The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-12-25
Every thing that the world may offer
all its gold and glitter, all it's joys and


all its gold and glitter, all it's joys ant
attractions-are of gossamer weight com
pared TO the simple, peaceful, restfn
happiness of home; and the day wbicl
marked our return to dear old Edgewood
is set down in our calendar AZ one Of tht
real red letter days Of our existence.
We were as children again, just from
the restraints Of school. We went here
there, everywhere, in our eagerness te
get look at every body and every thing
We conld have kissed every board in the
house; every tree, plant and animal
through sheer delight. How perfectly
lovely the whole house, under the care
of dear little Daisy! Her touches ot
taste were every where brilliant Au-
tnmn leaves, ferns and grapes, fresh cut
flowers, blossoming plants, cornuc"pias
of golden grain, lunches of the graceful
cat's-tail, singing birds and hanging
baskets were disposed here and there
with enchanting effect.
How good sight the dairy, a. charm
ing Floribel threw open the door and
said, "Now, Aunt Chat, did yoa see any
thing better than that in Yankee landf I :"
Nor did l. Great rolls of yellow butter
and great pans Of delicious creamy milk
greeted the vision. It brought to mind
the opening remarks Of Josh Billings in
his famous lecture on milk. He said he
had seen many articles written OIL milk,
bnt the best thing he had ever seen on
milk was cream. How nice the kitchen,
which could not slight for dear Mamie's
sake, will, its white floors and pyramids
Of FURNISHED tins. How pleasant to fol-
low Viola into the hennery and watch
the we'll fed fowls. How easy to yield
ourselves to Will, while he showed off
his fine Sonthdowns, Durhams and Bcrk-
shires, then led us into the old fashioned
garden where were vegetables and flow
ers, each fulfilling their mission; the one
contributing to the practical needs of
man, the other supplying part Of the
poetry of life. How we clung to noble
Abdallal's neck aud wished we could
leap into the saddle and dash, at Arab
speed, miles away. How we contented
ourselves instead, with ride to the
sngar-house in the wagon. How we all
crowded in and then crept slowly through
the mud, in mercy to the poor mules,
Willing away the time with jocund song
and playful speech. How we enjoyed
watching the boiling, bubbling syrup
and the beautiful machinery. How at
dewy eve, when the lamps were lighted
and the curtains drawn down, we clus-
tered around the glowing hearth and
cbatted over the cup that never ine-
briates. How with little industries, mu-
sic, reading and recitatioDs we passed
the honrs profitably and pleasantly. And
how in our exquisite happiness we fan
cied that nothing could allure us from
our home again! Alas!
Variety is the source Of joy below,
and perhaps, ere many months, we shall
find it absolutely necessary to lower our
tents and HE to other climes.
But, there is reverse side to every
picture. Outside Of all the cheer and
lovelness of home, was the sad reality
of u very disastrous season. The wall Of
the planter was heard from every quar-
ter. They could not haul their crops
over the impassable roads, their mules
were dying and utter ruination stared
them in the face. Dreadful, truly! Yet,
while l feel great sympathy for the
"poor planters" / can not help blaming
them for their present situation. / can
not help thinking that they are the most
unprOgressiye, stand-Rtili, stick-in-the-
mud set Of people that ever tried to get
their dues from Mother Earth. Really,
they are not go very much in advance Of
the dead-alive agriculturists Of Italy
and Mexico.
Now, why don't they use the portable
railway OF tramway roads for hauling
cane from the fields to the sugar-housesi
These roads might be constructed of
good cypress timber in sections, as long
as the scantling could be procured, Of
narrow gauge, SO that two men could
easily handle and put them together by
means of hooks. If in a very wet season
like this, these timbers should tend to
sink too deeply into the mud, boards of
sufficient width might be spiked on the
bottom Of the rails to afford bearing sur
face. This tramway road should be laid
from the cane shed to that portion of the
cane to be gathered. Then, with cars
constructed tor the purpose, with two
mules, one on the outside of each rail,
drive to the field, cut and load the cane
on the cars and haul to the sugar-house.
Then move the road to any other point
desired. When the crop has been taken
off, the tramway should be taken up in
sections, .,eginning at the far end, and
hauled on the read to the cane shed and
nicely piled up until the next season,
unless needed to carry the sugar and
molasses to the point of shipment.
Surely this is all practicable and l do
hope that the planters, driven to despair
as they have been by this unprecedented
weather, may be induced to try the
tramway road. The cost of such roads
would he more than saved every year by
the planter getting off his crop in time,
in avoiding freezes, in saving fuel, III
the wear and tear Of mnles aud In the
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