I said: "Honorable, why was it you ran away when General Banks' army captured this place during the war?"
At once he was all attention, and on the defensive.
"Me run erway f'um dem Yankees? No suh, Mr. Ned, not me! You's got dat wrong. Wen dem Yankees sets fire ter de salt works en de sugar house, I wuz de fus one ter run wid some uv de udder han's en start ter puttin' de fires out. En we woulder done it, only dem dam' Yankees push us erway wid de sharp p'ints on de end uv dere guns. En w'en dey took all Ole Marster's mules en horses en oxens, en made his niggars drive 'em 'cross de causeway ter de main lan', warn't it me who turn de oxens loose at night en driv' 'em way yonder in de big woods whar dey couldn' find 'em? . En didn' my boys, Jube en Mose, stay wid dem oxens in de woods fër Gawd knows how long,-till de war wuz over, en Ole Marster home? Me run erway, Ned? Not comer me! Some uv dose younger niggers follered de Yankees erway, but not me and none uv my boys, needer none er de ole han's.
"You see, Mr. Ned, w'en de Yankees took dis place, dey sont Ole Marster en all his fambly 'way yonder somewhar, en tole him ter never come back.
Dey wuz mad at him caise he done give er lot uv money en all de salt ter Marse Jeff Davis so his army mens would have 'nuff grub en seasonin' ter fight wid, en stop dem dam' Yankees f'um settin' all our niggers free, en stealin' all our mules en cattles. None uv our niggers wants ter be free nohow. En es fer me, en lots mo' uv us, we wuz free en had everyting in de worl' we wants, long 'fore dem Yankees come."
"How do you mean you were free. Honorable?" I asked.
"You see, it wuz dis erway: W'enever one er Ole Master's niggers reach er ageable a age, Ole Marster would say ter him,'Now you, Jim or Jack, or John, whosomeever it might be, you's bin er y good en faithful han', en you's done yo' share uv work. en f'um now on you en yo' ole 'oman ain't 'bliged ter work no mo'. You has yo' same house, en youdraws yo' grub en clothes en 'backer same as always, but f'um now on you don' hafter work no mo', en you free.' En I wuz one uv dem ageable free niggers, long 'fore de Yankees come. NOW er w'ile atter de Yankees got here, de boss man uv dem Yankee solgers calls all Ole Marster's niggers up 'fore him. Fus, he sez he wants take de names uv all Ole Marster's niggers; en he sez fer me ter stan' by him en tell him de names es dey pass by. Den he calls ter dem ter pass by one by in is.one. De fus nigger wut comes up is ole Mozart, en I sez: "En de 'Dis is Mozarti. and the Yankee sez to me: 'How you spells dat name?'
"I sez: 'Wut you mean spell?'
"En he sez: 'How you spells his name so I kin write it down?'
'I don' know nuttin' 'bout no spellin',' sez I.
I said: "Honorable, why was it you ran away when General Banks' army captured this place during the war?"
At once he was all attention, and on the defensive.
"Me run erway f'um dem Yankees? No suh, Mr. Ned, not me! You's got dat wrong. Wen dem Yankees sets fire ter de salt works en de sugar house, I wuz de fus one ter run wid some uv de udder han's en start ter puttin' de fires out. En we woulder done it, only dem dam' Yankees push us erway wid de sharp p'ints on de end uv dere guns. En w'en dey took all Ole Marster's mules en horses en oxens, en made his niggars drive 'em 'cross de causeway ter de main lan', warn't it me who turn de oxens loose at night en driv' 'em way yonder in de big woods whar dey couldn' find 'em? . En didn' my boys, Jube en Mose, stay wid dem oxens in de woods fër Gawd knows how long,-till de war wuz over, en Ole Marster home? Me run erway, Ned? Not comer me! Some uv dose younger niggers follered de Yankees erway, but not me and none uv my boys, needer none er de ole han's.
"You see, Mr. Ned, w'en de Yankees took dis place, dey sont Ole Marster en all his fambly 'way yonder somewhar, en tole him ter never come back.
Dey wuz mad at him caise he done give er lot uv money en all de salt ter Marse Jeff Davis so his army mens would have 'nuff grub en seasonin' ter fight wid, en stop dem dam' Yankees f'um settin' all our niggers free, en stealin' all our mules en cattles. None uv our niggers wants ter be free nohow. En es fer me, en lots mo' uv us, we wuz free en had everyting in de worl' we wants, long 'fore dem Yankees come."
"How do you mean you were free. Honorable?" I asked.
"You see, it wuz dis erway: W'enever one er Ole Master's niggers reach er ageable a age, Ole Marster would say ter him,'Now you, Jim or Jack, or John, whosomeever it might be, you's bin er y good en faithful han', en you's done yo' share uv work. en f'um now on you en yo' ole 'oman ain't 'bliged ter work no mo'. You has yo' same house, en youdraws yo' grub en clothes en 'backer same as always, but f'um now on you don' hafter work no mo', en you free.' En I wuz one uv dem ageable free niggers, long 'fore de Yankees come. NOW er w'ile atter de Yankees got here, de boss man uv dem Yankee solgers calls all Ole Marster's niggers up 'fore him. Fus, he sez he wants take de names uv all Ole Marster's niggers; en he sez fer me ter stan' by him en tell him de names es dey pass by. Den he calls ter dem ter pass by one by in is.one. De fus nigger wut comes up is ole Mozart, en I sez: "En de 'Dis is Mozarti. and the Yankee sez to me: 'How you spells dat name?'
"I sez: 'Wut you mean spell?'
"En he sez: 'How you spells his name so I kin write it down?'
'I don' know nuttin' 'bout no spellin',' sez I.
Ef you kaint spell it jis put it down widout spellin'. Dis nigger's name is Mozart.'
"Atter he sets all de names wut he kin write down, den he made 'em er talk, en tole us we wuz all free en could go enny- whar we wants; en ef we wanted lan' we could have all de lan' we wants; en ennyting else we wants wut wuz lef' atter de Yankee army done went erway. But he ain't say nuttin' 'bout whar we wuz ter git our clothes en vittles.
En he sez: 'Does enny uv you wants ter.say ennyting, or ax enny questions?'
"I waits er w'ile, en es none er dem udder niggers ain't say nuttin', I holds up my han', en he sez: 'Wut is it boy? Come here.' steps out in front en I sez: 'Mr. Yankee, I thanks you kindly fer wut you ain't done fer all Ole Master's niggers. I kaint say 'zackly es knows wut you is done, but do know er lot wut you hasn't done. You sont Ole Marster en Ole Mistes en all our w'ite folks erway f'um here.comin' fo' weeks now. En de day 'fore you alls come, Ole Marster calls all his han's ter de "big house" en he tells 'em all ter git tergedder so he kin say few words t' dem, en he sez sumpin like dis: 'My peoples, we has bin gedder many years, en mos' uv bin bornded on dis place; yous termorrer de Northe'n troops, dey will be in charge uv dis place, en I will be gone, fer I done got word dat I'se to be impo'ted; en fer dat reason I kaint take care uv you. I no longer de Northe'n troops will. hopes Befo' I goes, I will he'p you all I kin, en I wants you ter come right now to de storehouse en git wut provisions I have, so you will have food fer yo' famblies, fer er w'ile ennyhow.'
