
kle in her black eyes, "you must be awful
green not to know that. Whar you been liv-
in all yer life? Why, that's terbacker. We
raise little for our own use People may
say what they please, but I tell you terbacker's
great comfort. I couldn't git along without
it. say, stranger, hev ye got any store ter
hacker about ye? I've got plenty Of twist,
but 1 like navy better"
Unfortunately don't chew, but offered her
cigar.
"A cigar! Well, generally smoke pipe,
but I don't mind tryin' your cigar, just for a
change"
She wiped the green gum of the suckers on
her petticoat and took the offered cigar, while
I struck match. After few pufs, she said {:
"Well, rather like this. It's one Of them
what they call Havanas, amt it Mighty
nice tasted, but it don't 60 to the spot like the
pipe. I say, stranger, would ye like to see
my old manf Jest hitch yer hoss, and tell
the Digger to come in out of the sun, and I'll
blow the horn for him to come up"
I mildly suggested that I was afraid the
"old man might get jealous-that men with
good looking wives were subject to the COM
plant"
Jealous I'd like to see him try that on
me. I'd give him something to bejealous for.
He knows burned we'll that I'm all right, and
that won't have any airs put on over me.
As for bein' good lookin, I've seen the time,
stranger, when you might hev said so, and
told no lie nuther. But havin' the ager, and
raft ofyoung ones, and livin' like this takes
the starch outen young gal mighty quick, /
tell you. This is a mighty fine country for
COWS, but it's hard on wimmin. Mornin',
stranger. Next time ye see patch of ter
backer ye won't hev to ask what it is"