The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-31
"LAY-sY" TIME DOWN SOUTH.
The Black People Rest and the White Ona
Visit Their Cousins.

Visit Their Cousins.
In the cotton planting districts and
on the rice plantations the interval be-
tween the last working of the crops
and the beginning of the harvest is
called '1ay-by'' time. 1t occurs in the
month of August and is looked forward
to with pleasure by white and black
alike.
''Lay-by" time means rest for the
hoe hands, women and children, who
have chopped away endless hours be-
meath the burning sun of Nav, June
and July; rest for 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 pillow each
day through all those months and 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.colored
blossoms. The rice is heading in its
fretted sheath, the corn swelling in
the green-swathed ear and the peanut,
the sorghum and the sugar cane are
all maturing in rank and luxuriance
''Pease-ripe?' the quail calls across
the fields. surveying the promising out
look, and his mate pipes her three
sweet notes in precise approval, think
ing of provender for the brown covey
later on.
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 it hurries by
and ruffies the quilt patch which his
wife Is placing in squares and dia-
moDds in order to get the best effect.
The circuit preacher looks upon
'lay-hy" time as his peculiar harvest,
and the politician likewise 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 osten-
sibly for pleasure, but in reality for
sterner purpose.
The south is noted for its large fam
lilies, and equally noted for the strong
attachment which binds those families
together. In the rural districts and
smaller towns whole communities are
related, and many boast that for many
generations no single member has mar
ried outside the pale of consanguinity.
1t is in 'lay-by" time this bond of
brotherhood, or sisterhood, or cousin
hood finds opportunity for expression.
Black Billy, Boston or the gray mule |
is not needed on the farm in this |
halcyon season, and can be hitched up |
to take the master and his family 10 !
visit Cousin Jake" or Aunt Merlina,"
way up in Lexington or down on Sandy |
Run, as the case may be. the time be-
ing more suspicious for this pilgrimage |
than even the Christmas season owing |
TO the midsummer condition of the |
roads (and the roads in the country in |
the south are of all sorts and condi-
tionsl
1t is not merely human freight that |
Black Billy and Boston transport to !
Cousin Jake's- Pink home-cured hams |
that were sewed into their coarse COW
erings by painstaking feminine fingers
are slowed away in the bottom of the
carrysll, along with loaves of famous
light bread made with grandmother's |
yeast, and catsup and sweet pickles |
prepared especially for this occasion.
1t viii take the visitors a day and a
half to 60 and the same TO return; but
they viii spend at least two DAYS at
Cousin Jake's. and hear the news of
himself and his vicinity that has oc-
Cured since their last visit.
Il likes for 'lay-by' time to come.
cause people keep stirrin' bout So"
comments Maum Dilcie, whose cabin
comma nds II view of the neighborhood
road. Il done see Eve buggies pass
here to-day. Dem chillun makes right
smart, too. a opening de gate" she
continues, as tieet-footed grandson.
who contrives TO run, even though
hampered with trousers three sizes too
big for him, filings wide the broad
barred gate TO admit waiting team.
Denis Betsy Spriggius' chillun
ywine to spend time wild her." adds
the old woman. shading her eyes with
her hand in order TO scrutinize the
strangers. and rs the heavy rockawzy.
with its budgets and parcels and trunk
tied on behind. lum bers slowly out of
sight, she INDUCES in "reminiscences
concerning the Spriggins family and
Although fond OF motion and excite
meat, the negroes. as a race. take their
pleasure sadly and having funeral SER