Year: 1871

about the yard came to him for
their morning meal, the chickens,
the white guinca-hens, of which
there were several hundred, and the
geese, all flying in answer to the
familiar call. A favorite among the
pets was a tiny blue pig, which the
old man would take on his knee, and
fondlc with great tenderness.


After the dumb pets were attend
ed to all the little negroes were sent
for. Up they came from their
quarters, about thirty of them, with
the old black aunty, who has charge
of them through the day while their
mothers are in the field, walking be-
hind with long switch to keep
them in order. An odd little crew
they were, Of all ages from ten years
old downward, with little woolly
heads, big rolling white eyes, and
chubby black bodies, scarcely con
cealed by the short cotton gown
hanging loose from the shoulders.
Gathering round their master they
all gave the morning salutation by
kissing his hand and dropping a
quaint little courtesy. At a sign
from him some of the oldest among
them set up wild, monotonous
melody, to which they sang ricas
and blessings for all the members
Of the family, calling each one by
name, from the old man of ninety
five years, uncle OF the udmnist,a-
dor, down to the dark-eyed, curly
haired grandchild, graceful witch
Of eight summers. All the Younger
portion of this strange little party
joined in as best they could, and the
whole band kept time by clapping
their hands, and twisting their little
bodies in 4 wild negro dance. AL
though it was an everyday occur
renee, the master watched it with
great delight, and cheered on the
little creatures with motions Of his
hands. When the singing was fin
ished, each little pair of black paws
was stretched out for the reward,
piece Of white bread and a banana,
which the old gentleman took from
a large basket at his side; and then
the woolly headed crew were driven
back to their quarters, or taken to
play among the heaps of beyoso, or
crushed sugar-cane, which is thrown
out from the grinding machine, and
left to dry in the sun. This beyuso
is used as fuel to keep up the en-
gine fires, and is great conven-
ience in country where wood is so
scarce. 1t is necessary that it
should be dried, and the little ne
grocs make excellent hands to turn
the masses of damp, heavy stalks
open to the sun, beginning even in
their childish play to assume por
ton of the labor of the estate.


The remembrance Of those long
evenings on the piazza of the old
Cuban plantation will always re-
main with us as picture of beauty
and poetry, the light from the Ian
terms swinging overhead bringing
out in clear relief the figures Of the
company assembled there; the old
men with long white hair, sitting in
heavy ieathcrn chairs, enjoying an
evening smoke; the quiet matron
and mother resting placidly after
her daily cares; the young people,
with bright, hopeful faces, cracking
merry jokes among themselves, or
singing some simple Spanish song
full of plaintive sweetness; and the
graceful little grandchild, in white
muslin and long black curls, leaning
tondly on her grandtather's chair,
or bounding into the yard after the
big cocullo, or Cuban FREELY, to
ftsten in the folds of her dress, or
hang among her curls as natural
and gaudy jewel.


And across the yard, only short
distance removed from this sweet
picture of tropical grace and com
fort, was the other side Of planta-
tion lite-the great mill with its
flaming light only serving to reveal
the dark, weary faces of the band
Of perpetual toilers, working, work
ing, day and night, with no present
and no tuturc.-MRs. HELEN S. Co
NANT, in Xa1per's Nagazine .tor