The Grenada gazette., 1886-07-24

NH l''StA'
The owner of the foot bestirs himself,
if he has not been affronted by being
called "A nigger-a term of reproach
common among the negroes. but strict
ly intrrdictcd among the best classes
of white people at the South, where the
word is never heard. A bright-eyed
youngSter, with no clothes on to speak
of, comes next under the oyerSeer'S
eye.
"What YOU doin' on dis heah field.
boy? You ought to have a broadcloth
coat on yo' back and beaver hat on
YOU hade, an set in de shad" in arm
cheer. You doan know how to pick
strawberries. You is n gentmnn. you is.
| lay your NANNY will have ole wuks
wild YOU ter make you mind yo' busl-
ness"
Thus adjured, the youngster slylv
opens ragged pocket and shows a
bundle of strawberry tickets. and, stick /
ing his tongue out SaucIly, returns les
urrIy to his work Presently, in the
midst of his eXhortatlOn, he comes upon
q row half picked. Then he launches
ont and perfect hurricane of profani-
ty RACES. An elderly sister, who is the
president of the Daughters of Rcbekah
or the Order of the Galilean Fisherman,
demonstrates earnestly.
Bro Samson, how kin YOU talk so,
an YOU profcssin' Chrischun?'
isis 'Lisbeth. amt professin MOTH
in in strawberry time. I'se Il back
slider from de day | see de fu>t
strawberry crate. Now, step long
lively an lemme see you clean up arter
dem good-for-nothin' black niggers' y
Just then Il half dozen pickers come
out into the narrow path, with their
trays balanced on their heads. Bro
Sampson stops every one, and taking
basket at random empties it into an
| other basket. This is to see ii any are
picking green or decayed berries If
they are all right the pickers march off
to the paying booth, where the busy
tallv-keeper checks them off. If not,
= volley cnsue> from sampson, in
terspcrsed with numerous charges of
being BLACK nigger,' which is al
ways sullenIy resented. If the berries
are not up to the standard they are
ruthIr>>ly y poured out on the ground,
and if one or two of these corrections
are not enough the worthless picker is
driven out of the field Meanwhile
tho>r that have gone off to thr pay ing
booth are making various dispositions
, of their tickets Some 90 for pies, for
beer although the negro is not
much of 4 beer drinker and if the
| picker is Young and light Of heel, with
, no fear OF the 'church. to the dancing
: pavilion. On time iigr and harkd"Wn>
7 prevail, the negro musicians playing
f with u wild abandon which generates 4
catching enthusiasm Many of the
} couples are strangers to each other, as
strawberry time brings a great influx Of
negroes from as far as North Carolina.
but the steps OF equatntance>hip are
easy and progressive A couple pared
IN the dane" are SOm"t.mcs paired for
llfe' hen the engagement Is an
nounced they may be seen picking IN
company and putting all their tickets
INTO common 1'ni.
A fast as the baskets come in they
are put n crates ready TO I've moved on
the big lighter, or tIat-bottomed boats
that lie in TN" river. All day long the
scene Is busy. but when the last half
hour comes every thing l. accelerated.
AT given signal every picker Is to
stop. as not moment IS to b" lost If
tn" lighters nr" to reach the >tpam"rso on
time. Already th" roar and rumble OF
tn" trucks on the WhAryes can be heard
IKE distant thunder. Probably several
loads hay" already been Iightcr"d down,
but every load Is valuable, and it is
highly important not 10 miss a single
one The capac ty OF the immense
i steamers seems lmltIrSs. as, although