St. Landry democrat., 1889-10-19
LOWLAND FOLKS.

In which an old mill, a tax collector and
several other things are written about
found Patton's Mill to be hamlet con-
sisting of mill for grinding corn, his
Y humble cabin and a blacksmith shop.
There had been general store there, but
want of custom had closed the building
and moved the stock away.
The mill was a quaint affair, resting over
creek. 1t was built in 1915, and had
done duty as a mill ever since. The waters
of creek came down on the buckets OF
>asgreat overshot wheel the wood w"rk
hidden by moss, and the wheel turned one
run of stone inside The capacity might
have been 500 pounds of meal per day,
and it was very coarse quality at that.
1t was the most primitive machinery
known to millers, and not one single i'm
provement had been made in over seventy
years.
.sHow's business ?" I queried of Mr.. Pat
ton, after looking around for awhile.
s.Pushin' on me right smart, )" hereplied,
as he pointed to three bags of shelled corn
yet to be ground.
"Why don't you put in another run of
stone?"
ssThe wheel might gin out
"But why not have better wheel?'
s The water might gin out
y. But you might take some risks to in
Cfease business, urged.
81 have took em, and that was what
busted me-" he replied. II went and paid
SIS fur a corn shelter and had it attached
ITO the shaft, and / never got to Shell a
dod gasted bushel."
"What was the troubleT
"Niggers."
"How?"
s'Thgv hired to shell cheaper'n / could,
and | cum mighty nigh Dustin up. BE
you'un representa- o'thern capitalY'
"Only what have in.my pocket"
"That's peart. Bill Drummond was
a-sayin' thatyou'un represented millyun
dollars, and that you was lookln along
the creek fur mill sites. Thar's heaps of
them. reckon. Doan' know but I'd sell
out myself, though business is pushin,
list now. Pm gittin' a leetle old, and
i've been thinkin' of movin' away. doan'
exactly like the way things is gon'.'
s'How?"
stToo many loose niggers around, and
they is too sassy. Niggers is bound to run
this kentry if suthin' amt done. He's on
ery all the way through. I've seed how it
was goin' fur the last ten years, and
hain't had much heart"
After dinner the township tax collector
made his appearance, as per notice that he
would, and several white and colored men
also appeared. C-iMost Of them brought
small grists, but the main object was to
see about their taxes.
s.Now. then" said the collector, as he
got his papers out, "lm Already to do biz
ness. Jim Kelsey, ypu'un has hung off
and hung off, but this yere is the last call.
If you doan' pay I'll return on ye.
'tHow much7" sulkiay queried the man
"Just a. risin' of fo' dollars"
e.Fo' dollars I" howled Jim. "Great
= snakes, but what did you dun put that
much on me fur?'
a'Cause it's a-cordin' to law and vale
= alton. Your patch ub thar is improvin
right along but we hain't boosted valea-
ton fur the last FIVE years"
ssBut what am / taxed fur?'
EUR bein' the owner of piece of land
which you'un would never had but fur the
ole man leavin' it in his will. This yere
kentry has got to be supported, and il
can't be onless taxes is paid"
s'But I'm as pore as skinned skunks,
protested Jim.
..Jim Kelsey replied the tax man as he
looked at him over his spectacles, 'yol
orter be ashamed to say that. You'uns
Che ONLY one in the buddle (settlemenD NJ
thar who ken hev willie bread every day il
the week and kill sheep when you hanke
fur mutton. You is a naybob, you is.
That tickled Jimsand he paid up withou
another word. The next man called OF
was named Dayton, and the collector OBJ
served
stGot them two dollars fur me, Sile p
.aTwo dollars Great lands, has you'un!
dun gone and putfme down fur two dol
lars That's wuss-nor highway robbery.
'sSile Dayton, ye, orter be ashamed t
speechify that way Heah ye ar, Twin
under the best guv'ment the sun eve
shone on, purtected In all yer rghts
Flowed forty 'leven kinds of privileges, ant
vet YOU kerhoot Ckick) on two dollars
This guy'ment runs ON the tax money. |
va don't nav the gov'ment can't run, ant
- tban whar' would we be2 Why, Sile, bu
fur the guv'ment we'd hev the jim, durn
edest state of anarchy yere you ever hear
tell of. That ar niger right thar, woult
hey' the power to spit in yer terbacker- Do
and make you wash his feet +
aHonest Injnn2"
stYou bet r
si1e walked up to the captains office ant
settled, and the next delinquent was
colored man named Rheuben Jones,
aWeIl, Reuben 2 queried the collector
Chow much is it, boss Y
saThree dollars"
fsThre6 dollarS1 TO ue la"o' wv
war you dun thinkin' of when you put si
dat on my land 2
..Reuben Jones |" said the collector in
very solemn voice, "did you ever SOC VI
American eagle3" :.
1No, sab, nebber dd-not onless ne wa
buzzard." -, ua,
tba nroud. brave bird who spreads III
wings DER the free and mighty republic
America and he keeps his eye on ever
altar in our National banner
Eyes, sab. !"
ss,Zactly, sab. ]" xsao.
aAnd it takes money to buy his fodder.
sReckon it does, sab.
s.And 1t il the money that goes :