The Red Cloud chief., 1888-07-13
on THE
4 Pleasant Landscape sketch on the Banks
Of the Mississippi

ON THE PLANTATION.
a Pleasant Landscape sketch on the Banks
Of the Mississippi
The autumn was struggling for recog-
milton and was making an impression
upon all but the midday hours. In the
morning the air came cold and crisp,
full of incentives to work. In the wen
ing the soft languOr ana dreamy inert
ness o fsummer had been driven away by
a wide awake activity. with good resO-
lutiOns and plans of future energy to
be discussed inside closed doors and
windows into late hours of the night.
The roses in the garden blOOmed pale
and ~listless after their exhausting sum
lei season, shivering perfumelessly in
the practical October breezes. Tho
trees were in the full glory of their
rich green foliage. The cane in the
fields stood in thick. solid maturity,
with long. green. pendant leaves curl
ing owe and over in bewildering
luxuriance. The sunset clouds. burst
ing with light and color. gilded the
tops of the boundary woods and il
lumined like a halo the features Of
plantation life. The Mississippi river,
rejecting and rivaling the sky above.
rolled. an irredescent current. between
its yellow mud banks. cut into grOtesque
silhOuettes by ~crevasses and steam
boat landings as it dimpled in eddies
over shadows. boiled and swirled
in hollow whirlpools over depths. or
rushed with iniexible. relentless
rapidity. following the channel in its
angular course from point to point.
The days work had come to an end.
The plantation bell rang out its dis
missal and benediction. The black
smith laid down the half-sharpened
cane knife and began covering up the
fire. From mysterious openings on all
sides Of the sugar house wOrkmen
issued with tools in their hands. The
stable doors were thrown open. and tho
hostlers. old archaeological negroes
hurried about with food for the mules.
The cows inkled their impatient bells
outside the milking lot. while the fran
tic calves bounded and bleated inside.
Along the smooth. yellow road through
the field came the ''gang" with their
mules and wagons. plOws and hoes. In
advance walked the women. swayiny
themselves from side to side with
characteristic abandon, lighting their
rude pipes. hailing the truce to toll
with loud vOlubility. The men followed.
aggressively masculine. heavy limbed.
slow of movement on their hampered.
shOd feet; wearing their clothes like
harness; with unhandsOme. chaotic
faces. small eyes and concealed natures.
They watched the women with jealous
interest. excluding them from their
hilarity and responding grudgingly
and depreciatingly to their frank over
lures. The water carriers. half grown
boys and girls. idled at q distance.
balancing their empty pals on their
bare heads-quick and light on their
feet. graceful. alert. intuitive. exuber-
ant with life and spirits, they were
happy in the thOughtless. unconscious
enjoyment of the short moment that
yet separated them from their hot. dull.
heavy. dangerous maturity. The an
ticipations Of cheer and rest. the subtle
satisfaction of honestly tired bodies;
the iattering concentrations Of their
own skill from the finely cultivated
stand of cane on each side of them; tho
past expiatiOns of blowing. ditching.
wedding. hOeing; the freezing rains;
the scOrching suns: but. above all. the
approach of the grinding season. the
rOulaisOn with its frOlics. excitements
and good pay. all tended to elate their
spirits, and their voices. in joke. song.
laugh and retOrt. sped down the road
before them to the quarters and evoked
responsive banks and shouts from the
dogs and children there.-Grace Hing.
in Monsieur Note.