orses,
for which they pay from $200 to $300 each, is perfectly absurd.[185]

_Later._ An interesting scene has just taken place. May's Comba
knocked at the door and asked me to come out in the entry a minute.
Thinking there might be some domestic trouble, though she looked
smiling, I went out and found about twenty women (representative
women) about the door. Comba disappeared in the mass with a giggle,
and old Grace spoke up, about as follows: "I'se come to you,
sir"--pause--"I'se been working fer owner three years, and made with
my chillun two bales cotton last year, two more this year. I'se a
flat-footed pusson and don't know much, but I knows those two bales
cotton fetch 'nough money, and I don't see what I'se got for 'em. When
I take my leetle bit money and go to store, buy cloth, find it so
dear, dear Jesus!--the money all gone and leave chillun naked. Some
people go out yonder and plant cotton for theyself. Now they get big
pile of money for they cotton, and leave we people 'way back. That's
what I'se lookin' on, Marsa. Then when I come here for buy 'lasses,
when Massa Charlie sell he sell good 'lasses, then when Mister W. sell
he stick _water_ in 'em, _water enough_. Molasses turn thin, but he
charge big price for 'em. Now I'se done working for such 'greement.
I'se done, sir." Whereupon chorus of women join in like a flock of
blackbirds all talking at once. After a while I got a chance to say
about as follows: "If any one wants to work on this plantation I will
give them so and so (naming terms), but if any one don't like my
wages, they may go and find better, but they can't use my land to
plant their corn and 'tater on. That's my rule." Chorus interrupts
with discordant shouts: "I stay right here, sir--I will work this
land for myself, sir--I will sell the cotton," etc., etc. Amaritta
and Petra stood silent all this time, and finally Amaritta quietly
asked me to repeat my terms, which I did. She repeated them after me
word for word, but said nothing more, only nodded and grunted a sort
of assent. The chorus became wilder and more noisy, and I walked off
into the house. Presently Demus came to the door and said Amaritta
wanted to see me by heself. So I went to the door, and Amaritta called
Tilly, Petra, and one or two others. Thus said Amaritta: "I'se work
for you dis lass year, sir, what I was able. I been sick, you know,
wi' small-pox and didn't get much strength all summer, but I don't
mind much what them pe