Then he read over the long pay-roll, told each one how many days he or she had worked, and how much had been earned; how much of this was due now, and how many dollars or cents were to be paid at the end of the year. “Dat’s so,” occasionally interrupted one in a reflective manner. “I did miss five days, I’d done forgot all ’bout it till you tole me.”
Next he read over the charges in the plantation store against a number of them. Then began the payments. Looking out from the lighted doorway into the darkness, one could see the fringe of black faces lining the gallery, their eyes shining as the light from the candles struck upon them. Beyond was blackness and a confused murmur of many whispers; within, the circle advanced one and another to the table to receive the currency rapidly counted out. The lessee carefully explained to each how much there was, and that a similar sum was still due; counted the money, note by note, folded it up, and handed it over. The negro looked with a puzzled air, took the money as if it were fragile glass, and must be handled very carefully or it would be broken, and went off very much with the air one always imagines, the man must have worn who drew the elephant in a raffle.
“Missah ——,” exclaimed one, “I done wuck mighty hard fo’ you, chop briars and roll logs, and you haint paid me nuffin at all.”
“Haven’t I? Didn’t you get two new dresses, three rings, and a breastpin out of the store?”
“Well, but you don’ gib me no money.” And it took not a little laborious explanation on the part of the lessee, before the finery-loving young negress could be made to understand that she couldn’t take up her wages in the store and still draw them in money—couldn’t both eat her cake and have it.
“Missah ——, how much does you pay me a month?”
“Ten dollars.”
“Well, you done gib me, you say, only dollah and six bits.”
“Yes, but you’ve been working only a few days. Don’t you know, you’ve had the chills nearly all the time?”
“Well, but you say you pay me ten dollah a month, and you doesn’t do it. Aint you payin’ for de month? An’ if you is, why don’t I git my ten dollah?”