172 SLXTESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



"■ Put your basket down, sonny," he said. " Now you 

 have two hands to work with instead of one — so, don't you 

 see?" 



"Dat's mighty good in you, Mas'r," said a woman near. 

 " Lor bress you ! de people 'ud jess jump over derselves 

 tryin' to do the work if dey got sich good words, but de 

 oberseer 's so cross dat we gits 'umptuous and don't keer." 



Still, to the majority, the strawberry season brings the 

 halcyon days of the year. They look forward to it and 

 enjoy it as a prolonged picnic, in which business and pleas- 

 ure are equally combined. They are essentially gregarious, 

 and this industry brings many together during the long bright 

 days. The light work leaves their tongues free, and families 

 and neighbors pick together with a ceaseless chatter, a run- 

 ning fire of rude, broad pleasantry, intermingled occasion- 

 ally with a windy war of words in a jargon that becomes all 

 the more uncouth from anger, but which rarely ends in blows. 



We were continually impressed by their courage, buoy- 

 ancy, animal spirits, or whatever it is that enables them to 

 face their uncertain future so unconcernedly. Multitudes 

 live like the birds, not knowing where their next year's nest 

 will be, or how to-morrow's food will come. It has come, 

 thus far, and this fact seems enough. In many instances, 

 however, their humble fortunes are built on the very best 

 foundations. 



"What can you do after the berry season is over?" we 

 asked a woman who had but one arm. 



" I kin do what any other woman kin do," she said, 

 straightening herself up. " I kin bake, cook, wash, iron, 

 scrub — " 



"That will do," I cried. "You are better off than most 

 of us, for the world will always need and pay for your 

 accomplishments." 