"So we all went to de store- house en dere wuz de two over-seers, en t'ree, fo' udder mens. en dey 'gins out, to de haid uv each fambly, grub 'nuff fer t'ree weeks, en dat's all de grub wut's in de storehouse.
En Ole Marster shuk each er his niggers by de han', en to each uv 'em he gives er fi' dollar gold piece, en he wish dem good luck; en he tells us all goodby. wuz fo' Satdays ergo. Ole Marster 'gins us grub fer t'ree Satdays. Who done give us grub fer dat udder Satday since Ole Marster gone--Is you? No suh! -we ain't had grub fer mo' den er week, 'cepin' de fishes en crabs en possums, en sich es we kin ketch. Dere's many er de li'l ones wut's hongry now.
Who's gwinter feed 'em?'
"En de solger boss man he say: 'But Mister you is free; you kin do es you please, you kin go whar you please, en work whar you please, en earn yo' own food.'
Dat's wut dat Yankee boss man tole us jis like dat.
"Den I say: 'Don' Mister me, you Yankee, I ain't no Mister. En es fer bein' free en workin' whar we please, dere's er many er dese niggers bin free fer de longes' ain't done no work since mos' befo' you kin 'member.'
"En I turns roun' to de niggers, en I say: 'You niggers wut's say en all say is.free out me en Saul, Pete, kaint terdere caise done we our else sont folks give ter none we dom, en don' hafter work, step here side er me.'
"En wid dat, dere steps out by Pete en his ole 'oman, Jolin, Maria, Bill,Yodel, Henry, Sabry, Josua, Tom, Li'l Royal, en some mo' wut I 'member jis now, en all 'omans, en den some mo' 'omans wut ain't got no mens dey's daid.
En I sez: 'Mr. Yankee, all dese uv us bin free fer de longes' en don' hafter work, en we gits grub regular, en wut ever we alls need. Dat is, wen Ole Marster wuz here; but you done him en all our udder w'ite erway. Now is you gwinter needin's?' us, our grub en our
needin's?' us, our grub en our
En he sez: 'No, I ain't got no at'ority ter give you nuttin.'
"Den I sez: 'Dat's all wants know.
We alls don' want wants Ole Marster's freeuv yo' kine, uv freedom; en de sooner you bringsus him back to us, de better we'll like it."
THE Honorable paused and seemed to be thinking; SO I said: "Well, old man, what did all of you do while the Northern troops were on the Island? I believe they were here almost two years. How did you get a living?"
"Well, Mr. Ned," said he, "de livin' wuz by de hardes'. Some uv de young mens en wimmens works fer de Yankees, en got dey grub en li'l mo'; en some uv us raises er li'l crop er corn en rice en en sweet 'taters, but mighty sugarcane, skeerse. En w'en our w'ite folks come back, atter 'bout two years, we wuz er mighty po' sorry lookin' lot uv niggers.
"De day Ole Marster en de back to de Island, famblarsits Dudley blowed de'sembly horn, looked like in no time de yard in front de 'big house' wuz plum' full uv niggers.
"Time dat horn blowed-teta-too-too-too, te-ta-too-too-too. too-00 too-00, too-, every nigger wut could hear it knowed wut it means, en who wuz er blowin' it. Twarn't nobody could blow er horn like Marse Dudley. En dey foment er runout de fiel', er de woods, out er de cabins; en everywhar you looked 'peared to be niggers comin' out er sumpin; en dey wuz all er runnin' fer de 'big house'.
En w'en we gits dere, dere wuz Ole Marster, en Ole Mistes, en Marse Ned, en Li'l Miss, en Marse Dudley, en Marse John, en all de chilluns (stan'in' on de front hug gallery. 'em En jis run up en en cry en run erroun' like us wuz crazy. Den Ole Marster, he hole up his han' fer quiet, en he says: 'Well my frens, it 'pears like you is glad ter see us back.'
"En all dose niggers, dey jis jump up en down holler en clap dere han's en say: 'Sho we's glad ter see you, en you ain't never gwinter leave us no mo', caise ef you do we's gwine erlong wid you.'
"Den Ole Marster say: 'Boys I kaint be uv much use ter you now. You know de Souf done los' de war en you is all free now, en kin go whar you please, en I ain't got no money ter hire you wid, en I ain't got no money ter buy mules en tools wid, so I s'pose you all will hafter look out fer yo'se'fs.'
"W'en Ole Marster said dat, looks like my heart done buss try ter jump outer my mouf, en it wuz er li'l w'ile 'fo I could talk, but by en by, my voice come back, en I says:
'Ole Marster, you don' need no money fer to pay niggers ter work fer you; dese niggers, dey y all b'longs ter you, en you's gotter give 'em work en grub en sich, jis you allus has 'fo dem dam' Yankees come en meddle in us business. En you don' need no mules; not right now nohow, caise we's got, way back in de big woods paster, more'n 40 yokes uv well broke oxens.
En es fer tools, dem Yankees lef' mo' ole iron en broken wagons en sich es you kin use in 10 years. En yo' same fo' blacksmifs is here, en it won' be no time 'fo' us rig up de blacksmif shop, en 'fo' you knows it, us has all plows en middle busters en harrer's en wagons en.sich es we needs. All we wants is fer you to put dese lazy niggers back ter work, en 'gin us regular grub caise fer de longes' we only eats w'en we kin git it, en dat ain't none too off'n.
(NOTE: In Louisiana, the bowfin is known as the "choupique" or "shoupique") Louisiana Sportsman
WELL suh, er long time ergo when all de beastes er dis earth wuz livin' in peace en lovin' frien's; dey plays de same games, talks de same talk, an eats de same grub, en all sech, en den some mo'.
Now, it come to wuz dat 'mongst all dem animals dere wuz one wut wuz always gittin' de bes' er de udders, en de bes' er everyting, jis by bein' smart en never doin' nuttin else; en dat one wuz Mister Rabbit. He aint so big en he aint so strong, en he aint so fast as lots er de udder beastes, but he's so doggoned slick dat he's always gittin' wut he wants, en de udders, dey gits his leavin's.
Now, all dose beastes wuz good 'ligous folks folks en dey don' drink no licker, dat is, not wen dey's goin' ter meetin'; en dey don' do no dancin' cuz 'aint 'scusable fer ter put you arms roun' er gal, not if de preacher sees you. Den ergin, all dese good go-to-meetin' beastes don't eat no fish 'cepin on er Friday, but on Friday dey kin eat all dey kin kotch.
