The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1895-02-16
TWO YEARS
IN
'ARKINSAW. 2
Written Tor the DeLamar NUGGET.
Written Tor the DeLamar NUGGET.
CHAPTER "


failing springs. But the valleys are
very narrow and although the lands in
these valleys are very rich they are in
such small quantities that the country
naturally is sparsely inhabited. Still
the conditions are such, that taking the
climate and natural advantages of the
country into consideration together with
the primatiye habits of the people it is
really wonderful the number of people
who will be fonnd in ons of these mar
row valleys.
shall endeayor in this chapter to
describe the home life of typical
Arkansas family. In the first place
they all own horse, COW, yearling or
TWO, perhaps dozen hogs, three or
TOUR sheep and some poultry. Then
they either own few acres of ground
or work few acres on the 'sshears. ),
This ground scarcely ever exceeds ten
acres and is invariably planted in corn.
The Arkansas farmer does not hurt him
self preparing the ground for the seed.
not one In ten ever blowing it, no mat.
ter how foul it might be, but simply
marking 1t off at the proper distance
Win Dull tongue pillow, dropping his
seed, and his work is done until the
corn IS high enough to pillow, when he
Dreaks cut the centers thus saving one
plo"ing. Twice blowing makes the
crap" and the corn is then laid by
and nothing more done until until it il
ripe when the ears are pulled off the
stock without ''shucking,n and cribbed,
the "shucking" being done as the corn
IS needed for use. Besides this thew
nave all got a truck patchp which is
under the care of the women. In this {
they raise their yams, Irish potatoes
ana few other vegetables, not forget !
ting corner devoted to cotton. large
enough to supply the family with cloth /
Ing, IN addition of course to the three or r
tour Heeces of wool that the sheep fur .
nisnes, and right here let me remark | q
that IN Arkansas the weight ofthe work o
iaiis TO the share of the women. All c
the houses are furnished with~an Old Ii
loom, spinning wheel and cards. The |
cotton after being picked, is hand a
picked to remove the seed and both il Fl
ana the wool are carded, spun, woven m
and made up into garments, even the D
Unread they are sewed with being of G
nome manufacture. They are not quite b,
IS handsome garments as have seen, D,
Out they have this advantage, as one ii
oid fellow expressed it to me, nTbevre al
powerful good to lssf.n The mountains ii
IRE covered with oak timber and fur 90
'ish an abundance of acorns or "massu W,
IS they call it, and keeps the shoats in De
'ood condition through the summer. w
md also in the fall, after the new crop |
ommences to drop they get very fat foc
nu although the meat is inclined to be ie,
ny and not so firm as if fed on corn, NO
CT IL IS very sweet and palatable. Inthe
III OF the year one man will kill wi
earring sending quarter to each one wi
three neighbors and when that is he
aten up one of his neighbors will re- he
i'm the compliment and so on until w,
zen one OF the four has killed its year up
ng. The hides are home tanned and got
ade up into shoes by some member of The
10 family, as there is almost sure to be son
le OF the who can perform this service wa
In the iaii OF the year when cotton hos
cklng time comes, some members of the
g family and sometimes even the Sen
lole family tramps over the noun me
ms to the valleys Of the Arkansas riv- dog
and are employed in picking cotton. the
Is from this source they get their SO l
gar and coffee aud other groceries. sadc
girls getting a "calicer'' dress and we
r OF store Shoes" to go to "meetin, pull
dances, these being the only two him
erslons they indulge 10. They are and
y social and hospi;able people and do and
arge amount of visiting, nearly al and
Us staying all night. Saturday night boss
"e'i great visiting night, and per- dog.
going through the country on that taste
ming would be almost sure to find hard
the honses empty, the occupants up a,
70 ensdg'u IN visiting the other onto
+ and ,
rom my observation while there I durn
led the opinion that Arkansas is hung
lnetlYely lazy rams country. Il tight
. pu' 'i''ie 10 supply their needs lus SO
'"ey seem TO be entirely without liked
ition to get on" IN the world, but her o