New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-25
"LAY.BY" TINE IN THE SOUTH.
A SEASON OF PLEASANT LAZINEsS.
THE BLACK PEOPLE ALL REST AND THE WHITE
ONES VISIT THEIR COUSINS

THE BLACK PEOPLE ALL REST AND THE WHITE
ONES VISIT THEIR COUSINS.
In the cotton planting districts and on the rice
plantations the interval between the last working
Of the crops and the beginning Of the harvest Is
called "lay-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 beneath the burning
Of May, June and July: rest for the who
have followed the burrows up and down the meas
ureless rows since the last OF February rest for
the mules and oxen which have tugged at the
plough each day through all those months and now
are free to Craze and do.e in turn In the green
spaces Of the pasture The last work has been done
20 the cotton; It Is too strong and vigorous FOR
the grass interfere with its growth. and the wide
acreage is studded with hollis and gemmed With
gay-colored blossoms. The rice Is heading In It's
fretted sheath, the corn swelling in the green
swathed ear and the peanut the sorghum and the
sugar-cane are all maturing In rank Iuxur'ahce.
"Pease- rpe? the quail calls across the fields sur
veying the promising outlook. and his mate pipes
her three sweet notes in precise approval. thinking
OF provender for the brown covey later on
Uncle Ned lies in the shade Of his cabin. idly
smoking his corn-cob pipe. and the breeze that
skins the corn field fans his temples as 1t hurries
by and rufies the quilt patches which his wife 10
placing In squares and diamonds in order TO get the
best effect.
The circuit preacher looks upon "layby" time 40
his peculiar harvest. and the politician likewise
avails himself Of this season Of leisure and sunny
weather to get certain arguments and schemes OF
his own before the public. Picnics and barbecues.
held ostensibly for pleasure. but in reality for
purpose. the order Of the day, and 1t 10
then that the Populist leader harangues his audi
ence as to the general and particular Incompetence
Of the existing Government and the crying need for
new legislation.
The South Is noted for its large families and
equally noted for the strong attachment which
binds those families together. In the rural dis
tricts and smaller towns whole communities are
related. and many boast that for generations no
single member has married outside the pale OF
consangunity. 1t is in "lay-by' time that this bond
Of brotherhood, of ssterhood. OF cousinhood finds
opportunity for expression. Black Billy. Boston or
the gray mule is not needed the farm in this
haicyon season. and can be hitched up to take the
master and his family to visit Cousin Jake or
Aunt Merlina" way up in Lexington or down on
Sandy Run. the may be. the time being
suspicious FOR this pilgrimage than even the
Christmas season. owing to the midsummer condi-
ton OF the roads land the roads In the country In
the South OF all sorts and conditons)
It Is not merely human freight that Black Billy
and Boston transport to Cousin Jakes. Pink home
cured hams that were sewed into their coarse COW
erngs by painstakng feminine fingers are slowed
away In the bottom OF the carryall, along with
loaves OF famous light bread. made with grand
mothers yeast, and catsup and sweet pickles pre-
pared especially for this occasion. IL will take the
visitors a day and half TO go and the same to
return: but they will spend at least two days at
Cousin Jake's and hear the news OF himself and
his vicinity that has occurred since their last visit
IT likes for lay-by' time come. cause people
keep a stirrin' bout So" comments Maum Dilce,
whose cabin commands view Of the neighborhood
road. II done see five buggies pass here to-day.
Dem chillun makes right smart too a opening de
gate" she continues. heet-footed grandson. who
contrives to run though hampered with troli-
sers three sizes too big for him. filings wide the
broad barred gate to admit waiting team.
Denis Miss Betsy Sprtggins's sisters chnun
gwne spend time wid her., ADDS the oid
woman. shading her eyes with her hand In order 70
scrutinize the strangers, and as the heavy rocka-
way with It's budgets and parcels and trunk tied
on behind numbers slowly out OF sight, she INDUCES
in "reminiscences concerning the Spriggns familyand
characteristics.
Although fond OF motion and excitement theme
groes a race. take their pleasure sadly, and nav
ing funeral sermons preached is a conspicuous
diversion among them in 'lay-by' time. DE bury
In was corn-plantin season in March, but de
funeral gwine be preach next Sunday" they ex-
plain to one who does not understand this CUSTOM
and the relatives OF the dead brother or sister hunt
I'D appropriate badges OF mourning and prepare TO
take conspicuous part in the purposely delayed
ceremonies.
A burying and funeral two distinct occur
In plantation etiquette and not at all synony
NOUS although the functions OF the burying are not
in the least abbreviated because the funeral at .
later date is to supplement It. The dead are In
TERED precisely at the same hour of day or night
at which they expired. but the funeral takes place
on a Sunday morning months later. when the vr-
tues OF the dead man are extolled hts sins ex-
pa tiated on with more less eloquence the
preacher never hesitat.ng to indicate plainly his
convictions as to the destination of the departed
soul.
Ibid they use TO have lay-by' time in the old
slave days." was asked OF a whitehaired negress.
"Dey was always bound TO have it while waitn'
for de cotton TO open and jst fore strppin fodder
time" was the answer. "All It's. de white people
never let us fling work Fam away and study bout
nothin' at all but play like de coored people does
now We had TO rake straw. and patch up fence.
and do light work one way and anudder. and de
Womens was give our winter frock and body clothes
10 sew De white people always did have mighty
and vlstn' bout mongst one anudder IN
de lay by time Seem Its SIGH sweet season ana
eberyting CROWN pretty" and the old slave
feet and the greener fields that spread beyond
quite down TO the banks OF the creek
this season" is of only brief dlra-
ton nv September every hand on the place
and every vehicle and animal that can be put
In motion will be busy gathering the crop OF y
and CARRYING II TO market or slowing II away In
courthouse or barn.