The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-10-07
WATERMELON LAND.
All About the Happy Negroes
Ripe, Red Love.
The Good Example Which the Dusky
Father Places Before His Chill
dren-How He Gets His Prize
From the River Captain.

DiFu, 50 Is tne watermelon dis IaVOrlUe
vegetable. He clasps it to his heart of
hearts-or, to be more precise, stomach
of stomachs-with a soulful devotion that
rarely permits even the seeds to escape.
1t is to him the Mecca of epicurean phi
losophy and he returns to it each year
with undimmed rapture. Its glossy
green holds his eye captive and its car
mine intestines and black studs magnet
ize not only the obese lips that are his
glory, but carry in their victor train
cuspid, bicuspid, molar and incisor.
The cry of .watermillion! watermil-
lion!' can arouse him from the deepest
slumber. Yes, even though his feet
tarried on the brink of the dark waters
famed by the angel Azrael, he would
plunge carelessly in if the sun threw the
image of a melon in the glancing waters
before him. Sugar-cane may tempt in
its season, the peanut draw or his hoard
of wealth at times, but his a~ll-absorbing
passion is for the watermelon. He dreams
of it all the year, and when the harvest
time draws near he will ever work to
win. Can self-sacrifice go further than
that? In the matter of Sambo versus
watermelon the latter might a well
plead non TuH coDtendre at once, for
Sambo is an eater from Ea~terville
County way back. He can put himself
outside of a forty-pound melon in half
as many minutes and leave nothing but
a very thin green shell as a relic of the
battle. While he much prefers the ripe,
luscious melon of mature age, he will as
readily eat the green one if he has al
ready paid for it. To throw it away
would be to commit an objectionable
sin. The negro's stomach is a peculiar
one. 1t will stand a certain mount of
fried pork; hominy and turnip greens is
very hospitatle with fried chickens of
the ..other peoples" brand; will accom-
modate only a practicable quantity of
African ~del:cacies, but with watermelons
its capacity is apparently unlimited.
No negro who has any pride of race or
respect for himself would hesitate one
instant in taking the contract to eat his
weight in melons any day of the season.
He has a hearty contempt for the Cau-
cas:an. who is satisfied W. tn two or
three slices. To his crude mind this ac-
counts for much of the wrangling on
the tariff question.
1t is fun to watch him when the first
melons. of the season arrive-at river
towns, especially, when the fruit is
brought by boat. He can scent the COM
ing vessel afar off, and is at the landing
to greet the captain with all the honors.
He has no money, but he has strong
arms; surely here the field is ready for
the sickle. How his eyes glisten as he
sees the green beauties in the vessels
hold. lis lips work convulsively, his
voice is husky with suppressed emotion.
Now commences the dicker:
Gap, wha' yo' gwinetes gimme to
help unload dem millyuns?"
.'Tcn cents an hour"
.'Golly, on'v er dime to tote all desc
yerc millvuns?"
No answer.
..Well, I specs 1 mout as well do hit.
ant gwinter be very busy this mawn.
in" for q brilliant idea has struck him,
and down into the hold he goes. He
has carried out twenty-five fine fellows,
and carefully placed them in the ap-
pointed corner. Watch him now. He
is slowly coming up the plank with a
beauty. 1t must weigh over fifty pounds,
magnificent melon in his arms The
blazing suns, the aromatic breezes, the
tender dewy nights, all combined have
made it the incarnation of semi-tropi.
cal nectar. As he steps upon the wharf
his foot slips and down goes the melon.
1t spill s half In two. The wrath of the
captain is extreme Is he
shouts to lucklcss Sambo. who is
gazing in impossible contrition at the
fallen luxury. you blank. blank pot
liquor niger. I've a good mind tc
break Your head. Now git. You kir
take that melon and don't let me catch
you around here agin." Negro anG
melon disappear behind a pile O.
shingles. Now Sambo would not ex.
change with the king on his throne
He cuts off great long slices and rum
them through his lips as if he were play
ing upon a mOuth-Organ. He heaps hi:
tongue with huge morsels gouged on
of the very heart and fiirts them bach
to the eager palate. He stops not FOL
seeds; life is too short for that. A little
while suffices. 1t is all gone. He gaze.
regrelfully at the almost Transparent
rind that is left, and her filings it int,
the dark rece,ses Of the river. Then ht
stretches out upon a plank. puts his cal
over his eyes. and is lost in a pleasan'
~reverie. The sun leans down upol
him with scorching force, but he heed
it not. The tapping of the wave
against the docks is like H;olian musi
in his cars. A vagrant dog snutls a
him c~uriously; he merely remarks
.'G'way f'om dar," but does not move
His eyes gradually close and soon
Northumberland snoring tells that b
is in the land of dreams.
The melon of his heart is not III
bongbten melon. however, nor yet tn
one thai is gwen to I'M. 1t is til
melon .hat has not yet been plucke
irs.n The vine. She cir ID FREQ; SO IL u