The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-10
ON THE PLANTATION.
A Story Of a Georgia Boys Ad.
ventures During the War.
ny Joei Chandler Harris.
Copyright. 1891. by Joei Cadndlsr Marie.
CHAPTER VIII. tCoNTINuEp.
DEsERTEEs AND RUNAwAYs.

long arms. and Il dropped It's gifts OF poverty
ana privntion In many q humble homo with
which Joe Maxwell was familiar War had Its
bill of fare. too. and much Of 1t was not to Joc's
taste. For coffee there wero various substi-
tntcs: sweet potatoes. Clipped and dried.
parchcd meal. parchod rye. parched okra seeds.
and sassafras tea. Joc's beverage was water
swectencd with sorghum syrup. and he found
1t very refreshing and wholesome drink.
Some OF the dishes that were popular In the
old colonial days were revived. There was per-
simmon brend: what could be more toothsome
than that? ieta little Of It went long way.
as Mr.. Wall used to say. And there was potato
pone-sweet potatoes boiled. kneaded. cut
into pones. and baked. And then there was
callalou-a mixture ofcollards. poke salad. and
turhip greens boiled for dinner and fried over
FOR supper. This was the invention OF Jimsy.
an old negro brought over from the West H.
dies whose real name was Ximzi. and who al
ways ran AWAY when anybody scolded him.
The old-fashionch loom and spinning wheel
were kept going and tho women made their
own dyes. The girls made their hats OF rye
and wheat straw. und some very pretty bon
nets were made OF the nbrous substance that
grows In the vegetable known as the bonnet
squash.
1t was agreed on all sides that times we're
very hard, and yet they seemed very pleasant
and comfortable 10 Joe Maxwell. lie had
never seen money more plentiful. Every body
seemed to have some and yet nobody had
enough. 1t was all in Confederate bills nd
they were all new and fresh and crisp. Joe
had some Of it him self. and he thought he was
growing rich. But the moro plentiful the
money became tho higher went the price Of
everything.
After while Joe noticed that the older m en-
became more serious. There were complaints
In the newspapers Of spectators and extor.
tioners-of men who imposed on and mis-
treated the widows and wives OF the soldiers
Aud then there was n law passed preventing
tho farmers from planting only So many acres
Of land In cotton. in order that more food
might be raised for the army. After this came
the lmDressmcnt law. which gave the Confed-
crate officials the right to seize private prop
erty. horses. mules. and provisions. And then
came the Conscription law.
There was discomfort among the men who
were at home. but they were not left to make
any serious complaints One by one the con-
script officers seized all except those who were
exempt and hurried them off to the front.
Those who thought it disgrace to be con-
scripted either volunteered or hired them
selves as Substitutes
This is tho summing up OF the three first
years OF the war. so far as it affected Joe Max.
we'll. The impression made upon him was OF
slow and gradual growth. He only knew that
trouble and confusion were abroad in the land
He could see afterwarl what q lonely and des.
had kinsmen in the war. but. ut that time all
dream that is hall remembered. He set up tho
editors articles. criticising Gov. Joe Brown
| tor some attacks he had made on the Con-
isdernte Government. without understanding
who was violent secessionist. to discuss tho
| situation with MIR. Bonner THO oyerseer. who
w4sa Wing. and something Of a Union man.
heated disputs between Mr. Wall I and NJ. Bon b
ner, Joe concluded that he would take run
Harbert thought they had followed some Of the
q tie thas thsy s"ne
hunting on their, own account. They, were
very busyand restless little dogs; and it was
on their own account Going toward Mr. Smell
sons Joe thought he cou!d hear them running
Hn went in that direction. hut found. after a
Will. that they were running INNING in the Jack
SEEMED t" yet further away. Finally When n' Ss
did come up with them he found, that they
We're not the barriers ut all. but = lot OF ours
| and fees. And thcn how 1t happened he
was never able to cxplain-Joe suddenly dis
covered that he was lost.
him he would never have been lost. hut the
thought has tf IN fs mind and stayed there
sG0S es that Gs rsay
confused him. Howas not frightened-ho, was
not even uneasy. But he knew he was lost.
| Everything was strange and confusing. Even
in the wrong place. Joe laughed at himself
Certainly he could return the way he came. so
he faced about. us he thought. and started
h9 Wn,; inc ~, ,,nn,n. l., Van, ,,.u, -, 40.
behind u cloud. and the cloud. black and
threatening. was, rising and filling the SKY.
Tut suddenly he foul found himself n near an old
cabin. TWAS built Of logs. and the chimney.
had nearly fallen down. Tho lad knew CIV that that
ton nor on, the Jack Adams place He had
and lie reaIized the Ii, fact tiat he had been q.
running away from home.
shap poly. grew not lar from The door, willie an
apps l,oS s With port OF 1s
the place had been deserted for many u long
| year quarter OF mile away. through the
gathering darkness: Joe could see, q white
firing, cleaning against the horizon. Hc knew
the river. Followins tho line OF the fox. h"
could see lhnt the cabin was in u bend Of
he 2nsw Tint he w na" at "H a"st
cloud Ind covered al the heavens. Away Oh
| then falling with n sweeping rush aud roar.
| loo had no choice but to seek shelter in the
old house; He was stout hearted youngster.
nneasness and dread that came oyer him ut
| tho thought Of spending the night IN that
| lonely place. But here was no help for 1t. lie
| could never find his way home IN the dark
| ness. and So he made the best 81 what seemed
To him very bad matter. The ruhin was
| almost u wreck. but it served to Keep of
| the rain.
Joe went In and explored thu inside as care.
| fully as he could in the nrkness A wood rut
| or flying squirrel ratified along tho rfters NJ
hc entered. and he loose puncheons u which
the floor was made bumped mp and down as D"
| walked across them. In ono corner. a. he
went CROPPING about. he found q pile Of shucks
| corn hisks-and straw. and no judged that
the old cabin had sometimes beep used rs 9
| temporary barn. After satisfying himself hat
| no other person or creature had taken shelter
| there. joe tried to close the door. He found
| thia TO no u difficult matter. The ellis ~ the
| house had settled SO that the door was OH thu
| floor. He pushed II ms far as IT won li go. aud
| then grOped his way hnck 10 the shucks and
| quickly male n bod Of them. He WAS tagged
out. and tho, slIucks and straw mad" com, ON:
| fpItabis pallei--so com Portable indeed. that
| by the time joe had made up his mind that 1t
| was u plea SAINT thing 10 Ito there aud listen tn
| the rain rushing down ON the weather-D beaten
| roof he was fast asleep.
| How long lie silent he did not know but sud