The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-06-07
The Nailed Beard.


Just al this time of year down South
men acting apparently in strange and
erratic manner are seen about the coun-
try lanes and in out-ofthe-way planta-
ton premises, says the Chicago Inter-
Ocean. Sometimes 1t is only one man
thus encOuntered-an alert-looking per-
son, securing the prospect with eyes
that let nothing escape Sometimes
there are two or more men together
lowering on the outskirts of cornfield
or cotton patch, scanning things with
wide awake, comprehensive gaze.
Things that the gunsman and natural
ist and nature lover would dote on-for
people can love nature without regard
to science or dissection-are discounted
in their care for what, after all, seems a
very humdrum quarry when found,
mere inanimate piece Of board or sta
ging, which some carpenter overlooked
when he worked in that spot, and
which the strangers pounce on and APP
propriate as though it were the one
thing above ali others worth having.
"What are they going to do with
that piece of board ?l' asks some one
not versed in harvest time annals.
"Shut up some negro's courthouse
with it," comes the answer. "See,
there's the place, through those trees to
the right"
"what are they going to do that
for?n
ooh, because the negro hasn't paid
out, and this is the only time of year
when he would be likely TO have any
thing TO pay out with. Those men are
the Sheriff7s Deputies. He has put
them out all over the country now.
They will take that board and nail it
across the door of the corn house, fod-
der house, or cotton bin, or whatever is
levied on, and, slight as it seems, that
board represents the seal Of the law.
Just now, lying on the ground, it was
merely discarded, weather-beate
piece of scantling, but once put up
across the door and hammered in place,
it has vital meaning.
"How long will it stay there? Until
the owner OF the corn or cotton shows
a disposition TO pay the debt, or make
some arrangement in regard TO it. May
be it will be taken down in two or three
days, may be not for as many months
OF weeks. 1t depends on cirenmstau-
ces. Bat however much need or desire
the owner may have to get into his |
barn, OF how far out of the way he may
be from the Sheriff, he won't dare 10 |
lay finger ON the board. It's peni-
tentiary offense to tamper with it, and |
even the most ignorant negro tenant
understands that. There Is tragedy and |
comedy, too, abroad in the country az
this time of year. May be It's only a
beggarly s. or so that somebody wants !
to collect and takes this summary
means of collection = the balance of
payment on a sewing machine, OF for
some piece of furniture or frippery,
bought perhaps year ago, and.which
these simple folks in their inability to
keep reckoning may have thought |
was paid for. Perhaps in reality it was !
paid for, and they are being cheated
and made TO pay it over again.
Sometimes it is grave matter that
shuts up the courthouse, relating to the
payment of mule or a mans farm
lands 1t may be that the negro has
been caught carrying the crop off by |
stealth somewhere else to sell, in place
of paying his landlord or the man who
has furnished supplies and eropmaking
gear during the year. For whatever
omission or desert, trivial or serious, il
IS done, the negroes regard the Sheriff's
visit with awe, and feel themselves dis
graced and outlaws ID when the tails
manic board is tackled to their door.
t'Sam Harley was shut up two years
hand-runnin' gedderin' time, they say,
with an ominous headshake and sug-
gestive tone. And Sam Harley loses
caste in society until he does something
to make up for the experience.
"'Zok Happy's good, square farm
er. There amt never been no Sher-
if7s board tech his courthouse, is an OPP
posite argument. And those who, Ell
through misfortune or duplieity, ever
have to wear the brand, feel it keenly.n