As soon as the children were old enough they were placed in the fields to prepare the ground for setting tobacco plants.  This was a very complicated procedure.  The ground was made into hills, each requiring about four feet of soil.  The child had to get all the clods broken fine.  Then place his foot in the center and leave his track.  The plants were to be set out in the center and woe to the youngster who had failed to pulverize his hill.  After one plowing the tobacco was hand tended.  It was long green and divided into two grades.  It was pressed by being placed in large hogsheads and weighted down.  On one occasion they were told their tobacco was so eaten up that the worms were sitting on the fence waiting for the leaves to grow but nevertheless in some manner his master hid the defects and received the best price paid in the community.

The mistress on a neighboring plantation was a devout Catholic, and had all the children come each Sunday after-noon to study the catechism and repeat the Lord’s Prayer.  She was not very successful in training them in the Catholic faith as when they grew up most of them were either Baptists or Methodists.  Mr. Hume said she did a lot of good in leading them to Christ but he did not learn much of the catechism as he only attended for the treat.  After the service they always had candy or a cup of sugar.

On the Preston place there was a big strapping negro of eighteen whom the overseer attempted to whip receiving the worst of it.  He then went to Mr. Hume’s owner and asked for help but was told he would have to seek elsewhere for help.  Finally some one was found to assist.  Smith was tied to a tree and severely beaten, then they were afraid to untie him, when the overseer finally ventured up and loosened the ropes, Smith kicked him as hard as he could and ran to the Payne estate refusing to return.  He was a good helper here where he received kind treatment.

A bad overseer was discharged once by Mr. Payne because of his cruelty to Mr. Luke Hume.  The corncrib was a tiny affair where a man had to climb out one leg at a time, one morning just as Mr. Hume’s father was climbing out with his feed, he was struck over the head with a large club, the next morning he broke the scoop off an iron shovel and fastened the iron handle to his body.  This time he swung himself from the door of the crib and seeing the overseer hiding to strik him he threw his bar, which made a wound on the man’s head which did not knock him out.  As soon as Mr. Payne heard of the disturbance the overseer was discharged and Mr. Mack placed in charge of the slaves.