The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-12
Bill iArp on Peaches, Politics,
Nigsers, Mules, and Things.

Hope says the peaches are not ali
Killed for a man can't examine all the
blooms and maybe there will be enough
for the children. That is the main
thing after ali enough for the children
is what the world is working for
enough money, or land, or food and
clothing; enough pleasure and happi-
ness. How We do love 'em and worry
over EN- 10y night and by day. II we
had no children | think [ would just
quit work and toll right suddenly and
go a fishing. But there is not much
time to frollc on a farm at this season
of the year, for my almanac says:
About tins time plant corr" aud we
are doing it all around these parts. l
can sit on my PLACER and look into
five farms and see the darkeys and the
mules and iIear EN-, too, and its gee
and nav, and git along, Pete, and
whar you gwine, Nell, come round
dar. [ tell you; and there no end to
this affcctiouate. one-sidea discourse
until the horn blows for dinner, and
then the most knowing mules give =
bray all/round. It's astonishing how
much shey do know and can be made
to understand. l had a big mule who
would never give but one pull at a root
unless the darkey who plows him hol-
!eIed cut, Rotten root, | tell you!"
ana then he would break that root or
something else, for he had confidence
in tlIs Niger. 1t always did seem
like there was a kind Of confidential
relation between niggers and mules, d
sort of a treaty of peace and equality.
for there Is no ether animal can stand
the darkey and then there's DO other
human can get along in peace with the
mule. When they are alone together
in Il dig field with long rows, the oGrkey
talks y am all along the line, aGd the
muie listens In respectful silence, but
if TWO dalkies ale piowing together
they talk TO one al ,lhei and the mules
are enuUoed. There is 4 power O! cert
beng planted this sp;ing, and not
much more than h ,f crop OF cotton, 50
lar rs my observation goes. | nope
We viii make enough fooG for the
country, for we can Go with less cloth
in better than be stlnted in vittels.
There is q power of folks dependent
upon US, !he farmers, and a great
IcSDOuSIcIlttJ upou uS- JULIUS iAlSeS
a mighty rumpuS aud takes up a
sight OF Dol III the newspapers, tut
when you compare 1t with farming it
all seems sorter like a monkey show
that is going OH for amusement, anG
the farmers feel like doing like Judge
Stewards Texas Ranger, who went to
see au amateur musical performance
in Roam one night during the war. He.
was i rough specimen about six feet
and Two inches, and a hat like AN UNI
breila, ana boots like stove pipes, anC
spurs that jingle like trace chains, and
Il couple OF navy pistols to set off bis
beard, and he paid his half a dollar
and took a stand behind an empty
bench In the rear, aid looked On with
a lofty contempt, and whenever the
performers closed piece and the cheer
ING began, the ranger ratified the old
bench most aiaimIhgly, ana exclaimed,
''souy, souy, souy," like he was driv-
ing ho2s-and he kept it up until he
munapo iZed the how and had it ali to
hi nseif. Thee premature candidates
for governor and So forth, remind me
of judge Lochran IS story OF the Irish
m III who thought he had a fast horse
ana SO bc put min In the Iaces and bet
on him.. lie run pretty well, but seem
g to run better behind than before,
aDd the Irlshman clapped his hands
with delight and exclaimed, ''faith
and St. Patrick, just look how he
drives EN-" But its ali right. I'm
gao to see the Independents waking
up. Its all for the good of the people,
a III will keep the old democracy OH its
good behavior. There's nothing like
hying sentinels on the watch towers.
S ,metlmes the party goes too fast, and
tlese independents act like q a'aECe
wheel, a regulator, a brake-sorter like
Tinny Hackers year!in, for they say
when Tinny was a boy he tried tor an
hour to urlve u y%earlin out Of the pas
ture, and finally he got him by the tail
ami they run and run and beloved
and run until somebody followed to
h N aDG said: ''Tinny, you can hold
that yeaIhn; what are you trying to
dor Il know l can't hold h a. said
Ttnny, but [ "a make him go SOW
jesse. That is all these independ-
ents are after. They don't expect
o fee, but they have more abouncing
pltrIotism than anybody, and are
holding on to the tail of the concern
just 10 make it go slow. Let's be ten
der with 'em, for maybe their turn
will come after awhile and they will be
tender with US. There are a power OF
ups and downs in this world, and in
politics they are mostly downs--espe-
cially down south.