The midland journal., 1899-03-10

than incomprehensiblc: they were
Staggering. tried to think about
the astounding story that Mr.. Dorion
had told me, after / had hidden
him good night, and had been lighted
with pair of tall wax tapers up
IL broad stairway to large,
square bed-chambcr. where a great
high-posted, canopied and curtained
bed awaited me. say tried to think
of it; but | could make nothing of it;
speedily gave it up, and lapsed away
into slumber.
Bodily and mentally, was tired,
and | slept late. ! was aroused by a
prolonged knocking at my chamber
door, through which ran continual
current of negro-talll.
"Please, young NAUSEA, would you
get up an come down to breakfast?
NAUSEA Dorion say, wake yo' up easy;
an yo' pass out yo' boots to be shined. "
When, an hour later, | was seated at
the planters hospitable table, it
seemed as though had been at home
here for year. Mr.. Dorion, clad in a
loose linen suit, his wife and three
daughters, all pleasant, cool and at
least one of them handsome, enter
tanned me with easy and agreeable
conversation. 1t warns my heart
now to think of this, my first agree
able introduction to southern hospital
ity. AS for the feast that was spread
on that board despair of conveying
an adequate idea of its profusion. |
was the stranger within their gatcs:''
| was therefore entitled to all that
they could set before me. Coffee, and
milk, bacon, eggs, white and corn
bread, fish from the river, hominy-
where shall | stop? had an appetite;
but it soon surrendered before the
great supply that loaded the table.
After breakfast, Mr.. Dorion took me
out on the shady west veranda, and
smoked. declined the weed, and he
good-humoredly said:
You'll have to learn, youngster, if
you're going to stay in the south. Like
the morning cocktail, tobacco is q
social force here. And you've been
here at my plantation fourteen hours
and haven't said word about politics
or slavery. lam beginning to doubt
whether you are northern born or not"
saw that he was bantering me, but
replied, seriously:
81 have never voted yet, and know
nothing about politics. AS to slavery,
hope to get some information about
it. have very little YETI
lie clapped me heartily on the shoul-
der.
"You talk like sensible young fell
low. wish all this noise in congress
and in the press could stop, and that
the northerners could come down here,
and see what slavery is like. Come
along with me, and I'll show you a
little of it,"
We went back to the negro quarters;
small street of comfortable white
cabins. AS we passed through, the
darkies ran out to see "Ole NAUSEA" ="
The young children, with hardly an
apology of cotton clothing to hide
their blaclSness, laughed and chatted
round him. Withered old crones and
rheumatic "uncles" hobbled to the
doors to see him. Lusty young negroes
and negresses gathered about him
eagerly discussing the prospects of "the
crop"
Here they are" said Mr.. Dorion.
Something more than a hundred of
them. You see their disposition All
that are able to work are aching to
get into the cotton field to save de
crop"
Would you sell one of these slaves?"
Sell one of them? Ne? Why, I'd
as soon think of selling one of my own
girls"
DO all planters feel that way?'
Il can't say; likely not. know of
many who do"
''ls it not true that at the slave
marts in New Orleans and Charleston
young girls are sold on the auction
block, and that mothers are separated
from young children?"
Mr.. Dorion answered with some
warmth:
You said You didn't know anything
about slavery, my boy; your questions
show me that you have read a great
deal about it. | suppose the things
that you speak OF do exist; don't
know; they are just rs strange to me