_Jan. 7._ I went into Ellen's house to see her sick children. It was
her children who were so sick last summer, and Nancy died. They had
swollen throats and I promised red flannel--then went all through the
quarters talking and giving to all the old women some of our ration
coffee and sugar. The women went on talking, Louisa winding up with an
attempt to solve the to them great mystery--"Miss Hayiat, you not
married? when you going to be married? What, and you so smairt?" C.
says they are constantly asking him the same question. "Oh, Mass'
Charlie," said a woman to him the other day, "if I was as pretty a
woman as you are a man I should be so glad!" I find I shall have to
give up going to the quarters if they insist upon giving me so many
eggs--I had two dozen and a half given to-day--I can't use them up so
fast! I found C. in colloquy with a man who came down to see if he
could not move here so as to be under him. "But how do you know you
shall like me?" said C., "and get along with me?" "See it in your
countenance, sar, first time I eber see you!" Nat talked some time (he
was a sort of Major Domo here and kept the keys) about the necessity
of some white people's staying here, and of the people's confidence in
Mr. Philbrick and C. They are very desirous that Mr. Philbrick should
buy. "You see, sar; you won't have no trouble 'bout cotton dis
year--Mr. Philbrick pay more money than any other man--de people know
now you here to see justice. People all work cotton dis year. I don't
care if you neber go 'way--like you much."
_Jan. 8._ General Saxton said he was here on the Coast Survey seven
years ago, cut that gap through the trees for his triangles, which
caused us so much speculation last spring,[96] and landing at the
Point one day dined here with Mr. Coffin.
_Jan. 12._ Just as we were going to sit down to lunch, Tim came
running up with a line from C. for his revolver, which I sent. Tim
said two of the men were fighting, so Mr. Philbrick[97] took his
pistol and went to see what was the row, and soon came back to say
that a former husband of the woman who had been married the day before
at church had turned up, and C. had ordered him off the place. It is a
complicated story and I do not know its merits and demerits. I wish C.
would write it out as a specimen of that part of his business. It is
equal to Indian Cutchery.
_Jan 16._ Woke to find it very blowy and cold. The changes seem to be
as great here as in New England, of their kind. It is funny to see how
the people feel the cold. I got no milk, because they could not milk
in such weather, and it was so warm the day before that all we had
soured. The children wore sheets over their shoulders and
handkerchiefs on their heads to school.
_Jan 17._ Went to the quarters to see the people, who wondered to see
me out such a cold day! Found those who were out of doors on the sunny
side of the street against the houses to keep warm.
This afternoon I had to sew up a bad cut in Hester's arm. She sat all
through school without a word to me, and then I could not close the
wound with sticking-plaster, so there was no alternative. She behaved
like a Spartan--her black skin made it easier for me, but not for her,
I fancy. So much for my first attempt at surgery. It was an ugly job.