Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-04-22

\ late fall day in the year If 1860.
A Mississippi plantation. well kept and
luxurious looking A picture uf life
and activity such as one will find only
under these conditions.
The house. a big, snowy white struc-
ture. with tall porch pillars reaching
upward two stories in height. stands al
the intersection of two driveways,
which curve upward in cmewhat irreg-
ular fashion from their respective gates
in the long rambling white board fence
that surrounds the grounds.
\ small darky hoy. clad in very non
descript garments is generally To he
seen on one or the other of these road
ways. grubbing away not very ener-
gciically. I'm afraid. at the accumula-
tion of creeping vines and weeds that
threaten To oblitcrate the hard clay
rnadbed unless speedily dealt with. He
is there this very afternoon. hut, alas
and alack the suns rays slanting
through the live oaks. with their long
heardS of southern moss. shine in vain
npun his ieftnseless. woolly head, from
" which much torn old straw hat has
fallen. and the creeping vines on the
roadway get fresh start in life. Billy
is fast asleep.
But Billy must not he too severely
blamed Ii is siosta time all over Re
serve as the plantation is called. The
wide. front door Of the mansion stands
invitingly open. il is true. yet every
where about there is quiet. and only an
occasional muslin curtain, at some up
per window futters ont into the soft
southern breeze to tell of some fair
slumherer perhaps within
faint. insistent sound comes across
the field to the rear of the house. Here
is the small sugar press, and here an
old darky. mounted ON an equally an
cient mule. is monarch of all he surveys
this afternoon Round and round he
goes. every now and then STOPPING to
gather up the cane from convenient
piles and feeding it into the press,
which creaks and groans like rusty
well sweep.
A long stalk of the cane serves him
both as n whip for his steed and refresh
ment for himself He alternately chews
at one end and vigorously slashes at the
mule with the other. tossing the stalk
into the press. when under this double
duty its condition becomes somewhat
1ilapidated.
There are cotton pickers way out i'll
the wide fields which belong 10 the
wealthy mistress of Reserve many of
them-bnt they are ont of the view.
and not even their rich toned. monot-
onous melodies come waited on the
breeze.
The whole place is quiet. and the
sun. giving up his struggle with the
sleeping darky boy 10y the roadway,
takes a dip toward the west
Suddenly Billy sits bolt upright and
thrusts oui his bare foot in vigorous
kick \ small yellow dog Of the plain
dog variety is shifting and nipping at
his legs. with its owner coming along
the road behind il
He is "a foriorn looking fellow the
dogs master-a young prddler. with
his pack carefully relied in piece OF
sacking and strapped to his back His
clothes are torn and fraycd. his hat is
stained and wcrn by time and many
showers. his face is strcaked with per.
spirafion and dust aud there are dark
circles undcr his eyes and lines about
his month that To- the close observer
might tell of hunger and much fatigue.
He comes wearly up che driveway
and balts beside the darkv boy. who is
engaged in brisk argument with til,
yellow dog
Who lives here, hoy he questions
who yonr mistress:
Mis- Hamilton she done lib heah
What ynh want tuh knox foah ~ in
terrogates Billy in return. = note of i'm
pudcnce coming into his voice
The poddlcr shifts his pack. Il have
some things that maybe she would like
To buy sh" or som body about the
place Is that til way to the house ?
pointing up the drive lis your mis-
tress nj hnmeG''
But Billy has taken To- his bare feet
and flown across the grass IN the direc
tiun of the negro quarters.
II takes but few moments fer him
o. rouse two or three men and boys
who. shirkiug work in the field have
been sleeping within ON this balmy Gal
afternoon They now emerge from ;h,
cabins and led hy the important Billy
advance t. meet thr ppldlcr
''Hrah wha yuh doin hcah. now
Mis- Hamilton ,hr DIN low ~ tramp>
rom dis ncah plantation Go long.
now iii on. II h';th quick. n"rv. says
hurIy feid hand advancing toward
the p,'idlei in threatening manner.
"Can I | SIC Your mistress for a me