Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-17

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Joining farmers kent informed as TO
the condition OF each others fields
nnd knew pretty Accurately which
should lac saved iirst. and about VIVA,
heir was required To do II In time
have never seen n greater exhibit
non OF genuine loyal friendship than
ina. d us, hy those oli-timers
ing time. Well do | remember a par
ticuinr Instance In which my
iathers wheat was being harvested
W. Wi'n apnarentiy sufficient number
on laoorers TO save 1t, but to make
sure he sent over To ueiEhbur for
three more Graders and binders. and
they were promptly added to the cue
/ N-irhbor. to I,escue.
The sky began To indicate un ap-
preaching storm. and my father saw
mat more help would be needed TO
ride over to another neighbours and
tell him TO send available hands at
once. Refers ! could saddle my horse
saw THIS man riding into the farm
hinuers AMI also lot OF hoys for
shocking the bundles. He never
waited 10 come down to where we
we're but just started his gang to
cutting the first wheat they reached.
ana he stuck 10 that field uniil the
last straw was cut. tied ana safely
shocked
II was this class OF people with
and wholehearted Kindness that
makes one take pleasure in thinking
speaking Of these fine old souls that
| they were as liberal and whole
hearted with their moSey as they
we're with their farm help. With
them help meant help whether IL was
one thing or another. 1t was simply
what their .neiEhhor needed. and IL
. they had IT he got it.
Whea, harvesting was the most
! irSing work that was done on the
iarEe plantaiinps. II admitted of no
delay when started and the days were
long and the work was all done In
shada ,r.a not sun II any friendly
| end of the row. now and then "A
brief blowing spell would be had
under the grateful shade, bu, tins
| was not allowed often. \ most i'm
| portant duty that usually fell to me
| and two or three negro boys was 10
Keep the field supplied with coo! or
ICED water and this was no easy job.
| Think OF twenty Graders ana their
h.nde:s and the three or four shock
crs, always thirsty and scattered over
an acre or NOR OF field
Gave Islands" whisky.
The boys divided out behind the
row row OF cutters. zach with a large
water bucket and dippcr. When
or there would he trouble, So cut
'hr INC GRAM was not the only
strenuous part Of harvesting. for our
sun. too. We had to bring this water
J from q long distance. as tn. fields
covered many acres. which made our
! bus !ncSS.
The question OF giving harvest
hands whisky was not a settled on.
IN our ne!ghborhood many declaring
\
cure the full cooperation of the
| hands, as well as to supply an actual
support TO their sorely taxed systems
! ! believe the majority OF the farmers
about MS laid in regularly their sup
ply OF what was known as harvest
,Thn'sky before commencing TO save
Ihe crop: This was a fair grade Of
"mrnp whisky, and, think. when
purchased at the country stores cost
Hnont dollar and quarter or dol
lar and a half - gallon. Ny mother
Was Il great temperance advocate. and
sue always opposed the use of whisky
among the harvest hands or among
a., inc t.miiy' She would try very hard
tlsS. ana frequently sent them buckets
ihI! OF irInonade. raspberry vinegar
and similar drinks: but the hands
'h".r disappointment plainly.
One afternoon when things were
"C"ssins aionS, with poor prospects
IN "Iid .y ihs cutting laid off for
S,eing the conditions. said: These
nissers amt cutting wheat; what
water" was the reply.
You can't cut this wheat on
water said he. and mounting his
horse ne rode back To his home and
whisky
Iic' told my father to lay all the
blame on him IL my mother got after
mat the crop should not be lost for
few drinks Of whisky. He rode
TO the end OF the row. and as each
drink and his binder a smaller one
Ry the time he had put drink in
the whole lot there was no doubt
that wheat field, and in short order.
Morale Is Restored.
The leader drove his blade into
the first lines OF the harvest song,
so so well known to every plantatiol
is Understandable, but when taken up
by the female voices and carried far
have forgotten the words. hut the
music and the pathos Will ever linger
IN my memory: with the large
! farms II became necessary TO have
a responsible man to supervise and
direct them in the general work on
the place,
This was met in two ways. one
being the employment of an overseer
and the other the appointment OF
the head man" The overseer was
selected by the master from q certain
group OF good, substantial citizens Of
tho neighhorhood. who belonged to
the middle classes and was not
ashamed to work, He had to have
n good reputation for honesty, firm
ness and good common sense. Such n
man could usually no found In the
neishborhood and could he hired by
the year AT from $3.50 to $3.50, which
Included his room and board and n
morse to ride II tho farm was large
and there were many slaves TO look
after.
His position was. a very responsible
one and he was In full authority
ovec the farm laborers md Same