Near these cabins, mere specks in the distance, are two large sheds, under which are primitive mills, wherein negroes grind corn for their humble meal.  Returning from the field at night, hungry and fatigued, he who gets a turn at the mill first is the luckiest fellow.  Now that the workpeople are busily engaged on the plantation, the cabins are in charge of two nurses, matronly-looking old bodies, who are vainly endeavouring to keep in order numerous growing specimens of the race too young to destroy a grub at the root of a cotton plant.  The task is indeed a difficult one, they being as unruly as an excited Congress.  They gambol round the door, make pert faces at old mamma, and seem as happy as snakes in the spring sun.  Some are in a nude state, others have bits of frocks covering hapless portions of their bodies; they are imps of mischief personified, yet our heart bounds with sympathy for them.  Alive with comicality, they move us, almost unconsciously, to fondle them.  And yet we know not why we would fondle the sable “rascals.”  One knot is larking on the grass, running, toddling, yelling, and hooting; another, ankle-deep in mud, clench together and roll among the ducks, work their clawy fingers through the tufts of each other’s crispy hair, and enjoy their childish sports with an air of genial happiness; while a third sit in a circle beside an oak tree, playing with “Dash,” whose tail they pull without stint.  “Dash” is the faithful and favourite dog; he rather likes a saucy young “nigger,” and, while feeling himself equal to the very best in the clan, will permit the small fry, without resenting the injury, to pull his tail.

It being “ration day,” we must describe the serving, that being an interesting phase of plantation life.  Negroes have gathered into motley groups around two weatherbeaten store-houses—­the overseer has retired to his apartment-when they wait the signal from the head driver, who figures as master of ceremonies.  One sings:—–­“Jim Crack corn, an’ I don’t care, Fo’h mas’r’s gone away! way! way!” Another is croaking over the time he saved on his task, a third is trying to play a trick with the driver (come the possum over him), and a third unfolds the scheme by which the extra for whiskey and molasses was raised.  Presenting a sable pot pourri, they jibber and croak among themselves, laugh and whistle, go through the antics of the “break-down” dance, make the very air echo with the music of their incomprehensible jargon.  We are well nigh deafened by it, and yet it excites our joy.  We are amused and instructed; we laugh because they laugh, our feelings vibrate with theirs, their quaint humour forces itself into our very soul, and our sympathy glows with their happy anticipations.  The philosophy of their jargon is catching to our senses; we listen that we may know their natures, and learn good from their simplicity.  He is a strange mortal who cannot learn something from a fool!