"Now I want you to work for me; as you will not cut wood, go down to the plantation at once and tell Bonaparte I have sent you to drive the mowing machine. Jim will not be there until one or two o'clock and I want the hay cut this morning. Cut one bed, it will not take long, and then help Jim haul in what he has raked up. Go as quickly as you can, for I must get as much done as possible, the clouds are gathering."
He acquiesced at once and I told him I wanted him to run the mowing machine all this week; it was then about ten o'clock. In the afternoon I drove down and found Cable had just turned up at four o'clock; when I asked him about it he said, "Yes, ma'am, I won't tell no story about it. I did stop on the way," and that was all. Of course the hay was not cut and only two loads were hauled in, and last night there came a tremendous rain wetting it all so that all windrows had to be opened and spread out again, and to-day Cable did not come to work, and I have no possible redress or power over him. Of course every one will say I was foolish to trust him in the first instance; but I am made that way and I cannot unmake myself; if any one living near me appeals to me in distress, if I have the money at hand, I will lend to them, and time and time again I am deceived and disappointed. I said to him:—
"Neither of your grandfathers would have acted as you have done. Daddy James was an honest man and never tried to shirk a debt, but you, though you are free and have schooling and all the help that a good, industrious wife can give in your life, are not ashamed to act so."
I am more hurt than I can express by his not coming back to work. Jim has worked tremendously to try and save the hay, and now all that is standing should be cut, or it will be hard and worthless. While there is so much down that has to be dried and handled, another man is absolutely necessary.
September 12.
About 9 o'clock Chloe came in great distress to say she had just heard her Uncle Mose was dead. Chloe was greatly upset at the news.
September 13.
A real autumn morning. The first let-up to the heat. I thought in the night we were going to have another storm. I prayed hard against it, for my pea-vine hay would be ruined. This morning the east wind is high but it looks brighter.
Chloe's getting off to old Mose's funeral occupied the whole morning to the exclusion of everything else. Goliah drove her in the buckboard with Ruth.
I have the cotton which has been picked spread out on the piazza to dry thoroughly. After Chloe got off I sat on a stool beside it and picked out the cotton, which was greatly damaged by the wet. The cotton was just ready to open when the storm came. It was arrested and kept in the close little case soaking wet, and then nature was busy and little sprouts came and went on growing as though they were in their proper element.