Now, dis time Ise tellin' 'bout wuz er Friday mornin', en ole Mrs. Rabbit she gits up early en looks all er roun' de kitchen en on de back porch, en she don' see no fish fer to cook fer dinner, so she goes inter de sleepin' room, en dere wuz her ole man roll up in de kivers, just er snorin'.
Mrs. Rabbit went over to de bed en she put her han' on he shoulder en give him er li'l shake, en she say:
"Ole man, wut you done wid de fish you kotch las' night? Don' see 'em no whar in de kitchen, needer on de back porch."
En ole man Rabbit he open one eye en give her a sour look, en he say:
"Lemme sleep ooman!" En he turn over en pull de kivers over he head.
Wen he done dat, dat make Mrs.Rabbit mad, en she jerked de kivers off er de ole man, en she say:
"You lazy good-fer-nuttin trash! Don' b'lieve you even went to fishin'. How cum you started out las' night, time de sun done set, sayin' yous gwine ter ketch de fish fer dinner today befo' de moon rise at 10 o'clock, en you ain't cum home 'til mos' daylight, en den didn' bring no fish? I bet dat de onlyest fishin' you done las' night wuz wid er pair uv crap dice, er else you wuz in de backwoods wid dem spo'tin gals. You git right outer dat bed en go git me some fish 'fo I buss yo' haid wid her stick er stove wood!"
En wid dat she flounce herse'f inter de kitchen en slam de do'.
NOW, ole man Rabbit he don' feel much like leavin' his nice warm bed en goin' fishin' in duh cole uv der mornin' -'special es he had er putty rough night shootin' craps wid his gambler frien's en drinkin' wid de gals, but he knows 'nuf to know dat wen he ole ooman talk like dat,' taint no time fer him ter say "no"; so, he stretch hese'f put on he old shoes en he ole fishin' closeen tuck he fishin'.pole, en erway he starts fer de Bayou Saline whar' he tinks he might kotch ennyhow er garfish or er "shoupique."
Now, Mister Rabbit he didn' had no fish bait, en he didn' wanter wait roun' de house 'til he can dig hese'f some worms, so he turn over all de ole rotten logs he see on he way to de Bayou, en he gits hese'f five er six fat grub worms, en he say to hese'f mebbe so dey will be good 'nuf to bait he hook wid.
Well suh, wen Mister Rabbit gits down to de bayou he find de water done run out wid de north wind, en it aint no chance him ter git no fish ontil de tide turn, wut mebbe so won' be ontil late dat evenin'. He sot down on er log en he scratch he haid, en tink to hese'f wut he gwine ter do. He skeered to go home widout no fish, en he don' know how he can ketch 'em ontil de tide turn.
"Well," sez Mr. Rabbit to hese'f, "'aint no use grievin', en taint no use sittin' on de bank en holdin' er fishin' pole wen dere aint gwine ter be no fish in de bayou ontil de tide turn en brung in mo' water, so de bests ting fer me ter do is lay down in de sunshine en git me er good nap."
So he hunt himse'f a sunny spot whar de win' don' blow none too much, en he stretch hese'f out, en wuz mos' ersleep, wen he hears er splashin' in de water--like er fish wuz jumpin'. Wen he heared dat, Mister Rabbit he sot up en stretch he long ears high es he kin, en den he hears some mo' splashin' in de water--cumin from roun' de nex' bend er de bayou upstream. Right erway Mister Rabbit he jumps up, grabs he pole, en starts fer dat splashin' noise; de nearer he gits to it, de louder it gits, en wen he gits to whar he hear it good like, he stops en puts down he pole, fer he done heared somebody talkin'.
"Now who kin dat be?" tinks Mister Rabbit out loud. En he creeps quiet like tru de bushes, en wut you tink he see? He see Mister Bear en Mister Coon wid dere britches rolled up in de shaller water in de middle er bayou en dey wuz chasin' fishes en ketchin' 'em too. En dis is how dey wuz doin' it:
Mister Bear stan' in middle er de bayou whar it ain't so wide, en de water aint more'n inches deep, en he hold he big paws up en way out fer a big slap. Mister Coon he wuz er walkin' roun' in de water on he tip toes on de up side er Mister Bear, en wid he long toes on he hands he feel roun' in de mud fer dem mud lovin' shoupique en mud cats. Dey know dat wen de water gets low, dem fishes don' go out wid de tide, but bury demse'fs in de mud so dey will be dere wen de tide turns, en all de li'l fishes coms runnin' on de water, haid er de udder fishes. Den dem sly ole fishes jis raise up dere haids outer de mud, en open dey moufs, en swaller dem li'l fishes down. Den don' like to work fer dey grub no moren'n Mister Rabbit.
Well suh, Mister 'Bear en Mister Coon knowed fish wuz in de mud, en es dey wants some fish fer dere Friday dinner, en es dey ain't no udder fish, its shoupique en mud cats fer dem. So dey makes er pardnership, bargin is Mister Coon run de fishes out er de mud, en Mister Bear slap 'em out er de water onto de bank. En dat's jes wut Mister Rabbit seen 'em doin' wen he peep outer de bushes wen he heared 'em talkin'. He watch 'em er li'l wile, en dis is how dey work dere fishin'.
Mister Coon he stan' on he tip toe en he work dem long finger er he front foots inter de mud, en time he touch er fish, dat fish run down stream trying ter find mo' deeper water. En time it come to Mister Bear, he hit it a side swipe wid de big han' on he front leg dat fish jis fly tru de air en lan' on de bank.
Wen Mister Rabbit fust seen em dey chunk mebbe so mos' two dozens fine fishes on to de bank, en de talk he heared wuz Mister Coon sayin' ter Mister, Bear, es a big fish went on dry lan':
"Wat 'bout nuff fer us dat", Brudder Bear, dont you tink so?.We's got 'bout two dozen now," sez Mister Coon.
"Le's git 'bout six mo', Brudder Coon," sez Mister Bear. "I kin eat 'bout er dozen er dem fishes by myse'f, en you know my ole ooman's mo' bigger den me. Le's git 'bout six mo'." -En dey went on fishin'.
Now, wen Mister Rabbit heard dat Mister Bear en Mister Coon had already mos' two dozens fish layin' on de bank, en dat dey wuz gwineter kotch six mo',-it come to him right erway dat now wuz de time to git him er mess er fish without fishin'.
So, he crept back in de bushes, en he cut hes'f a strong, limber blackjack vine, en den he creeps 'long de bank upsteam whar Mister Bear and Mister Coon done cum frum, en he hunt out dem shoupiques en mud cats wut dey de done chunked high and dry in de bushes; en everytime he find one, he string lit on de blackjack vine he done cut. Wen he gits 'bout all he can tote, en so dats mebbe more'n fifteen, he t'row em up cross he shoulder, en beat it cross de woods fer home, jes pickin' em up en layin' down es fas' es he could. But, befo' he leave, he writes in de mud wid he front foot right whar Mister Bear Mister and Mister Coon boun' ter to see it.
