The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-08-06
PLANTATION LIFE IN ARKANSAS.
An Amusing Anecdote of CourtiEg by
Proxy Which Failed.

Octave Thanet whose book OF short
| stories, Otto the Knight" is just now
attracting attention, has paper in the
! -1tidIitic on plantation Life III Arkan-
sas.n An Arkansas planter Is thus
sketched By her clever pen:
The planter on Il plantation is ey-
pected to direct all undertakings of
| pleasure or profit. In most cases he
is postmaster, justice of the peace. free
! doctor, and matrimonial adviser for
the neighborhood.
| Such scene as this is commons:
Scene. the store. Dramatis persona.
the planter and JEFF Laughlin, whose
wife has been dead full two months.
Laugtltn. We'll, no. sir, | amt
come for tradin' to-day; l aimed to
| ask you advice
| Polite but inarticulate murmur from
planter, who goes on posting up his
| ledger.
Laughiin (whittling abstractedly on
the rim of the desk). well. you see,
my mother-in-law. she's mighty nice
old lady. and she gifts pension of
| eight dollars month, and spends
ever cent on it fur the children; but.
fact is, shes so old and SO nigh-sighted
she jest natchelly cdynt keep things
up; aud it's too hard for her, and it's
jest breaking her down. And l jest
| lowed I'd ask you advice"
Planter. We'll, Laughlin, l don't
see anything for it but for you to
marry again.
Laughlin( (brightening considerably.
We'll, | don't see anything else | kin
u | bnt IN tnrYiI,l,.. Int loab. I'll,
jest natchclly beg obieeged to-"
Planter. Had you anybody in your
mind, Laughin?"
Ldughiin. Il reckon Phonetta Rose
wouldn't have me?n
Planter (with truthful frankness).
'.No. | don't reckon she would"
Laughiua. II lowed she'd think I'd
got too many children
Planter. Yes | dare say"
Laughltn. They're mighty nice.
still children, and make a strong force
for the cotton field"
Planter. They seem nice children. "
La"ghtin (yery agiIated). IL
say, Mist Planter, don't you guess you
could write letter to Miss Phonetta,
aud ask her for me?n
PaRter. We'll. no, Mr.. Lauphlin.
| don't think she would take kindly TO
having any other man do her sweet
hearts colrting. You speak up for
yoursclfn'
Laagtttn (despondently). Yes sir.
I'll turn it over in my mind; but YOU
| see I'd hate terrible for to have her
say no TO me right to my face. and
twudn't be nigh SO bad in letter.
| And | amt much in the habit of writ
in letters myself (Which was strictly
true, Laughlin being barely able to
sign his name and read writinn), $50
didn't know but you etc
Unlucky Laughlin! he has reached
the boundary line of the planters ami
ability. Il won't write love letters
and l won't pull teeth!7 declares the
planter; and Laughlin goes his way TO
propose to Phonetta in form, OH their
way home from playing games" ut a
neighbours, to be rejected, and to feel
ever aitcrward that if Mist Panter'd
named it to her, instead, she'd of
talked different"
But we foresee that he will be con-
soled. In this country. widOwers spend
no long time in mourning. Six months
are all that the most decorous would
| ask; most widowers wait three months,
two months, or only one. This haste
does not imply hardness of heart so
much as hard life. What. indeed,
shall Il man do who has three or four
little children, biz field waiting his
hand outside, and no woman TO guide
things?