The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-11-15

reboiled, It made a cas- ably nutri-
garded on the Southern plantations
that to raise little negroes without
pot liquor" was regarded as a prac-
tical impossibility. Pot liquor and
hominy, 'pone bread" and fat bacon,
with mOlasses, constituted the staple
r~ations of the slaves the year round,
except of those favored few who We're
employed around the masters house.
who served his table and ate and
drank, with some few exceptions, what
the family did. The working day over,
it's conclusion being announced by the
bell, the slaves returned from the field
as they went, only with far more OF
noisy merriment, for there was always
a sense of relief at the conclusion of u
days toll -
Evening at the quart rs vas the
merriest part of he day. Among so
many slave, there were always some
of musical tendencies who could play
the guitar or banjo, and sodances were
fire. uent, while corn hui kings were
| quite as much of a frolic. The ne
groes' quarters" consisted of a row Or
rows of cabins, generally OF logs. 'front.'
ing q street not tar from the owners
house, and to the rear. Here. after
supper was ended, the slaves were left
to themselves, and found what amuse-
ment they could until the bell rang for
retire, and any who failed to be in
place when the overseer or driver
made the final round for the
night were subject TO severe pun
ishment. The slaves were not per-
mitted to leave the plantation with
out q written pass or permit from their
owner or overseer. and in town the fire
bell was generally rung at o'clock as
a signal tor them to 20 home. After
the ringing Of the bell the night
watchmen II patrol of the town
started on their rounds, when every
slave found or the street was stopped
and questioned, and if found without a
pass was arrested and locked up. The
ringing OF the fire bell was, therefore.
a signal for a general scampering, and
in every direction belated darkies
could be heard pounding the sidewalks
with their generous feet in an effort
to reach home before the night watch
started out. This well understood
feature of Southern life it was that
gave rise to the once popular song.
"Run, Niger, Run, the Patrol Will
Cdlcn You.
The diversions of the plantation
were very simple. In the season pos
sum and coon hunts were in order. the
slaves who joined in the sports often
being accompanied by members of the
owners family, who went for the mere
pleasure of hunting something. With
the slaves, however. the expedition
vas strictly a business enterprise, for
then, a. eve since, the fat 'pOSsum
was esteemed a most toothsome dainty,
and lucky indeed was he who managed
to secure one of these much-covetcd
animals for his own exclusive eating.
The preparation for the table was a
matter of much interest and no little
car,. After the 'possum had been
made ready for the roasting, a large
pumpkin was split in two and the seeds
taken out of one half. which was de-
posted before the fire and filled with
peeled sweet potatoes. The 'possum
was men hung up by MS tail before q
roaring fire. directly above the pump
kin. and slowly twirling around, he
was equally roasted on every side,
while his fat, forced out by the heat,
driDDed OF the sweet potatoes and
pumpkin, POTATOES and 'possum were
all cooked ready for consumption at the
same time. and a feast was thus pro-
vided which, according to darby esti-
mate, was fit for the gods.
The life of the slave, with its inter-
walls of relaxation, was not, in the