BREAKFAST READY
"Mebbe wile dey puzzle dat out." sez Mister Rabbit ter he- se'f, "I'll git so far away dey won' follow me."
Wen he gits home, he flings down de string er de fishes on de kitchen steps, holler for his ole ooman en he say,
"Here's de fishes I caught las' night. Dey wuz so heavy en de woods so dark, atter de moon done set I couldn't brung em home las' night nohow but here dey is. Wut I wants you ter do is clean em en cook me er big pot er courtbouillion, en gravy make dat rich en hot, cuz I needs strength, en den some mo', fer de work Ise got to do ternight."
En he turn on he heel, go inter de house en gits inter bed wid all his close on. En Mrs. Rabbit she so s'prise dat she done jis like he say.
En dats how Mister Rabbit's family gits er fresh fish dinner dat Friday..
From the Lafayette Daily Advertiser of August 9th, 1949:
FABULOUS E.A. MCILHENNY, 77, DIES AT AVERY ISLAND HOME
'M'sieu Ned' Ruled Like Kind Baron
Advertiser Staff Special
NEW IBERIA - Edward Avery McIllhenny will be buried today on the island he made famous as a bird sanctuary and botanical garden.
The fabulous naturalist, traveler, explorer, industrialist, conservationist and horticulturist died at his Avery Island home yesterday after a long illness.
Avery Island, south of here, was given to McIlhenny's family in 1800 through a Spanish grant. McIlhenny made it into a refuge for egrets, cormorants, herons, ibis and ducks, and began importing flowers to the spot of land in Vermilion Bay.
With wealth from salt mines beneath the ground and a pepper sauce business started by his father he maintained his sanctuary and floral collection.
Before he died, he had collected more than 600 varieties of camellias, 64 specimens of bamboo, 1,700 varieties of iris and a host of other flower types.
BENEVOLENT BARON
He ruled the island like a baron, but he was always a benevolent baron. Employees called "M'sieu Ned."
M'sieu Ned set broken bones, looked at grade school report cards and was overseer of activities on the island.
The rest of the time he spent as a naturalist, artist and author. He found time to write books on his hobbies, on alligators and on Negro spirituals.
McIlhenny leaves his wife, the former Mary Matthews of New Orleans; Three daughters, Mrs. Rosemary Osborn of Ponca City, Okla., Mrs. Pauline M. Simmons of Avery Island, and Mrs. Leila M. Brown of New Orleans; a brother, Dr. Paul A. McIlhenny of New Orleans, and a sister, Mrs. Sidney Bradford of Avery Island.
Born March 29, 1872 on Avery Island, he was the son of Edmund McIlhenny and Mary Avery McIlhenny. As a youngster, he received his early education in private schools and was sent to Wyman Institute at Alcon, Illinois, and later to school at Brook Military Academy at Ossining, New York. He entered Leigh University, but left before graduating to join the first Peary Arctic expedition as a naturalist in the summer of 1892. The ship was wrecked near Greenland and young McIlhenny returned to work in the tabasco factory.
In 1893, fearing for the vanishing heron, which was being slaughtered for the use of aigrettes for women's hat plumes, he established a bird city on Avery Island in an attempt to preserve a remnant of the species. Starting with only seven young egrets, by careful protection he finally built up the population to that of a number estimated from 100,00 to 120,000 birds, which settle in the specially constructed lake provided for their protection.
ALASKAN PIONEER
In 1897, he outfitted and led his own scientific expedition to explore the natural history of Arctic Alaska. This was before gold had been discovered there, and few white men had ever visited the country. While on the expedition, he fed, cared for, and saved from starvation 105 men from four Arctic whaling vessels that had been crushed and sunk nine miles south of his camp. It was figured at the time of the shipwrecks that there was enough food for three short months - but McIlhenny went out and killed enough caribou for food and clothing for the 11 months they went there.
"One of the men rescued was Jack London, the writer," he often related afterward. "He was using the name Jack Edwards then. But he spoke with such a cockney accent I called him London. He kept the name."
From the expedition he returned to Avery Island, and in 1900 married Mary Matthews, a New Orleans Mardi Gras queen.
McIlhenny joined with Charles W. Ward of Michigan in the purchase and donation to the State of Louisiana in 1909 of 14,000 acres of ideal duck and goose feeding and resting land in Vermilion parish. This was the first wildlife refuge ever to be deeded in perpetuity to the public by an individual.
In 1911, he consolidated various interests owning the land on Marsh Island containing 68,000 acres in Iberia parish, and brought its value as a wildfowl resting ground to the notice of Mrs. Margaret Olivia Sage. She bought Marsh Island and declared it a wildlife refuge in perpetuity.
In 1912, he consolidated the interests, owning 88,000 acres of land in the coastal regions of Vermilion and Cameron. He got the Rockefeller Foundation of New York to purchase it as a wildlife sanctuary in perpetuity.
Through his efforts in 1922, both the Sage and the Rockefeller refuges were donated to the State of Louisiana. He had brought together and established on some 300 acres of hill and valley surrounding his home on Avery Island (in what is known as Jungle Gardens) one of the most complete and extensive collections of plants in the world. These gardens today are meccas for botanists and plant lovers.
MCILHENNY WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE ARCTIC CLUB - NOW THE EXPLORERS CLUB OF NEW YORK
But the real story of McIlhenny was the sensitive tale of M'sieu Ned - the master who ruled his land like a baron - but a kindly and understanding baron when the chips were down.
Children of his workers brought him their report cards monthly from the school he built for them - the state supplied the teachers - while he fussed or gave out nickels, according to the merit of a card.
A huge, white-haired man, he was busy every day with his occupations as ornithologist, zoologist, herpetologist, cologist and egg-blower, federal game warden, life member of the American Museum of Natural History, taxidermist, president of the Tabasco sauce company, amateur doctor, animal breeder, bear-raiser, muskrat farmer, author, photographer, birdbander, naturalist and hunter.
TENDED SICK
The sick among the people on his estate - Negroes and the descendants of those Acadians who settled after being driven from their Nova Scotia homes by the British - called for him day and night. He would set a broken bone, treat a fever, or call an ambulance and doctor when the case was serious.
M'sieu Ned was up every day at 4 a.m., in bed by 10 p.m. In his
"kingdom" burglary was almost unknown. His home on Mayward Hill, in the midst of the gardens he created, was surrounded by the tree-hidden homes of other members of the Avery-McIlhenny clan who with him owned the land under the name of Petit Anse corporation.
