198 A BUSINESS DAY AT CHEE-HA. 



offence against society ;" says a high, legal author- 

 ity ; and these slaves had possibly acted on the 

 principle, and had not been looked to over closely 

 in so doing ; for there is a precept better known to 

 the southern planter than to the philanthropist who 

 condemns him : " Muzzle not the ox that treadeth 

 out the corn." 



I mount the steps of the winnowing house ; it had 

 a twofold advantage ; it enabled me to glance at 

 once over the whole extent of the rice-fields, and to 

 count the ricks of rice in the barn-yard. I will not 

 detain you, gentle reader, by describing the rich 

 appearance of the rice-fields as viewed from that 

 eminence; the deep, golden hues of the newly- 

 reaped stubble, relieved by the fresh green of the 

 leaves shooting out from the roots to bourgeon 

 forth (if the season allowed it) into a second har- 

 vest. Nor will I fatigue you by recalling the pleas- 

 ant thoughts that possess the planter's mind, when, 

 looking down on those capacious ricks, he dwells on 

 the amount of sustenance to man and other animals 

 which they provide, or calculates the ample profits 

 to himself. You, like myself, may be anxious for 

 a hunt, and I shall not long detain you. 



" Have you threshed out a rick ?" 



" Yes, sir," says the driver. 



" What was the yield to the acre ?" 



