The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1895-11-28

| ~~r~ ~.~~ ~fsN AhiAihk ~ tHC naINtSN ~
called "lay-by" time. IL occurs In the
month Of August and is looked forward
TO withpleasure by white aud black
alike.
Lay.by time means rest. for the
hoe han0fs, women and children. who
have chopped away endless hours be-
meath the burning sun of Nav, June
and July rest foe the men who have
followed the burrows up and down the
measureless rows since the last of
February; rest for the mules and oxen
which have tugged at the plow each
day through all those monthsand now
are free to Craze and doze in turn in
the green spaces of the pasture The
last work has been done to the cotton;
1t is now too strong and vigorous for
the grass to interfere with its growth.
and the wide acreage Is studded with
bolls and gemmed with gay.colorod
blossoms. The rice IS heading ihi
fretted sheath, the corn swelling In
the green-swathed ear and the peanut.
the sorghum and the sugar cane are.
all maturing ia rank and luxuriance.
"Pease-ripe?' the quail calls, across
the fields. surveying thopromising out
look, and his mate pipes her three
sweet notes in precise approval, think
ing OF provender for the brown covey
later on. es...~s t.I@t $f53 ~ ~, u
Uncle Ned lies IN the shade OF his
cabin, idly smoking his corncob pipe,
and the breeze that skins the corn
field fans his temples as IL hurries by
and ruiiies the guilt patch which his
wife is placing lin squares and dia-
monds in order 70 get the best effect.
The circuit preacher looks upon
"lay.by'' time as his peculiar harvest,
and the politician1lilS wise avails him
self Of this season of leisure and sunny
weather to get certain arguments and
schemes. Of his own before the public.
Picnics and barbecues. are held 4osten-
sibly for pleasure, but in reality for a
a'te2.s tss~.- 1r>3at':$@, /
The south Is noted for its large fam
HES, and equally noted for the strong
attachment which binds those families
In tho rural districts and
smallerntowns waole yteommunities are
aud many boast that for many
no singleaD Der has mar
ried. outside the pale Of consanguinity.vI
L IS lin 'layby'' time this bond boft
or sisterhocd, or cousin
mood finds opportunity for 4 ypression.& I
Black Billy, Boston or the" gray mule
$ not needed on the farm in this
ialcyon season, and can be hitched- up1
% take the master aud his tfamilytoH
yisit Cousin Jake" or Aunt Merlina, - F
way upin Lexington or down on Sandy 4
Run, as the case may be, the time be-I
ng more anspicious for this pilgrimage |,
han even the Christmas season, owing
% the midsummer condition. of the /
'oads (and the roads in the country in
he south are of all*sorts and condi-
ions). &@% 1''- *@a@ ~ /
I 1t is not merely human freight that
Black Billy and Boston transport to
,ousin Jake's. Pink home-cnred hams
hatwere sewed into their coarse COW
rings by painstalSing feminine fingers |,
re slowed away in the bottom of the
arryall. along with loaves Of famous l.
ight bread made with grandmother's
east, and catsup and sweet pickles
prepared especially for this occasion.
: will take the visitors day and
alf to 90 and the same to return; but
hey will spend at least two days at
ousin lakes, and hear the news Of
imself and his vicinity that has oc-
urred since their last visit. a +.
II likes for 'lay-by' time to come,
,anse people keep a stirrin' bout sou
ommcnts Maum Dilcie. whose cabin
a view of the neighborhood
bad II done see five buggies pass
ere to-day. Dem chillun makes right h
mart, too, 3 opening dc gate" she
ontinues, MS feet-footed grandson,
tho contrives to run, even though
ampered with trousers three sizes too
liz for him, fiings wide the broad
aired gate to admit Il waiting team
Denis Betsy Spriggius' chillun ;
wine to spend a time wild her." adds
ie old woman, shading her eyes with q
err hand In order to scrntinize the !
rangers, and as the heavy rockawav,
18th It's budgets aud parcels and trunk i
cd on behind. lumbers slowly out of 4
ght, she indalges in "reminiscences {
the Spriggins family and
{
Although fond of motion and excite
ent, the negroes, as "a race, take their {
leasure sadly. and having funeral SER Z
ons preached is a conspicuous diver
on among them In ''lay-byp time. Z
De buryin' was corn-plantin' season ,
March, but de funeral gwine be
reach next Sunday" they explain to
ne who does not understand this GUS
I'm, and the relatives of the dead :
-other or sister hunt up appropriate
idges of mourning and prepare to
Ike a conspicuous part in the pur-
,scly DELAYED ceremonies.