Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-03
FROM MAURY.
AII About the Freedmen.

All About the Freedmen
tn the Editors of the Union and American;
PRELIMINARY.
Hen roosts are quiet. SmOke-houses are
of nresent inactive. How long this state
~ things viii remain is very uncertain; cir
cumstances alter cases, and when cases
arise different from the present, then, hen
roosts viii be lively, and bacon sides will be
In demand. We are indeed thankful for
the present inactivity, and hope it will long
continue.
TERMS ON WHICH FREEDMEN WORK.
In this section of the county there is
ouite diversity. A few are employed by
fbe month or year. This evidently is the
better plan for them. Then, if bad weather
comes or the employer fails to
keep them busy, the loss is
not theirs-the wages 60 on whether it is
fair weather or foul. But it has this draw
back. the employer demands all the time
until Saturday night, unless there is spe-
cial contract to give them Saturday after
noon. Some WORK for One-half the crop,
the employer finding land, mules, farming
utensils and paying blacksmith bills. Many
did well last year working on these terms.
One very shrewd freedman not liking this
arrangement, demanded pne-fourth, and, l
am sorry to say. it was eheerfully given
him. His eye-teeth came entirely through
when the crop was gathered and the divis-
ion made. He has learned some arithmetic
by the operation without going to school.
Others find everything but the land,
and give one-third Of the corn and
one-fourth of the cotton. Which Of
these two plans is the best, Is not
easv to determine. As general thing, they
are doing very well; but as matter OF
course, there are some idlers.
DEBATING SOCIETIES.
These societies for mental improvement,
and to develop. the art Of elocution, are all
over the country. We have one in this vi
cinity at Hanks Valley. (Hark's Valley is
situated ON a hillD Some of the questions
debated were the following: "Ihree men
were travelling on the bank Of river. One
Of them saw woman on an island. 10
get her off was the difficulty, as neither of
them could swim. No. built boat for
the purpOse, but could not sail it. No. ;
could sail it, and rescued the woman.
Ouestion-To whOmis credit due? No. for
discovering the woman, No. 2, for building
the boat, or No. 3, for taking her from the
island?'' Decision: honor was awarded to
No. l." Another question: (Which is the
most useful to man, money or woman"
In this most puzzling question it was de-
cided that woman was the most useful, and
the main argument relied upon was, "Of
what use is money to a man if he has T {
woman to help him spend it." ReceT tx
there was a contest between Hark's V alley
and Columbia on this subject: "Wb at die
the coIored man fight for in the l. tie war
freedom or money!" Hark's VI .Iev haC
the freedom side, and won t. e dav. o.
night, whichever it was. Over I'm the Sprin!
Hill country this question VIZ IS discussed
short time ago: ais the tUr BILE bug a beas
of burden or a fowl of the ARP" Twas de
cided that it was fowl Q f the air, because
it had wings.
FREEDMEN DOCTORS.
There are two locat ed jim this end of TIN
county. One, DIR. he nnedy, near Ashwood
and the other, DR.. Rucker, near Williams
mort. DR.. r. inf rms me that he is yer,
busv waiting on the sick. Armed cdp-G
Die, with saddle'Oags, he may frequently b.
seen on his err ands of mercy. He recent
attended on old Steve, formerly servant Q
the late Sam II. Armstrong (of happy mem
Ory). Steve had hemOrThage of the lungs
of which complaint he died. The DR.. toll
him it was nothing but bad cold, an
when the cold got higher Up in his throa
he Could cure him. The terms were, n
cure no pay. He gave him some difer3n
LID oFta5 N drink. but Steve got n o bette
Fast and at last deceased. The ID
hroI,oi,t in his bill for services N ndereC
$40, which was not paid. DIR. X. wa
called in as consulting physician. DIR. keI
nedy's forte, however, consists il dispellin
frogs, lizards, snakes and other like yermi
from the back, abdomen and legs of thos
who have been unfortunate enough to hav
had sspel!s' put upon them by their enc
mics. / have been informed by one or II
Dr,sfrmiIy,that he has succeeded in the liar
line, for the lizard was seen to run over II
goor after being expelled from the patient
hack. Facts are Stubborn things; nevel
theless. let us adhere to the facts, no ma
ter how hard they are to believe.
AsHWOOl.