The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
TIE WOMAN RICE PLANTER.
THE DIARY OF PATIENCE PEN
NINGTON CONTINUED.
rrials and Their Compensations-An
instructive Picture OF Relations
With the Ncgroes-Plantation Lfe
at the South Niyidly Portrayed.


With the REORGANIZATION Life
at the South yiyidly Portrayed.
Sept. 2s.-This morning ! went early to
Cherokee and drove through the strest 70
oct some hands TO break in two acres OF
corn which, being very near tho road and
convenient to passersby. had better be in
tbe barn. At the well found picturesque
proup Of gossiping matrons. After the
vsual civilities. told my GRAND. "Becka,
Iwant YOU. / said TO one, q splendid figure,
who stood balancing on her head large
NH OF water. She answered: Miss, berry
.orry. kyant possible cum, l got de feber
rioht now" and she walked of at a swing
inc gait. turned to an equally fine speoi-
man Of health and strength and said,
agnes. Won will Gomez miss, too sorry,
Int mi baby got do feber" the said baby
looked as bright and hearty "a the mother.
All through the street 1t was the same thing.
One elderly woman, quite az a favor, went
home and locked her door and came. l
had brought my house servants 10 help and
found one or two hands in the barnyard; but
a took much longer than it should have
done
This corn had been stolen in a very clever
rey About a month ago went through
the field to mark what l wished kept for
seed OF the stalks that had more than
one fine car. found that about every eighth
stalk had two ears and some few had three
ears; to-day. when gathered. not n single
stalk had more than one ear. In spite of
this and the damage from the storm, these
two acres made seventy-two bushels OF
shelled corn which is a comfort
=. I Mt ha
Office. While l waited for my stamps
negro drove up and took from his buggy
two large sacks stuffed full Of something:
each sack held two bushels. To my amaze
ment when he proceeded to empty the
contents on the ground, found they were
rice birds / tried at once t. Guy dozen,
but he said they were already sold. and
began to count them out 90 another negro.
BE had got TO $50 when left and had not
got through with one sack. He said he
rot IS cents dozen for them. | have only
had rice birds twice this season: yet the
fields are swarming with them.
The work OF repairing the screw which
carries the rice from threshing mill TO ship
ping barn is nearly finished. IL has been
very expensive. and my crop this year does
not warrant the expense. Yet it was dam
serous to leave it hanging AZ It was, and 20
was forced either to pull il down. which
~ould have been an expense. or repair IL,
and chose the latter course.
Sept 20 Yareen harvest begun per-
feet day, the sun in great glory. with little
white clouds fitting hithcr and thither
doing continual homage 10 him, and max
Ing the sky a thing Of beauty. | did not 60 !
down 20 he plantation early, but followed !
my plan OF getting there just in time 10
tun back the hands who are leaving the
field with too little done. Yet they got ahead
Of me for they had all left the field and
gone home at 1l3o o'clock. having only
CT, four acres in field of eleven acres. or |
course il vas vain TO attempt to get them
back | met faithful old Abraham whom |
] had pat in charge. and he told me that |
they had all cut what was counted a task |
In slavery lines and left the field by IL !
O'Clock was greatly tried. because the |
risk Of leaving the rice in the field all day |
Sunday is too great and | wanted TO get it |
Into the ha-nyard Saturday evening. ! |
explained this to the old man and told him |
we would have TO get big days work done
tomorrow. as 50 little had been done to-
day or il would leave a very heavy days
work for Saturday. which they all dislike
very much. Ny father always allowed
very light task for Saturday aud required
that washing. securing raking the yards and
burning trash should be done in each house,
hold "a preparation for Sunday, when
everything should be tidy and clean They
kee7Up the practice very generally now,
and it is rare TO find on the street house
where active preparations are not being
made on Saturday evening. and I encourage
r 10 every vay in my power.
The new heater for tho threshing mill
engine mas arrived and is being put up. Last
year ] lost my engineer. he having been
absorbed by neighboring inillowner, and
is.t much an loss bur turned at once to
mn cid "befo a. yah darby, who had
earned - ,rade nder my father. Every
ole said old iinnv could not possibly run
the mil: he was too old and stupid. but
sent for him and he came promptly, and
When asked II he could run the engine
and ''resh tie crop for mo ne answered.
M rrctt spirit Sutt.uly | kin as
though bad in3utoi him by the question
h bar bowed himself a competent en-
sn7cr 'a-cft;! and vigilant. though ne looks
a. If re had rot Intelligence or capacity
'nolg' 10 sindle the fire. His first action
was 10 toll mo. after examining the ma
ohinery. that ! mus. get a new heater, as
le did not corg.dcr the ono in use safe.
NAen J domurrcd he said Miss. lcmme
mos yo sensible } KIN patch nm mp en-
nun de nG.n = 20 5yan'f possible buy a
NJ" one; but it's ress On my ole maista
''od ncDor expose rome o him people TO
nun o ingin Wild sech heuter. yo' cader-
stan, ma am.' needed nothing moro than
mat and wrote at once to beg Capt. l.. to
e>ne and examine i and, If necessary, to
order new enc for me. He took a long
''ine to come being a very busy man. but
wren no did come he said Tinny was quite
'lshl ana new one was necessary, and
L9" lnnv Is engaged in putting in the
JEW he1tcr. II seems almost a miracle
- i1o hat lac should be able to do it: but
j. l.f shows what it i 10 have been thor
''ghiy 'raine to q thing in youth. This
lFSmy u 49, who has not looked at an
rhsLe Tor thirty years, and has just !
N'el under hi' own vine and fg tree and
worked his own little farm. the moment 4
ue q called upon is perfectly at home in
'ne engine room and really more competent 7
ma .. o.. -Frs