The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-02-27


roasted WAS occasionally IA matter of
deep study for his mind.
The slave WAS great soogster.
Often III the fields cutting cane. or
hoeng the growing crop. or at night
when employed about the sugar houses,
their taste for music would he indulg-
ed.
A leader would sing a line or two
when all the others, men, women and
boys would unite in the chorus.
The leader would start Hp:
God made the world
And man made money!
wltn the chorus would strike in:
'And we'll all go up yonder''
s'God made the bees
And the bees made the honey
'.And We'll all go up yonder.'
God made the Devil
And the Devil made SIM
"Ana we'll all 60 up yonder."
God made hole
And he put the devil in.r
Aud we'll all go up yonder.'
'.Nigger makes de sugar
Aud massa takes de money"
And we'll all 60 up yonder.'
aud SD on for half an hour. the leader
making it up as he goes along or re-
peating the sane stanzas.
These weird soEgs ringing out in
the still hours OF the night we're pecu-
liarly attractive TO Il stranger.
The end Of sugar making was also
an interesting occasion. When the
canes were cut, the cane cutters, men,
and women, would form into q pro-
cession, each carrying q big sugar
cane. and very likely singing Que of
their happy songs, and march to and
into the sugar house, very probably
il muster, manager, or employees
were found on their way, picking
them mp bodily aud tote them
through the building.
Then the traditional jug was brought
out, anG the master taking one or two
OF the finest canes, with a cup Of
whiskey wsuld baptize them, when
all of them would wisl, and drink
prosperity and success for the next
crop, hoping that it might surpass auy
previous one.
This done the men would gather up
in their arms engineer, sugar boiler or
some one and "tote" him around the
building to the music of their songs,
to be I ollowed by lanother swig at the
i, i,repiessible jug. On these occasions
the cane cutters were masters of the
situation for che rest of the day, and
did pretty much as they pleased.
Planters often had difficulty in getting
enough men on watch on that night to
keep his apparatus moving, as many
of the slaves with their frequent llba-
tions were incapable of doing any
work for that night.
When the canes were all hauled ln
and the last ones had gone through
the mill another rejoicing was gone
through by those who could not parti-
cipate in the first one. 1t used always
to excite my sympathy for the kettle
hands &c, who were compelled Il
stand at tneir p ats while their fellow
toilers were rejoicing.
Masters generally permitted their
slaves great indulgences on such occa.
sions, making the end of sugar rolling
always "A merry time to all.
These, as | have before sta,
ted, were followed by q weeks holi.
day at christmas. or If the grinding
season had not been completed in time
!, Immediately thereafter.
Then preparations for new eror
were made and the work of planting
cane and corn was commenced.
There was one peculiarity with some
. slaves that was incomprehensible t.
| me, and for which never could dis
cover any just reason.
That was the desire to .'run away.
In some instances, cruelty practiced
| upon them, donbtlessly bad that effec
| but l knew some of the best slaves
who did their work we'll. who were
! well treated and cared tor, who inva
riably failed to answer at roll call
twice, or oftener during the year. AT
ter hiding in the woods and CANE
fields for few weeks they would re
turn, receive good thrashing and g.
to work, although punishment did no