The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-08-05
PLANTATION LIFE IN ARKANSAS.
An Amusing Anecdote of Counting by
Proxy Which Failed.

Octave Thanet, whose book of short
stories, Otto the Knight" is just now
attracting attention, has paper in the
atlantic on plantation Life in Arkan-
sas." An Arkansas planter is thus
sketched by her clever pen:
The planter on plantation is ex-
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 a scene as this is common:
Scene, the store. Dramatis persona.
the planter and JEFF Laughlin, whose
wife has been dead full two months.
Laughlin. ''Well, no, sir, l amt
come for tradin' to-day; aimed to
ask you advice"
Polite but inarticulate murmur from
planter, who goes on posting up his
ledger.
LaughEias (whittling abstractedly on
the rim of the desk). ''Well, you see,
my mother-in-law. she's a mighty nice
old lady, and she gifts pension of
eight dollars a month, and spends
ever cent on it fur the children; but.
fact is. she's so old and so nigh-sighted
she jest natchelly caynt keep things
up; and it's too hard for her, and it's
jest breaking her down. And l jest
lowed I'd ask you advice"
Planter. well, Laughlin. 1 don't
see anything for it but for you to
marry again"'
Laughlin (brightening considerably.
well, l don't see anything else kin
do. l hate to terribly; but looks like
l jest natchelly ben obleeged to-"
Planter. Had you anybody in your
mind. LaughlinP"
Laughtin II reckon Phonetta Rose
wouldn't have meP"
Planter (with truthful frankness). J.
s.No, don't reckon she would"
Laughtin. II lowed she'd think I'd
got too many children"
Planter. ''Yes. l dare say"
Laughlin. They're mighty nice,
still children, and make a strong force
for the cotton field"
Planter. They seem nice children y
Laughtin (very agitated). IL
say, Mist Planter, don't you guess you
could write a letter to Miss Phonetta,
and ask her for me?n
Planter. "Well, no, Mr.. Laughlin
1 don't think she would take kindly t
having any other man do her sweet
hearts courting. You speak up fol
yourself!"
Laughltn (despondently). Yes. sir
Pll turn it over in my mind; but yol
see I'd hate terrible for to have hel
say no to me right to my face. ant
twudn't be nigh so bad in letter
And l amt much in the habit of writ
in letters myself (Which was strictly
true, Laughlin being barely able t.
sign his name and read writin'"), IS
| l didn't know but you," etc.
| Unlucky Laughlin! he has reache'
the boundary line of the planters ami
ability. Il won't write love letter
and l won't pull teeth!" declares tn
planter; and Laughlin goes his way t
propose to Phonetta in form, on thei
way home from playing games" at
neighbours, to be rejected, and to fee
ever afterward that if Mist Planter
named it to her, instead, she'd {
talked different"
But we foresee that he will be cor
soled. In this country, widowers spen
no long time in mourning. Six month
are all that the most decorous woul
ask; most widowers wait three month
two months. or only one. This hast
does not imply hardness of heart S
much as hard life. What. indeed
shall man do who has three or fou
little children. big field waiting b
hand outside and no woman to guic
n things?