The San Francisco call., 1899-07-23

make his own shoes. His women dress
and weave his own sleeps wool, and
make their and his clothes from 1t.
During the day he works leisurely.
content to make a living out of the
ground. He has been seen sitting in
his wagon for hours watching an enter
prising. hustling Uitlander with Won
der, as the foreigner worked contfnu-
ously, with all kinds of newfangled
machines producing far more from
the earth than his wants required, be-
cause he wished to market the surplus
and make money He has been seen
thus shaking his head in pity, not un-
mingled with contempt, at such folly,
for the Boer is not a ney-maker.
He does not want a bank account. So
he drives his slow-p moving OK wagon
away on the hot and dusty trek, medi-
tating on the want of faith these Uit-
landers have, who cannot trust the
future to God and be content with to-
day.
He dimes heartily at noon and sups
heartily at evening His day hardly
differs from that of any farmer in
any country. only, If he sings at his
work, it is likely to be a psalm that
he sings. He smokes great deal
while he goes about-a habit derived
from his forebears in Holland. He is
fortunate in having no winter - no
frost, no snow. only the dry season
when his cattle suffer and the rainy
season when the rivers and ponds are
flooded.
His house and barns are low and
roomy-simply furnished as to the
house rooms. The great feather bed is
usually the most noticeable feature, un-
less, perhaps, he glories in little har-
monium for his daughter to pick out
hymn tunes of a Sunday. Just before
the sun goes down, at time which var
les very little all the year around, the
Boer calls his family together, and they
have household prayers and plous sing
ing. No lights are needed, or II one IS
it is an old-fashioned lanthorn, or, more
likely, rush dip floating in a cup OF
homemade tallow. Ere the daylight
has fairly gone the farmer has bolted
the door and everybody is in bed.
Three or four times a year he goes to
Nachtmaal, which is equivalent to the
Scotch Fast day or communion In
the little market square OF the nearest
little burg there will stand modest
whitewashed building like barn. This
is the church of the district, and mere
at stated periods the farmers gather
from all about. They don't take their
families to hotel, though some may stay
with friends, but drive the two or three
days journey in the big Whlte-can-
vassed wagon, drawn by from twelve
to sixteen fat, wide-horned oxen. They
make camp near the town, In meadow
probably by the stream, and live in
and under the wagon during the Nacht-
maal. cooking for themselves the food
they have brought along. The congre-
CATION gathers, during this time, day
and evening Their neighbors meet be-
tween whiles and gossip and perhaps
transact a little business. They would
not belong to the human family If, Of
course, the lads and lassieS did not
walk and exchange vows These are
the great outings, the picnics, of the
year, and small tradesmen and Jew
peddlers are on hand with knickknacks
and trumpery to sell to the young folks,
so that. outside the services, the meet
ing is a kind of fair. Sometimes also
there may be wrestling match or
jumping match between young men, in
which all, old and young, will take
deep interest.
Although the Boer has proved that
he can be longheaded and shrewd in
political and other grave matters in
some of the ordinary matters of life he
is remarkably simple. There are many
stories told Of his unsophisticated ways.
A prospector for gold found signs Of 1t
on a farmers land, and, after great
effort, succeeded in buying the portion
he desired. A check on bank In Pre-
toria was offered in payment, but the