Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-08-17
LOWLAND FOLKS.


lih WuhNh an uli IVA
and several other things are written
about.
found Patton's Mil to BIO a hamlet
consisting of mill for grinding corn, his
humble cabin and a blacksmith shop.
There had been general store there, hut
| want OF custom had closed the building
and moved the stock away.
The mill was quaint affair, resting
| over creek. 1t WAS built In 1915, and
had done duty as mill ever since. The
waters OF a creek came down on the
buckets of great overshot wheel, the
| woodwork hidden by moss, and the wheel
turned one run OF stone inside, The ca
pacity might have been 500 pounds oil
meal per day, and II was very coarse
quality at that. II was the most print.
tive machinery known TO millers, and not
one single improvement had been made
In over seventy years.
"How's buslnessi" queried Of Mr..
Patton, after boxing around for a while.
"Pushin' on me right smart" he re-
piled as he pointed to three bags OF she'll
ed corn yet to be ground.
"Why don't you put in another run OF
the wheel might gin out"
But why not have a better wheelW
"The water might gin out"
''But you might take some risks to
increase business" urged.
81 have took 'em, and that was wha,
busted me-" he replied. az went and
paid Sl5 fur q corn shelter and had it at
tached to the shaft, and | never got to
| shell dod gasted bushel."
What was the troublei'
"Niggers."
"Howi"
"They hired to shell cheaper'n could
and cum mighty nigh Dustin up. b
you un representa- no'thern capltall"
"Only what have in my pocket"
"Thst's peart Bill Drummond was
a sayin' that you'un represented mill.
yon dollars, aud that you was lookin
along the creek fur mill sites. Thar's
heaps of them, reckon. Doan' know
but I'D sell out myself, though bizness I.
a-pushin' jist now. Pm a-gittin' leetle
old, and Pve been thnkin' of movin
away. l doan' exactly like the way
things is goin."
"HoW"
"Too many loose niggers around, ant
they is too sassy. Niggers is bound tt
run this kentry II suthln' amt dun. He'i
onery all the way through. I've eeet
how 1t was goin' fur the last ten years,
and l haln't had much heart"
After dinner the township tax collector
made his appearance, as per notice that
| be would, and several white and colored
men also appeared. Most OF them brought
small grists, but the main object was Ia
see about the taxes.
Snow, then," said the collector, as he
got his papers out, "I'm Already to dc
bizness. jim Kelsey, you'un has hung
of and hung OIL, but this yere is the lasi
call. II you'un doan' pay III return on
ye."
slow much2" sulkily queried the
| man.
"Just a-risin' OF TO- dollars"
$40 dollars!" howled jim, "Great
snakes, but what did you dun put that
much on me fur2"
"Cause it's a-cordin' to law and vale.
alton. Your patch up thar is is improvin'
right along. but we hain't boosted valea.
ton fur the last five years"
"But what am taxed furi"
| Sur bein the owner OF piece of land
which yOu'un would never had but ful
the ole man leayin' 1t In his will. This
yere keniry has got to be supported, and
it can't be onless taxes is paid"
"But I'm as pore as skinned skunks,'
protested jim.
"Jim Kelsey" replied the tax man Of
he looked at him over his spectacles, "you
orter be ashamed to say that You. un't
the only man In the huddle (settlcment)
up thar who kin hev white bread every
day in the week and kill a sheep when
yer banker fur mutton. You is naybob
| you Is"
That tickeled Jim and he paid up with.
out another word. The next man called
on was named Dayton, aud the collector
| observed:
"Got them two dollars fur me, silep
"Two dolarsl Great lands, has you uni
done gone aud put me down fur two
dollarsi That's wuss nor highway rob
berry,"
"sile Dayton, ye orter be ashamed tc
speedily that wayl Heah ye ar, Twin
under the best guv'ment the sun eveI
shone on, purtected In all yer rights
lowed forty-'leyen kinds of privileges
and yet you kerhoot (kick) on two
dollars! This guv'ment runs on the
tax-money. If e doan' pay, the guv'
ment can't run, and then whar' would
We BET Why, Sile, but fur the guv'men
| we'd hev the jim-durnedest state OF an
archy yere you ever heard tell Of Thai
ar niger right thar would hev' til,
power to spit In yer to- backer-box Rnd
make you wash his feetl'
"Honest lnjunf"
"You betl"
sile walked up to the captains oflic,
and settled, aud the next delinquent wal
a colored man named Reuben Jones.
swell, Reubenp querled the collector
"How much is it, bossp
"Three dollars"
"Three dollarsl Fo' de Lawd, but wha'
war you dun thinkln' OF When you pu
all dat on my lands'
"Reuben Jones" said the collector In
very solemn voice, "did You ever set
the American eagleP
"No, sab, nebter did-not onless he
was a buzzard."
"He's no buzzard, Reuben Jones. He''
the proud, brave bird who spreads hi.
wings DER the free aud mighty republic
of America, and he keeps his eye OIL
every star Ia our national banner"
eyes SAL"
"That eagle must be fed, Reu ber
JONES'"
'"Zactly, sah."