Page 46 - Sea Level 2019

just trust me and do the best you
However, I assembled the can for me.”

hands and told them that all who It proved a great success! I went
could not support themselves for a through the burning suns all that
year would have to leave the place.
summer, twice a week, five miles
Excerpt from With one accord they declared they in a buggy and six in a boat! I, who
A Woman Rice Planter, Chapter I,
could do it; but I explained to them
had always been timorous, drove
by Patience Pennington that I was going to take charge myself the five miles entirely alone,
myself, that I was a woman, with no
hired a strange negro and his boat
March 30, 1903 resources of money behind me, and, and was rowed by him to Casa
having only the land, I intended to
Bianca plantation. Then, with dear
rent to them for ten bushels of rice old Washington behind me, telling
to the acre. I could advance nothing
successfully.), and I told him the but the seed. I could give them of all the trials and tribulations he
had had in getting the work done, I
first of January of 18-- that I had
a chance to work for themselves
Y ou have asked me to tell of determined to relieve him and try it and prove themselves worthy to walked around the 200 acres of rice
my rice-planting experience,
in all stages of beauty and awfulness
myself. He seemed much shocked
and I will do my best, though
be free men. I intended to have
I hardly know where to begin. and surprised and said it was no overseer; each man would be of smell.
But I was more than repaid. I

Some years ago the plantation impossible; how was it possible for entirely responsible for the land he paid off the debt on the place and
where I had spent my very short me, with absolutely no knowledge rented. “You know very well,” I said, lifted the mortgage. I had never
married life, Casa Bianca, was for of planting or experience, to do “that this land will bring my ten hoped for that in one year. My
sale, and against the judgment of anything? It would be much wiser bushels rent if you just throw the renters also were jubilant; they
the men of my family I decided to to rent. I said I would gladly do seed in and leave it, so that every made handsomely and bought
put $10,000, every cent I had, in the so, but who would rent it? He said stroke of work that you do will go horses and buggies and oxen for the
purchase of it, to grow old in, I said, he would give me $300 a year for into your own pockets, and I hope
feeling it a refuge from the loneliness it, just to assist me in this trouble, you will prove men enough to work coming year’s work.
From that time I have continued
which crushed me. and I answered that that would for that purpose.”... to plant from 20 to 30 acres on
just pay the taxes and the interest
one of my brothers undertook very on the debt, and I would never eager for hands and worked entirely
Though opposed to the step, All the planters around were wages and to rent from 100 to 150
kindly to manage it until paid for, have any prospect of paying off the on wages, and I would only plant acres. Of course I have had my
ups and downs and many anxious
then to turn it over to me. I had mortgage, and, when I died, instead fifty acres on wages, which would
paid $5000 cash and spent $5000 of leaving something to my nieces not be enough to supply all with moments. Sometimes I have been
in buying mules, supplies, ploughs, and nephews, I would leave only a work. My old foreman, Washington, so unfortunate as to take as renters
harrows, seed rice, etc., necessary debt. No; I had thought of it well; was most uneasy and miserable, those who were unfit to stand alone,
to start and run the place. This I would sell the five mules and put and questioned me constantly as and then I have suffered serious
left me with a debt of $5000, for that money in the bank, and as far to the wisdom of what I was doing. loss; but, on the whole, I have been
which I gave a mortgage. After as that went I would plant on wages, At last I said to him: “Washington, able to keep my head above water,
some years the debt was reduced and the rest of the land I would you do not know whether I have the and now and then have a little
to $3000, when I awoke to the fact rent to the negroes at ten bushels to sense to succeed in this thing, Mass’ money to invest. In short, I have
that I had no right to burden and the acre. He was perfectly dismayed; Tom does not know, I don’t know; done better than most of
worry my brother any longer with said I would have to advance heavily but we shall know by this time next my neighbors.
this troublesome addition to his to them, and nothing but ruin year, and in the meantime you must
own large planting (He planted awaited me in such an undertaking.
at this time 1000 acres of rice

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