A BUSINESS DAY AT CHEE-HA. 199 



" Sixty bushels, sir." 



" Was it your best rick 2" 



E o, sir." 



"Mixed you any of the straw rice with this 

 rick?" 



" Y es, sir, a lettle ; but you kin see, maussa !" 

 and the driver brought me a sheaf from a rick hard 

 by thick, full-grained, heavy ; a magnificent sam- 

 ple (if true sample it was) of the crop which was 

 to reward my expectation. Alas, Venator ! thou 

 knewest not that the rick was plated, or rather 

 gilt; and that while the outward and tangible 

 sheaf was of such satisfactory quality, the light, 

 and the mow-burnt, and the bird-pecked was 

 safely bestowed, far from the reach of inquisitive 

 eyes, in the very centre of those proud looking 

 ricks ! How like a honeymoon in the planter's 

 life are the first brief visits of the fall, to the long 

 deserted plantations ! All then is bright and full 

 of glorious promise ; but winter comes, and at its 

 close the hour of disenchantment ! 



On descending from the winnowing house a long, 

 slab-sided fellow stalks up to me 



" Maussa, cum tell you, sir, me clote an't nuff." 



" Did you not get your six yards ?" 



" Ees, sir." 



" That was enough." 



