METHODS OF CULTURE IN THE SOUTH 1 73 



The story of her Hfe was a simple one. She did not re- 

 member when she lost her arm, but only knew that it had 

 been burned off. When scarcely more than an infant, she 

 had been left alone in the little cabin by the slave mother, 

 who probably was toiling in the tobacco field. There was 

 a fire on the hearth — the rest can be imagined only too 

 vividly. She is fighting out the battle of life, however, 

 more successfully with her one hand than are multitudes of 

 men with two. She is stout and cheery, and can " take 

 keer of herself and children," she said. 



Scattered here and there over the fields might be seen 

 two heads that would keep in rather close juxtaposition up 

 and down the long rows. 



"Dey 's pairin' off," was the explanation. 



"You keep de tickets," said a buxom young woman to 

 her mate, as he was about to take her tray, as well as his 

 own, to the buyers. 



" You are in partnership," I remarked. 



" Yes, we is," she replied, with a conscious laugh. 



"You are related, I suppose? " 



" Well, not 'zackly — dat is — we 's partners." 



" How about this partnership business — does it not last 

 sometimes after the strawberry season is over? " 



" Oh, Lor', yes ! Heaps on 'em gits fallen in love ; 

 den dey gits a-marryin' arter de pickin' time is done 

 gone by." 



" Now I see what your partnership means." 



" Yah, yah, yah ! You sees a heap more dan I 's told 

 you !" But her partner grinned most approvingly. We 

 were afterward informed that there was no end to the love- 

 making among the strawberry rows. 



There are from fifty to one hundred and fifty pickers in 

 a squad, and these are in charge of subordinate overseers, 



