Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-04

and having driven the loaded wagon into
either Crsnshaw's. Shockoe. or Stonewall
warehouses. let IL remain thus until the
morning In the mean time they employ
themselves until bedtime cooking supper
end seeing and putting q fresh coat or
paint on the town, where this had been
neglected by the native boys. At bedtime
they crawl into the covered wagons and
are soon dreaming Of fabulous prices for
their crops for tomorrow.
GETTING THE TOBACCO IN SHAPE.
AS for getting up soon, the sun is not in
II with the farmer come 20 town, and
great deal Of work is before bOth-the one
To hold a torch while the other unloads
his wagon and gets his tobacco assorted
according 10 it, quality into little stoops.
These morning hOurs-tTom $50 to 10
o'clock-are as busy as busy knows how
u be for farmer and for warehouse
owner. A "stoop" of tobacco is made
with as much care as a miliner erects
a new winter hat. Ii must look well, be
plump. and well rounded, big at the bot
tom and small at the top and put the
best foot foremost, always keeping up
appearances. cost what IL may to the
interior conditions OF It's make up few
moments before lO-before the crowd has
gathered. the "stoOping' process being
completCd-the farmer and the warehouse
proprietor stands off and views his work
like q man hanging a picture or a wo-
man putting on her bonnet to see if they
are "on" straight. The sight in the
warehouse is a pretty one-like a field Of
new-womn hay, where the sweet-smell-
Ing clover is made into little pyramids
wherever the eye rests There gre hun
drdes OF piles and not infrequently there
IL 5000 pounds Of tobacco on a single
floor.
THE SALE BEGINS.
The farmers have done their share Of
the work now, and the warehousemen
and buyers, ably assisted and urged on
by r. A. TTice. the Jeteran auctioneer
have theirs TO perform. The scene is a
busting one; there is no apathy in any
face or figure. II is the forum of eter-
nal Rome. plebeian standing side by side
with the merchant prince. a very inte-
resting sight is this, where the loosely
and anonymously clad farmer stands by
the side OF the artistically and hand
somely clothed figure Of the city buyer.
But with what intense absorption does
the former follow his row of stoops along
with the auctioneer and buyers, and
while ne has nothing to say, how his
heart, swelling with the love of those for
whom Is tobacco is 20 provide does silent
" plead with the buyer for good prices!
II means so much to him. From away
back yonder In April he has been think
Ing and hoping. praying and working, and
here at the mercy OF these men lie the
results OF all his thinking, hoping, pray
ers and toll lie is powerless now; the
crop must be sold for what ii will bring,
and when he thinks Of the boy at home,
or with him IL may be, entreating sturdy
boots, and the daughter, the sunlight of
the home, has asked for a new hat for
the winter; when he runs over in his
mind the long memorandum which
his toiling wife has been getting to-
gether all the summer, of those
things which she says she must
have 10 carry on the housekeeping;
when he thinks OF how faded and rusty
grown is her best Sunday dress, which
She has worn with no word Of complaint
for half dozen winters and Of the hope
that he would be able at the time now
come TO surprise her with another, which
cheered his heart through all the summer
rain; when he looked at his own patched
and frayed garments. little wonder. in
deed Is II that he follows with eye and
ear and heart every movement and word
of the auctioneer and the company OF
well-dressed gentlemen about him
The story need not be drawn out fur
ther. The countrymans face is like April
skies--warm and glowing with honest In
terest. now clouded by disappointment.
now radiant. shining through the dun red
or grizzed beard as the sweet and gen
tie. but beaming face and loving eyes OF
his wife. She who divides all his griefs
and doubles his joys. turns upon him in
glad surprise. seen in anticipation. when
be shall give her the new dress-for prices
rise and fail and mems hearts beat with
them the world over.