Methods of Culttire in the South. 137 



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 inclinations lead, to the end of her life. To crys- 

 tallize such wayward human atoms into proper forms, and make them 

 useful, 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 incident which occurred may illustrate 

 this truth. My companion, Mr. Drake, soon mastered one of the labors 

 of a strawberry farm, the gathering of the fruit, and out of the pleni- 

 tude of his benevolence essayed to teach a little sable how he could 

 pick to better advantage. 



" 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 'umptous 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 pleasure are equally combined. They are essen- 

 tially 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 running fire of rude, 

 broad pleasantry, intermingled occasionally 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, buoyancy, 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 her- 

 self up. " I kin bake, cook, wash, iron, scrub " 



18 