Salt was discovered in 1817 on the property which the family had acquired 17 years before. Union soldiers taking over the mine during the Civil War drove out the family returned destitute after Appomattox.
With the help of the faithful slaves who had not run away, the mine was worked again. A friend returning from Tabasco, Mexico, gave the family pepper seeds which were planted more for the bright color of the berries than for the flavor, but which were destined to bring a new industry and new wealth to the island.
In 1887, M'sieu Ned's father made his first pepper sauce. It was a success. He made it into a business and built a factory which stands on the fringe of the gardens now. The salt mine is now under lease to the International Salt Company.
The family, its fortunes replenished, built splendid homes. That was in the 1880's when aigrettes from the snowy heron were the fashion.
The lesser blues, the glossy black and the Louisiana heron with its mantle of dark cream and nuptial headdress of white feathers still came to the Gulf marshes from their equatorial homes, but the snowy egret had almost disappeared.
Over a pond he built a great cage of scantlings and wire mesh, found seven partly fledged herons, caged them, raised, let them fly away. Next season they returned with others. It was the same every year.
He created a huge duck pond on a remote section of the property where all migratory birds were safe from harm. Another duck pond was built for the shooting season.
He widened and embellished the gardens, now thousands of acres in extent:
Six hundred varieties of camellias from the 50,000 plants of that flower; 64 species of hardy bamboo; a certain evergreen, survivor of the coal age, found in the Tibetan Valley; 1,700 varieties of iris; crepe myrtle in colors from white through red and blue; 27 kinds of hardy palms; 30,000 azalea bushes, a rubber tree, junipers and a soap tree from India.
Although as president of the sauce company M'sieu Ned usually arrived at his office before daybreak, all operations of the gardens were supervised by him.
Somehow he found time to write books on the wild turkey, bird city, alligators, Negro spirituals, to gather first-hand information for a book on bears by capturing and raising one.
From far back in the 90's when he used wet plates he was a photographer and kept thousands of negatives and prints on file.
About 3,000 tourists, at $1 a head, visit the gardens annually.
(from the May 24, 1938 American Progress from Hammond, Louisiana
EDITOR'S NOTE: Beginning in May, 1879-more than three years before Chandler Harris gave his celebrated Uncle Remus tales to the world--a small monthly periodical, the Petite Anse Amateur, started printing a series of negro folks tales, the first of which was the earliest published version of "The Tar Baby." The editors of this unique little paper and the original collectors of these gems of folklore were the McIlhenny brothers of Avery one of whom, E. A. Mcllhenny, currently conducts the "Nature Ramblings" column in The Progress. Mr. McIlhenny, the present owner of the 5,000 acre sugar plantation on Avery Island where he was born during the early Reconstruction period, is generally considered one of the best authorities on negro lore in the family a still work for him today, since a large portion of them refused to United States. con Many descendants of the old slaves who belonged to the leave after they had gained their freedom.
The Honorable Speaks About War Times
By E. A. Mcllhenny (Copyright, 1938, by E. A. Mcllhenny)
Late Sunday afternoon, towards the end of September found me riding through the Island's maturing crops of corn and sugarcane, to decide where it was best to start the corn harvest which should begin the next morning.
As the sun drew near the western horizon, casting the shadows of the hills far out over the level marshes and woodlands to the east. I found myself on the eastern top of Prospect Hill. the highest spot on the place. It was an impressive outlook point. for to the south and east the gently rolling hills--their wooded tops brilliant with the golden light from the setting sun--threw in sharp contrast the cultivated valleys already filling with the misty shadows of evening.
To the north the land: fell away sharply, seamed by gullies and steep ravines to the level cultivated fields at the base of the hill, and there blending smoothly with the vast flats of marsh and prairie beyond, that swept away unbroken to the horizon. Herons and egrets passed over me in countless flocks. lazily winging their way from their feeding grounds along the Gulf's shores to their homes between the hills to the west, where each evening they gathered in noisy chatter and bustle until darkness quieted them to rest. The glint of the setting sun on the hill tops seemed to be reflected on the white plumage of the flocks of Snowy Egrets, giving one the impression of small banks of snow floating through the air. It was an arresting -and I sat on my horse watching the serene climax of this Indian Summer afternoon in full enjoyment of its inspiring beauty.
the sun dipped below the horizon, I turned my horse AS towards the plantation village to give the field overseer his orders for the next day. Nearing "'The Honorable's" cabin, I saw the old darky sitting on the steps in front of his humble domicile; his elbows rested on his knees, and his hands clasped his head. Thinking my aged friend was ill, I dismounted, hitched my horse and walked up to him. He paid no attention to the sound of my steps as I drew near, and when I got to him ] I put my hand on his shoulder and said: "What's the matter old fellow, are you sick?" At my question he raised a sober face lined with worry, shook his head and said: "No, Mr. Ned, I ain't sick.
I'se jis tired, caise I kaint sleep." "Well." said I. "if you can't sleep there must be something very wrong with you. Have + you any pain?" in de church dese many years, "No suh. Mr. Ned.
I ain't got en every night 'fore I goes ter no pa I ain't slept fer bed, I kneels down en ax Gawd mos' t'ree nights." ter keep me safe fer de night. "Well, Why can't you sleep, Well suh, you see, Mr. Ned, de Honorable? Has anyone done udder night w'en I gits inter my anything to you? What is worry- bed, 'fore I kin go ter sleep, right ing you?" I inquired.. erway I starts er studdin'; en I "Nuttin' me, study en I study, all de night suh. I'se jis been er studdin' en long, I bin studdin' ever er studdin', en w'en I study since, en I ain't t'ru studdin' plenty I kaint sleep." yit." "Well.
what have you been "Well," said I, "what is it studying about, Honorable, that that's worrying you, Honorable? is so important that it keeps you What are you studying about?" awake? If you tell me, perhaps "Mr. Ned," said he, "Mr. Ned, I can help you with your prob- who wuz Gawd's papa?" lem." "I fear, Honorable," said I, "You know, Mr. Ned." said "that is a question over which I the old darky, "I'se bin er elder would have to do considerable.
studying myself. SO let's talk about something else, and leave that question for some other time." Thinking to get his line of thought diverted, I said: "Honorable, why was it you ran away when General Banks' army captured this place during the war?" At once he was all attention, and on the defensive. me run erway f'um dem Yankees? No suh, Mr. Ned, not me! You's got dat wrong. Wen dem Yankees sets fire ter de salt works en de sugar house, I wuz de fus one ter run wid some uv de udder han's en start ter put-| tin' de fires out.
