New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-11
THE PICKANINNY.
HE REGrNs EARLY TO LOOK OUT FOR
HIMSELF-HIS TALENTS AS
NATURALIST.

pleasure, as IL may be called. according TO one
conception or circumstances. No yards OF nam
mel and fine linen made up into dainty garments
for his comfort. sken sumber robes and downy
perfumed pillows prepared in which to nestle him.
His mother believes that 1t will bring her and bring
him bad trek to prepare for his coming, so MS
plump little limbs are swathed In whatever comes
first to hand. and he wears rather Is wrapped H.
the collection Of odds and ends OF the family "aru
robe until he Is strong enough to kick himself free
from them. After that moment he generally goes
quite untrammelled as far az clothes are concerned.
For days and days he lies on a pile OF bags or
just In the white sand at the end of the
cotton row. staring up at the sky. watching the
birds that skim about in the sunshine. nearing the
lusty voices OF the and women at work in the
field around him: his mother comes to him occa-
slonally. turns him over finds for him the impro-
vsed toy he has lost, perhaps gives him nourisn-
ment. but the most of the time he Is left to himself
He can cry until he gets tired. or laugh and cry
again, according he feels moved to do either'
nobody has time TO bother with him. When ne gets
big enough to creep he tumbes In and out OF the
cabin door, down the two three steps which lead
to It from the sand, half dozen times day, ex-
amines critically with his inquistive eyes the
crooked-ne gourds that flourish under the caves
the bricks upon which the washpot Is poised-per-
haps tumbles into the pot itself before his inqurhg
mind Is content. He shares his bit or pohe pread
or pan of stirabout with the eager chickens tnat
to the kitten and puppy which are always In evil
dence and. when tired Of such diversions he rails
asleep wherever he happens TO be, unconscious that
in this country OF possibilities he may one
day be a Congressman occupy some other I'M
portant public place.
His mother believes that he Will not thrive on
milk alone-so at the tenderest age ne is RECALLED
on cabbage and corn. peas. roast potato ana ial
bacon ripe or green fruit, "a the case may be- ana
survives an ordeal that would kill the offspring
OF a race less hardy. He comes near being stepped
on BY horses being gored by cattle poisoheu
with the miscellaneous articles and huids ne teSlS
with his tongue. and OF being burned up ny ven
turing too near the pretty sheet OF name "hicn
marks the edges Of the new ground his parents
arc clearing M and burning Off: but he comes out
unscathed through IT all. by the time he Is ten or
eleven years old has outgrown the family dorni-
tory or rather. the frequent advent OF younger
brothers and sisters have pushed him out-and
he sleeps on the cotton in the totton-house IN
winter and wherever he pleases in summer-break-
fasting and dining and supring wherever nc Is as-
sured he can get provisions. or personal belong
ings he has none except such as he can bear ABOUT
with him his pcrson-perhaps oroheh-p'a"e'
knife one or two sllngshots. etc-Du'' DuIl'u !"
some secluded spot. known only 10 hlm may III
in the deserted burrow OF rabbit, or some snug
recess OF hollow stump. Will be the nucleus OF
a sum he is going to save with whlch |" puS
gun This is the cherished object which he coVets
and dreams Of attaining so as TO be able 10 40
deeds OF wondrous prowess In the excitement o'
the chase and clamor OF the hunt.
The plantation pickanlnny is a close observer OF
Natures secrets. those secrets which she reveals
only TO those who from interest or necessity be-
come intimate with her and win her confidence
4 negro boy OF ten years old knows the peculiar
note or whistle OF bird that inhabits his ma
tive woods ana swamps lie knows the nature OF
these birds whether they remain IN the hel1hpo'-
hood all winter. whether tho male ana f'na'e Oh
a certain species has the same note or cry. what
kind Of nests they have whether they build them
nc,r 10 the ground or IN more inaccessible places
He IL familiar with the appearance ana haolts
OF these little songstcrs. and calls them by names
Indicative Of certain pccularites when ne or MS
fathers before him have discovered without re-
gard 10 what ornitholoests may denominate them
"pere goes a shiri-tail" called one OF a group
Of small darkies dealing along pine-woods lane
each crowned with Il welghty sack OF meal. white
In contrast 10 their dusky faces. each looking with
eager interest after the bird which had hitted
across the way IN front or them Inc most con-
spicuous feature OF TIL. bird ne few was the
decided CLINT cf white In his wing hence the home
~ appeliation with waich he had been chrs'ened
Dat deres a trasher"' thcse small woois-craf;-
men will deciare-"an dcr"'s hts walt en-lan II
dlca,ing n modes,-appclrng brown bird such a. Is
often seen I'm company with the thrashcr ana whlch
II is insisted the thrashcr makes wait upon him
go, IN do all dc fyln bout and fechin oh de sticks
and straws for rlck he house" explain the little
raturaiists-and then they vii 10 on 10 tell y'u
that nobody ever n blue jay on Friday and
the reason or their absence IL that on that day OF
the week they are obliged 10 70 to he'll
blue lay am Dc debble's own bird" they say.
He and all he tribe done gifted nnl give ober 20 de
Old Boy-lat mex dcy nebor mix wId no uller
kind oh BIRD and Always hghtin' ana cutt!n mp.
Every bush and shrub II the numerous KINDS IN
the Southern woods has it, individual meaning ior
the negro AMI he knows the names OF a.. the vari-
Gus species Of trees all The different kinds ~ oaks
md what they are good FOR. from the red oak. the
bark Of which is utilized In teas and lnments FIR
the sick the foliage OF which Is such a royal can
opy TO the white OAK. the thin split shavlngs or
which they wont 70 ace woven into baskets
for conveying the newly gathered cotton In the
fall: from the live oak with It's perennial crown OF
green to the post oak and scrub oak or blackjack.
good for nothing bu, hrewood. The sveot-gum Is
dear to his heart. for there the postum dweis.
stcaIing out TO the pers.mmon tree in the corniie.d
hard by and the dogwOod has !ts significance. !c-
cause when II spreads liz white tents IN the am
spaces Of the woods It is Sign that the winter is
indeed over and gone and the voice OF the turtle
dove will he heard In the land and the negro race
rejoice In sunshine and summer.
MY BABY viii he year ole-risln two-when de
map.c-tree blossom rod" some buxom matron viii
say as she displays her sturdy offspring. or she
win date his birth from 'de time de jessamne fust
come" or say. "dey begin to haul cotton to de gin
when he was two day ole
The small darky Is as conversan' with the varle
Tics and habits OF sh In the creeks and lasoons
Of his native country with the RABBITS AMI SOUR
rels foxes and owls of the woods and fields. lie
knows where the nsh hide what Kind OF bait Is
mos, seductive to certain varieties OF the ininy
tribe and at what season of the year he i inost
likely to invegIe them his hook. The water fowl
vho have nests along the banks and III he marshes
Of the ponds AMI branches have few secrets from
him. lie explores every nook and granny n his
fomlar ground undcterrcd In his lnvestsntlon even
nv the presence OF a snlkc-of reptiles. however he
has n wholesome fcar-but he never hesl'ates to
rive hattie 10 them Of his chief boasts being
a., r,,oher ~ snake. he has killed IN bis jcyrney