_July 18._ The cotton-fields are quite full of yellow and pink
blossoms. We rode through many cotton-fields, and a pretty sight they
were, some good, some poor,--those belonging to the Government as a
general thing showing marked inferiority to those of the "Concern."
C. has been in the field all day, and has come home with a strong
feeling of how much the people in general have gained and improved in
the last year. There are poor ones among them, of course,--some he
says he should like to send off the place, another year; but the
majority of the people are very much ashamed of them, and for some
time have been very anxious he should go over the fields to see who
"work for deir money and who shirk." To-night he has been distributing
the pork and molasses and has refused the bonus to those who have not
done their work properly, preferring to make the distinction here
rather than in the pay, and most of the delinquents have appreciated
the justice of the proceeding, only one or two making any fuss at all,
and the others were very much ashamed of them. C. says he thinks that
school has improved the children, too, their manners are improved, as
have the grown people's,--less cringing and subservient, but more
respectful and manly. Tim does not pull his forelock at every word he
speaks, as he did last year, looking like a whipped dog, but looks you
full in the face and speaks out as if he were not ashamed of himself,
and is perfectly respectful withal.
The names of the people have often puzzled me as to what they were
originally intended for, and in taking down the names of the children
"Rode" puzzled me completely, until old Maria, in talking of her
"crop" the other day, told me that one child was born in the _road_ on
the way from the field the day "gun fire at Bay Point, and I give him
name o' Road"!
I don't think any of the heirs will find that these people are
deteriorated when they redeem this property. I only hope young Mass'
Julian, who is in Europe, will be glad to find them so far in training
for free laborers and be grateful that they are not ruined, as some of
the people are!