En we woulder done it, only dem dam' Yankees push us erway wid de sharp p'ints on de end uv dere guns. "En w'en dey took all Ole Marster's mules en horses en oxens, en made his niggars drive 'em 'cross de causeway ter de main lan', warn't it me who turn de oxens loose at night en driv' 'em way yonder in de big woods whar dey couldn' find 'em? . En didn' my boys, Jube en Mose, stay wid dem oxens de woods fër Gawd knows how long,-till de war wuz over, en Ole Marster home? Me run erway, Ned? Not comer me! Some uv dose younger niggers follered de Yankees erway, but not me and none uv my boys, needer none er de ole han's. "You see, Mr. Ned, w'en de Yankees took dis place, dey sont Ole Marster en all his fambly 'way yonder somewhar, en tole him ter never come back.
Dey wuz mad at him caise he done give er lot uv money en all de salt ter Marse Jeff Davis so his army mens would have 'nuff grub en seasonin' ter fight wid, en stop dem dam' Yankees f'um settin' all our niggers free, en stealin' all our mules en cattles. None uv our niggers wants ter be free nohow. En es fer me, en lots mo' uv us, we wuz free en had everyting in de worl' we wants, long 'fore dem Yankees come." "How do you mean you were free. Honorable?" I asked. "You see, it wuz dis erway: W'enever one er Ole Master's niggers reach er ageable a age, Ole Marster would say ter him,'Now you, Jim or Jack, or John, whosomeever it might be.
you's bin er y good en faithful han', en you's done yo' share uv work. en f'um now on you en yo' ole 'oman ain't 'bliged ter work no mo'. You has yo' same house, en you draws yo' grub en clothes en 'backer same as always, but f'um now on you don' hafter work no mo', en you free.' En I wuz one uv dem ageable free niggers, long 'fore de Yankees come. NOW er w'ile atter de Yankees/ got here, de boss man uv dem Yankee solgers calls all Ole Marster's niggers up 'fore him. Fus, J he sez he wants take de names uv all Ole Marster's niggers; en he sez fer me ter stan' by him en tell him de names es dey pass by.
Den he calls ter dem ter pass by one by in is.one. De fus nigger wut comes up is ole Mozart, en I sez: "En de 'Dis is Mozartinkee me: 'How you spells dat name?' "I sez: 'Wut you mean spell?' "En he sez: 'How you spells his name so I kin write it down?' 'I don' know nuttin' 'bout no spellin',' sez I. Ef you kaint spell it jis put it down widout spellin'. Dis nigger's name is Mozart.' "Atter he sets all de names wut he kin write down, den he made 'em er talk, en tole us we wuz all free en could go enny- whar we wants; en ef we wanted lan' we could have all de lan' we wants; en ennyting else we wants wut wuz lef' atter de Yankee army done went erway. But he ain't say nuttin' 'bout whar we wuz ter git our clothes en vittles.
En he sez: 'Does enny uv you wants ter.say ennyting, or ax enny questions?' "I waits er w'ile, en es none er dem udder niggers ain't say nuttin', I holds up my han', en he sez: 'Wut is it boy? Come here.' steps out in front en I sez: 'Mr. Yankee, I thanks you kindly fer wut you ain't done fer all Ole Master's niggers. I kaint say 'zackly es knows wut you is done, but do know er lot wut you hasn't done. You sont Ole Marster en Ole Mistes en all our w'ite folks erway f'um here.comin' fo' weeks now. En de day 'fore you alls come, Ole Marster calls all his han's ter de "big house" en he tells 'em all ter git tergedder so he kin say few words t' dem, en he sez sumpin like dis: * 'My peoples, we has bin gedder many years, en mos' uv bin bornded on dis place; yous termorrer de Northe'n troops, dey will be in charge uv dis place, en I will be gone, fer I done got word dat I'se to be im- po'ted; en fer dat reason I kaint take care uv you. I no longer de Northe'n troops will. hopes Befo' I goes, I will he'p you all I kin, en I wants you ter come right now to de storehouse en git wut provisions I have, so you will have food fer yo' famblies, fer er w'ile ennyhow.' "So we all went to de store- house en dere wuz de two over- seers, en t'ree, fo' udder mens. en dey 'gins out, to de haid uv each fambly, grub 'nuff fer t'ree weeks, en dat's all de grub wut's in de storehouse.
En Ole Marster shuk each er his niggers by de han', en to each uv 'em he gives er fi' dollar gold piece, en he wish dem good luck; en he tells us all goodby. wuz fo' Satdays ergo. Ole Marster 'gins us grub fer t'ree Satdays. Who done give us grub fer dat udder Satday since Ole Marster gone--Is you? No suh! -we ain't had grub fer mo' den er week, 'cepin' de fishes en crabs en possums, en sich es we kin ketch. Dere's many er de li'l ones wut's hongry now.
Who's gwinter feed 'em?' "En de solger boss man he say: 'But Mister you is free; you kin do es you please, you kin go whar you please, en work whar you please, en earn yo' own food.' Dat's wut dat Yankee boss man tole us jis like dat. "Den I say: 'Don' Mister me, you Yankee, I ain't no Mister. En es fer bein' free en workin' whar we please, dere's er many er dese niggers bin free fer de longes' ain't done no work since mos' befo' you kin 'member.' "En I turns roun' to de niggers, en I say: 'You niggers wut's say en all say is.free out me en Saul, Pete, kaint terdere caise 6 6 done we our else sont folks give ter none we dom, en don' hafter work, step here side er me.' "En wid dat, dere steps out by Pete en his ole 'oman, Jolin Maria, Bill Yodel, Henry, Sabry, Josua, Tom, Li'l Royal, en some mo' wut I 'member jis now, en all 'omans, en den some mo' 'omans wut ain't got no mens dey's daid. En I sez: 'Mr. Yankee, all dese uv us bin free fer de longes' en don' hafter work, en we gits grub regular, en wut ever we alls need. Dat is, wen Ole Marster wuz here; but you done him en all our udder w'ite erway. Now is you gwinter needin's?' us, our grub en our En he sez: 'No, I ain't got no at'ority ter give you nuttin.' "Den I sez: 'Dat's all wants know.
We alls don' want wants Ole Marster's freeuv yo' kine, uv freedom; en de sooner you brings
.I us him back to us, de better we'll like it." THE Honorable paused and seemed to be thinking; SO I said: "Well, old man, what did all of you do while the Northern troops were on the Island? I believe they were here almost two years. How did you get a living?" "Well, Mr. Ned," said he, "de livin' wuz by de hardes'. Some uv de young mens en wimmens works fer de Yankees, en got dey grub en li'l mo'; en some uv us raises er li'l crop er corn en rice en en sweet 'taters, but mighty sugarcane, skeerse. En w'en our w'ite folks come back, atter 'bout two years, we wuz er mighty po' sorry lookin' lot uv niggers.
