Most of the hoers are women and boys, some of whom do the whole
allotted task; others only a quarter, half, or three quarters, according to
their ability. When the children are first put into the field,
they are only put to quarter tasks, and some of the women are unable
to do more. The bell is rung for them at early dawn, when they rise,
prepare and eat their breakfast, and move down to the field.
Clad in coarse, filthy, and scanty clothing, they drag sullenly along,
and use their implements of labor with a slow, reluctant motion,
that says very plainly, "This work is not for ME. My toil will do ME
no good." Oh, how would freedom, kindness, and good wages spur up
those unwilling toilers! How would the bright faces, the cheerful
words and songs of independent, self-interested, intelligent laborers,
make those fields to rejoice, almost imparting vigor and growth
to the cotton itself! But, alas! it is a sad place, a valley
of sighs and groans and tears and blood, a realm of hate and malice,
of imprecation and wrath, and every fierce and wicked passion.

A "water-toter" follows each gang with a pail and calabash;
and the negro-driver stands among them with a long whip in his hand,
which he snaps over their heads continually, and lets the lash fall,
with more or less severity, on one and another, shouting and yelling
meanwhile in a furious and brutal manner, as a boisterous teamster
would do to his unruly oxen.

If the season is wet, the danger to the crop being greater, there is
more necessity for constant toil, and the poor slaves are whipped,
pushed, and driven to the very utmost, and allowed no time to rest.
It is no matter if the old are over-worked, or the young too
hardly pressed, or the feeble women faint under their burdens.
So that a good crop is produced, and the planter can enjoy his luxuries,