The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-18
FROM LOVE AND BUSHES
IN RIPE COTTON FIELDS
To Glimpses of John Wilkes Booth Charles uu!tteau
and Leon Czolgosz is Far Cry'But
He Makes 1t.

seed out with their fingers, our gin
was a wonderful affair, attracting as
much attention as if it had been
small sized circus. People did not
raise as much cotton then as now,
and, of course, they did not need
such fast gins. Cotton was a sort ot
a side crop; most attention being paid
to the raising of something to eat.
Hog and hominy were of first and
highest importance. After they We're
assured, then whatever of land and
time we had left we gave to the pro-
duction of cotton, which we made,
not SO much for market. as for spin
ming on the home wheels and weav-
ing into cloth on the home loom.
Many people did not pick out their
cotton7 in the patch; but. in the morn
ing, while the dew was on. a cart load,
or more of open bolls, were pulled off
and banked UP in some room to be
picked that night Two or three
hundred pounds-sometimes more,
would be thus picked out in a night,
and so almost without interfering
with other work. a mans cotton crop
would be picked.
1t was not uncommon, when I was
very small boy, to have cotton
pickings, in some neighborhoodS. To
these all the young people were in
vited, and they had about as good a
day of it as we now have at what we
call swell receptions. When they
went into the field, a boy and girl
became partners and, rivalry spring
ing UP among the many couples, as
to which would pick the most q vast
amount of cotton would be picked in
a day, while no little amount of
counting was going on at the same
time. The girls wore their fly bon
nets, so their bushes nor their smiles
could be seen, when the boys were
talking to them of love. and of the
"sweet by-and-by'' after marriage. L
have seen as many as two dozen
couples scattered over a mans cotton
field. That was, indeed. a cotton
picking.
When the dinner hour came, and
the picnic table was loaded with
chicken, pies and all the substantials,
which a well-to-do farmers wife was
able to put upon it, as royal a time
was had as was ever enjoyed at
kings banquet.
1t was understood that. at the close
of the days picking, the evening was
to be spent, at the farmers house. by
the young people, when the old
fashioned plays were to be enjoyed,
until a late hour.
SELLING the thimble'' was a very
popular game, as it not only created
Out SuDJeCleu dl1 " TIE
playing of pawns," and gave the boys
a chance to kiss the girls.
A person with a thimble in his
closed hands. went around the room
and pretended to give it into the
hands of each one, but. of course. Civ
ing it to only one. Each one to whom
he had pretended to give the thimble
held his or her hands closed as if he
or she really had it. Having gone
around the circle and having pretend
ed to give it to each one, he began
asking the question: who's got the
thimble'? All who failed to guess
right had to pay a forfeit. Anything
from a tooth pick to a handkerchief
or a glove would be put in pawn and
after two or three settings and col
Lettings of "pawns,' they had of
course to be redeemed.
Two of the party a gentleman and
lady, would proceed as follows:
"a pawn for SALE the gentleman
announces.
'tVery fine Gf lady's handker-
chief or glove), the gentleman an
SwerS:
What must the owner do to re-
deem it,? the lady asks.
'Stand\ out on the floor and say:
Here I stand on two little chips
come anu HISS lily CHeIlN iIpS
The girl would go out blushing, and
repeating the couDlet, would say:
"Come, Mr.. Jones'i
The boy she called, Mr.. Jones,
would spring to his feet and hasten
to the delightful task of kissing those
cherry lips and the smack he gave
was almost loud enough to set the
dogs to barking. OF course the for
felt was restored to the lady as she
nd 70 hnr Anol siY
Mr.. Jones didn't kiss her at all.
The next pawn would be. perhaps,
a pocket knife belonging to one of
the boys and the penalty imposed
was to stand on the floor and says:
ST had a little pig. and he was double
jointed.
i went to get kiss. and got disap-
pointed"
He called Miss Sally Minis. She
danced out till almost within reach of
the fellow, then courtesied, wheeled
and danced back to her seat while
the disappointed" amid jeers and
laughter, received his knife and took
his seat
An hour would be thus spent in
paying forfeits. and these and many
more like them, would be the penal
ties:
Here I stand as crooked as horn
/ never wanted kiss SO since L was
born
more kisses the more fun.
Come on boys, every one
"Here I stand, a heart sad and
murky,
If you don't kiss me, III run like
turkey"
eff you and your folks, love me and
my folks.
Like me and my folks love you and
your folks:
There never We're folks. since folks
were folks
Loved folks, like me and my folks
love you and your folks.
And you and your folks love me and
ny folks"
The fellow who was required to say
that. generally called out his best girl.
and it was understood that matters
were getting to be serious. should
she respond to the sentiment, by go
ing out to be kissed by him.
Those were days of real erJoyment
I guess. for no time was taken up
with formalities, which. to my mind,
l-A& 1nN fnC