"De day Ole Marster en de back to de Island, famblarsits Dudley blowed de'sembly horn, looked like in no time de yard in front de 'big house' wuz plum' full uv niggers. "Time dat horn blowed-teta-too-too-too, te-ta-too-too-too. too-00 too-00, too-, every nigger wut could hear it knowed wut it means, en who wuz er blowin' it. Twarn't nobody could blow er horn like Marse Dudley. u En dey foment er runout de fiel', er de woods, out er de cabins; en everywhar you looked 'peared to be niggers comin' out er sumpin; en dey wuz all er runnin' fer de 'big house'.
En w'en we gits dere, dere wuz Ole Marster, en Ole Mistes, en Marse Ned, en Li'l Miss, en Marse Dudley, en Marse John, en all de chilluns (stan'in' on de front hug gallery. 'em En jis run up en en cry en run erroun' like us wuz crazy. Den Ole Marster, he hole up his han' fer quiet, en he says: 'Well my frens, it 'pears like you is glad ter see us back.' "En all dose niggers, dey jis jump up en down holler en clap dere han's en say: 'Sho we's glad ter see you, en you ain't never gwinter leave us no mo', caise ef you do we's gwine erlong wid you.' "Den Ole Marster say: 'Boys I kaint be uv much use ter you now. You know de Souf done los' de war en you is all free now, en kin go whar you please, en I ain't got no money ter hire you wid, en I ain't got no money ter buy mules en tools wid, sO I s'pose you all will hafter look out fer yo'se'fs.' "W'en Ole Marster said dat, looks like my heart done buss try ter jump outer my mouf, en it wuz er li'l w'ile 'fo I could talk, but by en by, my voice come back, en I says: * 'Ole Marster, you don' need no money fer to pay niggers ter work fer you; dese niggers, dey y all b'longs ter you, en you's gotter give 'em work en grub en sich, jis you allus has 'fo dem dam' Yankees come en meddle in us business. En you don' need no mules; not right now nohow, caise we's got, way back in de big woods paster, more'n 40 yokes uv well broke oxens.
En es fer tools, dem Yankees lef' mo' ole iron en broken wagons en sich es you kin use in 10 years. En yo' same fo' blacksmifs is here, en it won' be no time 'fo' us rig up de blacksmif shop, en 'fo' you knows it, us has all plows en middle busters en harrer's en wagons en.sich es we needs. All we wants is fer you to put dese lazy niggers back ter work, en 'gin us regular grub caise fer de longes' we only eats w'en we kin git it, en dat ain't none too off'n. "Ole didn' say nuttin', but battin' his eyes Marster, mighty hard, en he had ter pass de back uv his han' in his eyes 'fore he could see good, en den he couldn' say nuttin'; but he jis walked out dere 'mongst us en tuk every man en 'oman en chile by de han' en give er squeeze, en he says ter me:" 46 'Cato, you is my right han', we'll pull us out er dis trubble.' "En Bless Gawd, we done it!" "THOSE years right after hard the must have been times for everyone on the Island, Honorable," said I. "Dat dey wuz, Mr. Ned," said the old darky, "but times er lot mo' harder fer our w'ite folks den fer us niggers.
"W'en Ole Marster come back, us didn' have no en no regular grub; dat clothes, mighty quick caise in er few days he en Marse Ned--dat's yo' pa' -en me, we went to N'Awleens; dat is, dey went en tuk me 'long. We rid some er dose horses Ole Marster brung back f'um Texas wid 'im, w'en he come home. Texas wuz de place whar de Yankees sont my w'ite folks, w'en dey sont 'em erway f'um de Island. En w'en dey come back home, dey wuz ridin' en drivin' er lot er dem Texas mustangs; en dem's de tings we travels wid w'en we went ter N'Awleens. Leasttangs es far es Morgan en ways, we rid dem Texas, musdere we gits er boat wut tuk us ter N'Awleens.
Didn' have no railroad trains in dem days. "W'en we gits ter N'Awleens, I never seen so many peoples in all my born days. En houses! I didn' know dey could be sO many houses! En big ones! Lot's uv em was five winders high, right one on top de udder, en dat's de truf, caise I counts 'em En grub! We went in some big storehouse wuts piled to de ceilin' wid grub. Looks like I seen nuff grub in one er dem storehouses ter feed all de peoples in de worl'. Well, we stay in N'Awleens t'ree, fo' days, den we back home.
come, us fi' days ter come en fi' days ter go, en fo' days + wut we wuz in N'Awleens, en dat makes mos' two weeks we wuz I'way f'um de Island, en I gits.mighty oneasy, caise dere's. lots er tings kin happen in mos' two weeks; en I ain't never bin more'n two er t'ree days 'way fum home 'fo'. En I'se feared de Yankees mighter come back en tuk all us folks. But w'en we gits home everyting's all right, en jis like we lef' it. "In t'ree er fo' days mo' atter we gits home, Marse Dudley, he tells me ter have de teamsters hitch up wagons wuts fixed ter travel, en yoke up de oxen, en be ready ter start 'fo' day de nex' day.
We starts. off hour 'fo' nex' morning en went New Town, whar we gits 'bout t'ree hours atter sunup; en dere tied up ter de bayou bank wuz de same ole steamboat wut uster bring our stores f'um N'Awleens 'fo' de war. De rousterbouts wuz unloadin' er big pile er boxes ba'els en grub uv all kine, en tools en udder tings, en I never seen sich er big pile er tings befo'. Ole Marster, he rid up en he say: 'Cato, have de boys load all dat stuff inter our wagons, caise dat's all fer us. Every bit wuts in dat big pile.' "Dis we did, en hauls all dat.stuff home, en none uv us niggers is hongry or widout clothes f'um dat time ter dis caise we never no mo' let any uv our w'ite folks git erway f'um us. Sometimes some uv 'em goes off fer a trip, but we allus makes 'em promise to come back, en dey does." "Honorable," I said, "you must have had a hard time getting sufficient meat to feed every body after my people came back from Texas." "Not so bad, Mr. Ned. Not so bad. We had er lot uv wile cattle in de woods, en de han's had save some chickens en ducks en turkeys, en dere wuz lots uv deers en bears, possums en coons in de woods, en plenty uv fish en crabs in de waters.
We didn' have no trouble a'tall ter git all de fresh meat we wanted. "Atter Ole Marster got settled down f'um his trip, Ole Mistes had all de chickens en turkeys en ducks brought to de chicken yards at de 'big house,' en two er t'ree uv de ole 'omans wuz put in charge uv 'em, en twarn't hardly no time 'fo' we had er lot uv dese tings. "I 'member de secon' winter atter we got everyting gwine, dere wuz er funny ting happen. You know de only likker we had in dose days wuz sugger house rum, wut all de plantations made fer de niggers, out er 'lasses. Ole Marster uster put some uv dis erway in burned ba'els, en atter it had done stood fer two er t'ree years, it made putty good likker, en it wuz sho strong.
