The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-02

told me he was waiting for fifteen
cents per pound. Itold him he'd have
to wait long time. lie said, oh, no,
Miley and Simpson over the creek
were holding theirs too, and that such
large amount OF stored cotton would
compel prices to go up. lie told me |
WAS Il right lrart hoy far as books was
concerned but "you don't know
nothing about business, Sidncy.'
"Iutlced You do, though" said Aunt
Lou, proudly, "but what did you tell
him ~
ooh, T just said that itmight be true
about my not Knowing anything about
business, but one thing WAS certain,
Editor EhiSom did know almost eve
rything and he always advised farm
ers to sell cotton as soon as ginned, that
the loss in weight more than balanced
any rise in prire-tlIcn there WAS the
possibility of losing it by fire us we'll"
Mr.. Smith said "psllaw, ClIisoIm don't
know Il cotton bloom from Il cotton
boil, tuck Il paper Onct and it ware
always harping bout "poor farmers"
and one hOss farmers, and farmers git
tin liens, and iaImers working had
and livin' poor, and all such impcr-
dent sass. | work hard, but eat, ]
tell you, eat II plenty and good at
that, and | dor't want no slack about
farmin from chap as don't know a
bull-tongue from Dixie sweep"
So Sidney took hold Of the farm and
brought comparative order out OF chaos
paid the interest on the mortgage
and made great improvements TO the
place. The next year he. did better.
increased his capital stock rs he called
it by buying II fine young horse with
which the reader is already somewhat
acquainted. He was managing nicely,
even Mr.. Smith acknowledged, now
that the boy possessed good muscle
and better judgment, to which conclu-
sion he was helped by having lost
thirty bales of ninety from Il little
darkey's being allowed to play with
matches.
He was sore, very sore, about
this heavy and unnecessary loss and
said to his wife "ro think Sid Johns
ton had told him this might happen
over two years ago" Then he c0ntin.
ucd grumb!ingly, "if our John Henry
had the git-up about books and bus-
ness that Sid Johuston's got Pd give
every bale what's left Of them three
crops out therein the gin-house lot"
Whcrcupon Mrs. Smith burst into
tears, u thing she had never done be-
fore in her august husbands presence,
and said, "If John Henry had had
some o that cotton, that he had done
his share in maxim, spent on him at the
right time, he would not now be Il
byword and laughing stock to the
whole country side. Sidney told us
long ago TO keep Bud at school, that
he c0utd learn, only the teacher didn't
pay much attention to the backward
ores. But you've had your way. i
had no say so at all. You've got your
cotton what's left, and l'vc got heavy
heart, and we've both got a knownoth-
ing son that neither of us is proud of, "
Which WAS the longest speech Mrs
Smith had ever made in her life. Tie
sight of those burnt cotton ties, the
difference between her son and either
boys, especially Sidney, broke the
mothers heart. She saw that her hus-
band WAS almost convinced of his mis-
take, and she struck while the iron was
hot.
She subscribed for three papers
she employed II young lady in the
neighbnrhood to teach her children,
and energetic. positive Miss Lula Stew
art soon proved that John Henry
could learn, or that there was more vir-
tue in money paid out of ones own
pocket, than that from the public
treasury.
Miss Lula was so thoroughly in
earnest, that even Mrs. Smith had to
intercede occasionally.
II gloryin your ways, Mi IS Lu, but
do lei them off this afternoon. They
want some strawberries so ba l." Miss
Lu would laugh, and get out her own
books and study and study for she was
going to try for the scholarship It the
Winship Training school.