Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-07-05
CHAPTER III.

lions OF CdErluStOuS. l. c AOuoS oSOO0
On hill some way from the river, and
was an imposing structure from dis
tance. For farming it was nearly as in
convenient a place as could be imagined,
the stables being half a mile farther
away. behind, and the arabic land lying
on an island in the middle of the river.
There were a thousand acres of upland,
which had never been desecrated by a
plough. The Carringtons Of her family
had always been poor managers, and the
result Of their poor management through
four generations was everywhere appar-
emit In i'll mended fences, untrimmed
banks of "branches" and patches Of red
gall on the hill side.
Riding along the river bank in the
early morning, Hugh, who had left Deer
Hill before sunup, marked, with practl-
cal eyes, this look Of unthrift and incom-
petence. James River bottoms have
what is called false bank. The water
Bn a flood rises to the top Of this, but
seldom above it. Ordinarily the strip Of
land under the false bank is "tended"
In corn on shares by negroes, and so kept
clean. On the Darlington plantation this
strip was a wilderness Of weeds, grape
vines and trees, making an impenetrable
wall.
A ford led over to the island. The corn
and hay were brought back on leaky
ekiff. At the ford, near the house road,
Darlington came upon four negroes lying
in the spring sun, and q dozen horses
and mules, geared with plough harness,
held together for the most part by bits
of wire and rope. Darlington, in spite
of long acquaintance with this branch of
the family had to laugh as other curious
pieces of patchwork harness met his eyes.
where's Mr.. CarringtonW he asked.
"He's at the sto', boss. Here he comes
now" a burly yellow negro answered.
Difference in his voice.
The cousin was a badly dressed, care
less looking man of thirty, riding lame
pacing mare, with her name rubbed bare
from the collar His saddle allied like
his plough harness; baling wire replaced
q stirrup leather, and one stirrup was of
rusty iron, the other of wood. But the
planter seemed in good spirits. 1t was
a fine day The sun was bright. Why
Hot?,
@'Hulloa, Hugh" he called. Fright
Seasonable weather"
Together they went to the waters edge,
she negroes following. James Caring
ton watched his cousin lead his horse to
4he bank. Hugh mounted, curled his
legs up until he was almost kmeeling on
the saddle, and urged his mare forward.
She snorted half reared, and tried to turn
sideways; but Hugh forced her IN. She
slid down into the river with splash.
For an instant the water threatened to
engulf her; then it fell to the saddle flaps.
keep upstream" yelled James.
Too late. She got off the ford, and had
10 swim. The current was strong in the
middle, and Hugh found himself being
swept downstream. He turned the mares
head back to the bank; she struggled
xamely, and in a minute her feet struck
the bottom of the ford, and she ploughed
her way, splashing, to land. Hugh turn
ed her at once, and this time kept her
higher up the river. He crossed easily,
ahe water not reaching to a foot Of her
withers.
Come on, SAM he said, shortly.
why didn't you tell me I was too low"
Sam looked at Hugh, prepared to mu-
tiny, thought better Of it, scrambled on
the near horse Of his team and splashed
IN, the other two dragging behind him by
the length of their tie-reins. He came
through. safely, though wet to the waist.
The rest followed
On the island was tract about mile
wide and seven long, as fiat as floor and
as productive as garden. 1t had grown
corn every season for perhaps seventy
ave years, and showed no signs Of depre-
riation yet. Mr. James Carrington's
yields per acre were small, through no
fault of the land. He half ploughed it,
REd always too late; half worked his corn
twice. too late again; and the weeds,
which grow on these bottoms higher than
man on horseback, smothered the crop.
Half the bottom had been cut off for one
"land," and there were perhaps two acres
Ia this piece still unploughed. The men
Astlessly hitched up their teams and be-
gan to work. None Of the ploughmen
look the least trouble to see that their
three horses pulled together, beyond an
occasional get up; so the willing horses
Md it all, and painted in the stiff clay.
"Why don't you bed this bottom"
Hugh asked.
'"Too much trouble to lay it off for the
Eiggers, and they'd plough it round and
round anyway if l didn't watch EN-"
James stretched out in the sun.
Hugh walked across the clods to the
had team. Give me the line" he said
10 Sam. Now tie back your third horse.
sFShs SNu SGAAON ASLiONy " LAS LhAu
with the next plough, "check up your lead
Bule; he's pulling his heart out. Hi, you
Glgger with the broken jaw, keep your
tram up. Now you-an get around these
S8rners in some STYLE
He started his plough and led once
around. Lets see what you can do
Drw," he said, giving the team up to
Ssm. Put some life into your work
Let that fellow in the black hat put his
TsTnI ahead, and the rest of you keep
Sp"
The new arrangement worked more to
bis satisfaction, and he went back to his
o~asin. Aunt Lizzie at home?" he
asked, turning to recross.
YES" James replied. Stay a day or
NTH NJ ,.a,1 . I