The Osceola times., 1886-10-16
WATERMELON LAND.
AL About the Happy Negro's
Ripe, Rod Love.
The Good Example which tho Dusky
Father Places Before His Chit
dren-IIow lie Gets His Prize
From the River Captain.

As the 'possum is the negro's favorite
bird, SO is the watermelon his favorite
vegetable. He clasps it to his heart of
hearts-or, to be more precise, stomach
ofstomachs-with a soulful devotion that
rarely permits even the seeds to escape.
1t IS to him the Mecca of epicurean phi
Iosorhy and he returns to it each wear
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
cuspd, bcuspid, molar and incisor.
The cry Of "watermillionl waterml-
hon! cen arouse bim from the deepest
slum5er. 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
it, season, the peanut draw on his hoard
OF wealth at times, but his all-absorbing
passion is for the watermelon. He dreams
OF il all the year, and when the harvest
time draws near he will even work to
win. Can self-sacriticc 90 further than
ihatg In the matter of Sambo versus
watermelon the latter might as well
plead non rHb cOHieBdre at once. for
Sambo is an eater from Eatervile
County way back. He can put himself
outside of n forty-pound melon in half
as many minutes and leave nothing but
a very thin green she'll as 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 10 commit an objectionable
sin. The negro stomach is a peculiar
one. II will stand a certain amount of
fried pork; hominy and turnip greens is
very hosptahle with fried chickens of
the "other peoples brand; will accom-
modate only a practicable quantity of
African dcicacies. but with watcrmelons
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 hearty contempt for the Cau-
casian. who is satisfied with 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 arriye-at river
towns, especially, when the fruit is
brought by boat. He can scent the COM
ing vessel afar of, and is at the landing
10 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. HIS lips work conyulsively, his
voice is husky with suppressed emotion
Now commences the dicker;
Cap, wha' yo' gwinetcs gimme to
help unload dem millyuns"
Ten cents an hour.
"Golly, on'v er dime to tote all desc
yere millyunsP"
No answer.
well. | spec | mout as well do hit.
] amt gwinter be very busy this mawn-
in" for a brilliant idea has struck hlm,
and down into the hold he goes. lie
has carried out twenty-five fine fellows,
and carefully placed them in the ap-
pointed corner. Watch him now. lie
Is slowly coming up the plank with
beauty. 1t must weigh over fifty pounds,
magnificent melon in his arms. The
blazing suns. the aromatic breezes, the
tender dcwy 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.
II splits half IN two. The wrath OF the
captain is extreme as ne
shouts to luckless Sambo, who is
gazing in impossible contriton at the
fallen luxury. "You blank. blank pot
liquor nigger. I've a good mind TO
break your head. Now git You kin
take that melon and don't let me catch
you around here agin." Negro and
melon disappear behind a pile of
shingles. Now Sambo would not eX-
change with the king on his throne.
He cuts off great long slices and runs
them through his lips as if he were play
ing upon a mouth-organ. He heaps ms
tongue with huge morsels gouged out
Of the very heart and ilirts them back
10 the eager palate. He stops not flr
seeds; life is too short for that. A little
while suffices. 1t is all gone He gazes
regrctfully at the almost transparent
rind that Is left and then fings It into