W'en he come back home he foun' de Yankees had done drunk up all his rum, but dey don' know how ter make no mo'. . Dere wuz no rum, but dere wuz er lot uv 'lasses lef' in de sugarhouse. We made some rum out uv dis, en Ole Mistes, in de spring, done had er lot uv li'l niggers clim' up de wile cherry trees en pick two er t'ree ba'els er ripe cherries, en she took dose cherries.en mash 'em wid sugar, en den she fill er ba'el ha'f full er cherries, en filled it up wid sugarhouse rum. Dis made wut we calls cherry bounce, en it sho wuz er good drink. "Well, de fus year we put t'ree, fo' ba'els uv dis cherry bounce in de storeroom, en every mornin' atter it wuz mix, one uv de house niggers would go en shake it up ter keep de likker workin'. "Dat summer wuz er lucky summer fer raisin' turkeys, en Ole Mistes nad er flock uv maybe 70 er 80 turkeys wut she 'spects ter use fer er good part uv de winter meat fer de 'big house.' Dey had er couple uv li'l boys wut ten's dem turkeys; en dere job wuz ter drive 'em out every mornin' atter de dew wuz off de grass, int' de fiel's, whar dey could ketch grasshoppers en bugs, en sich; en w'en de sun got hot, ter drive 'em back under de trees whar dey would res' in de middle uv de day. Den in de late atternoon dey'd drive 'em t'ru de fiel's ergin, so dey could have er full belly uv grub ter sleep on.
I'se tellin' you 'bout, wuz de day atter dey had strain de cherry stones en skins out uv de cherry bounce; dis wuz in early November. Dey got maybe er ba'el en er ha'f er de stones en skins; en atter dey squoz all de juice out, dey took de seeds en skins en t'rowed dem in de gully 'hine de garden, under de big oak trees whar de turkeys uster spen' de middle uv de day. "Dat day in de heat uv de sun, de li'l niggers wuts ten's de turkeys druv 'em under dose trees, en de turkeys dey goes down in de gulley en fines all dem cherry stones en skins wut had jis bin dump, en dey fills deyse'fs up plum' full, eatin' dem cherry bounce cherries. "Well suh, w'ile dem li'l boys wuz restin', en mebbeso snoozin' in de shade, dem turkeys fill deyse'fs up plum' full, en w'en does li'l boys 'gins ter look fer 'em ter drive 'em out ter git dere evenin' grub, dey kaint fine one uv dem turkeys wut aint.daid. Every one uv 'em wuz stretch out limber en daid. W'en dey seen dat, dem li'1 niggers sho wuz skeered, en dey run ter de kitchen cryin', en tole de cook. En de cook she went en tole Ole Mistes wut de boys done said. Den all de yard niggers dey run down to de gulley back uv de garden ter see fer deyse'fs.
En sho' nuff, dere wuz all de turkeys daid. "Ole Mistes says: 'Bring t'ree er fo' uv dem turkeys up here fer me ter see.' "Dis dey did, en she says: 'Yes, it's too bad, all our turkeys done daid, but dey ain't er full loss caise we kin save de feddef. Now I wants all you niggers ter start workin' right now, quick, en 'fo' does turkeys git cole, pick all de breas' en back fedders off uv 'em en we kin use 'em fer makin' pillers en fedder baids en sich.' "Well suh, 'bout er dozen uv de yard niggers, dey starts pickin' en fo' sundown dey had every one uv dem turkeys picked clean like dey wuz pickin' 'em fer de pot. Den de stable man, he pile 'em all in his li'l cart, en he haul 'em en dumps 'em in de big gulley back uv de garden, en we wuz all grievin' caise Ole Mistes done los' sich er fine lot uv turkey. "Well suh, de nex' mornin' 'bout daylight, I hears er turkey gobblin', , en I says ter myse'f, 'Ennyhow, dere's one turkey wut didn' git daid.
Dat one muster bin off somewhar by hisse'f.' En I starts walkin' down towards de trees whar dey usually roosts ter see ef I could see dat turkey, 'W'en I gits mos' dere, I could here er powerful lot uv turkey talk. Look like all uv 'em wuz hollerin': 'Quit, quit, quit'—den er turkey would gobble, en er plenty uv turkeys would say-'quit,' ergin. I guess de muskeeters wuz er bitin' 'em. I didn' know wut ter make uv dat turkey talk, caise I knows we didn' have two droves er turkeys. Jis den one uv dem turkeys flewed out de tree en lit on de groun' not far f'um me, en w'en dat turkey done dat, I couldn' believe wut I seed, en w'ile I wuz rubbin' my eyes ter look mo' gooder, t'ree, fo', five uv dem turkeys, den 'bout two dozen mo' flew out de tree en lit by de fus one, en everyone uv 'em wuz jis de same es de fus'; jis es nakid es yo' han'! 'Cepin fer de wings en tail dey didn' have er fedder on 'em.
Twarn't er single one uv dem turkeys wuz daid. Dey wuz jis daid drunk f'um eatin' all dem cherry stones soak in sugarhouse rum, en dey wuz so daid drunk w'en we picks de fedders off uv 'em, we t'ought dey wuz all plum' daid. "W'en I sees de turkeys done.come ter life, I run quick knock on Ole Mistes do', says: 'Ole Mistes, come quick, see all yo' turkeys done come back ter life.' "She say: 'Wait Cato, wait till I come see.' "So she gits up right quick en dress herse'f, en come wid me to de chicken yard, en dere she seen wut I see,- -all de turkeys done come ter life widout dere fedders, 'cepin dere wings en tails. "Ole Mistes says she don't know how dem turkeys gwinter git erlong wid no fedders on fer ter keep de winter cole off, but it's mighty warm now, en mebbeso dey'll grow mo' fedders 'fo' it gits too cole fer 'em. "Well suh, dat same night de warm wedder done change, en er Nor'wes'er done busses out, en de nex' mornin' we had fros', en all dose po' turkeys wuz drawed up in er knot walkin' 'roun' tryin' ter keep de cole win' off'n 'em wid dere tail en wing fedders. Wen Ole Mistes seed dat, she said she couldn' stan' seein' dose tings sufferin', so she went wid some er de seamster 'omans, en dey gits two, t'ree bolts er red flannel out er de storeroom, en dey had dose turkeys druv in er pen, en dey ketch 'em one by one, en Ole Mistes she cut de cloff en de 'omans dey sewed, en dey made er coverin' fer each uv dem turkeys, wut went f'um de haid plum ter de knees, out er red flannel, jis leavin' de wings, de tails en head en legs stickin' out; en all winter long dem turkeys wore dem flannel suits, en dey wuz jis es peart es ef dey had all dere natchel fedders on. Wuts mo', dey gits fat, en I believe mo' fatter den dey would'er bin ef dey had dere.fedders. En tanks ter Ole Mistes fer puttin' red flannel petticoats on dem turkeys—we had turkey fer Christmas dinner.".
