METHODS OF CULTURE IN THE SOUTH I71 



the faintest trace of irresolution or fear, and he knew that 

 the moment he stepped out of the way, she would pass on. 

 His loud expostulations and threats soon ceased. What 

 could he do with that laughing woman, who no doubt had 

 been a slave, but was now emancipated a trifle too completely ? 

 He might as well try to stop a sluggish tide with his hands. 

 It would ooze away from him inevitably. The instincts of 

 this people are quick. Harrison knew he was defeated, and 

 his only anxiety now was to retreat in a way that v/ould save 

 appearances. 



" I 'se a-gwine home, M's'r Harrison," she said quietly. 

 " You don't catch us gittin' wet ag'in." 



" Oh, well, if you is 'fraid ob gittin' wet, s'pose I '11 habe 

 to let you off jus' dis once," he began, pompously ; and 

 here, fortunately, he saw a man leaving the field in the dis- 

 tance. There was a subject with which he could deal, and 

 a line of retreat open at the same time ; and away he went, 

 therefore, vociferating all the more loudly that he might 

 cover his discomfiture. The woman smiled a little more 

 complacently and went on, with her old easy, don't-care 

 swing, as she undoubtedly will, whithersoever her inclina- 

 tions lead, to the end of her life. To crystallize such 

 wayward, human atoms into proper forms, and make them 

 usefiil, is a problem that would puzzle wiser heads than that 

 of the overseer. 



I think, however, that not only Harrison and Peters, but 

 all who have charge of working people, rely too much on 

 driving, and too little on encouraging and coaxing. An in- 

 cident which occurred may illustrate this truth. My com- 

 panion, Mr. Drake, soon mastered one of the labors of a 

 strawberry farm, — the gathering of the fruit, — and out of 

 the plenitude of his benevolence essayed to teach a little 

 sable how he could pick to better advantage. 



