The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1883-12-22
CANDY FOR THE BABIES
Is Better than Rigid Exaction of tn,
Debts of the MOrtsaged Farmer OF
Such Year as This.

Is Better than a Rigid ExactiOn of the
Debts of the MOrtgaged Farmer on
Such ear as This.
Special Correspondence of the Chronicle.
WILLIS CREEK, December 19.-Not
very long since goodly number of pas
sengers on one of our Cape Fear steamers
were being transported to Wilmington,
the tar, pitch and turpentine metropolis of
the State. After a good supper the saloon
filled up, the professionals and merchants
lighting their cigars, and the ''rusticuses''
their pipes. In the absence OF mantel-
pieces to rest their pedestals on, the posts
were used instead. But like the boy SOL
dier telling his mother how thick the bull
let's flew in ''old Virginia. Says she,
"son, why didn't yon get behind tree?"
when he replied, ''Lor, nanny. there
wasn't trees enough for the officers
There were not posts enough to go round,
so the poorly shod had to be content with
their heads above their feet. The conver-
satiOn turned on the haruships of the differ
eut avocations, when one of the number
delivered himself somewhat in this wise :
''No use talking about farming-there
amt cent in it. [ tried it ten years, and
to be plain about the matter, I'd rather be
a bob-tailed cur dog and belong to a free
muatto, than be a farmer" This was a
centre shot for farmer in the crowd, who
said to his friend: ''Jim, that's the smart
est man in the State. I'll go for him for
Governor against Vance himself.''
| would like to hear from that gentle
man now, since crops have so signally
failed. Octogenians say that they never
have seen such a bad crop year. Ord
narily the poor farmer saves his best to get
the highest prices. His choice butter must
go to his merchant, his fattest lightwood,
his best pig and his biggest potatoes. He
can't afford to use anything that CON-
mands the ready cash-especially now.
He is in debt for stock, guano and sup
plies. That he should pay for all these
there is no question His cotton crop goes
forward, and he gets nine cents and the
most unheard of fraction of the tenth. 1t
may be l3-l6th, or 19-32nds. He is COM
PEELED to call on the county Superintend-
ent Of Public Instruction to tell him what
it amounts to- Merchants, to you [ utter
plea. Give this farmer ten or eleven
cents, and, if he brings you his entire yield
unflinchingly, take the interest off, and il
he lacks a few dollars of the principal,
give him up his mortgage and tell him to
go and sin no more. Ii you have charged
him up with the registration fees, send bis
babies pound Of candy for it.
You took the risk on him and he had the
rains and dew and sunshine to put bis
faith in, besides his muscles and his mule
Ma'k about thanking drought! 1t can't
be done on sandy soil. But close the
farmers out, establish the cash system, anG
l,,on ,an soon buy old horses three for q
tdalter am aware that it takes two tC
Iaake a bargain. But where turpentine
has been the chief support and the pines are
exhausted, it is to buy crop-time horse, se
cure advances, or perish. Like Patricl
Henry Q believe it was) said he'd do rather
than be run over by the British: ''Live OF
die, sink or swim, survive or perish, Civ.
my heart and hand to this vote.'' It is g
in debt or perish. These debtcr balances
are hard on the merchant and harder OF
the poor farmer. Freezing winter is here
and George Washington and julius Casa
and Thomas jefferson must all hav
shoes, and the girls new dresses. Th
corn in the barn is included in the mort
gage. and the farmer sees vision Q
striped clothing every time he gets nuf
bin for the old COW. Compromise friends
Remember that for several years your Gus
toners have paid you, and for this year
the worst in a century-concede, divide
take off all you can, and a blessing wi
come to you after many days for eve
taking all your debtor has made, if 70
will but forgive him some portion OF tn
balance. CUPID.