Mr. Dansley could get his work done properly and in season. Knowing I
had been a farm-superintendent on Wilson's plantation for a number of
years, Mr. Dansley immediately appointed me to the same position on his
farm, which accounts for his readiness and willingness to pay me high
wages.

This was a new kind of position for me, and it required considerable
thought and management for me to get matters properly arranged in my
mind. "Bossing" white hands and working with them, so as to make their
labors profitable for my employer, was no easy task. The farm-work was
carried on somewhat similar to the way in which large farms are worked
in the northern states, and it required great prudence and watchful care
to avoid waste and save all the crops. I arranged my rules of conduct,
hours of labor, etc., for the hands, and submitted them to Mr. Dansley
for his approval. Mr. Dansley left the matter entirely with me; and,
after trial, I found my rules were not sufficiently stringent, and that
if I expected to successfully "carry on" that farm I would have to make
rules with penalties attached, the men I had to deal with caring little
or nothing for mild, persuasive laws. I therefore drew up the following
rules, and presented them to Mr. Dansley, and requested him to make them
stipulations in the contracts of hire with his men. He approved them,
and acceded to my request.

1. Quarreling and using vulgar and profane language is strictly
forbidden on the farm, and any hand or hands violating this rule shall
be discharged or corrected, in the discretion of the superintendent.

2. Obedience to the just orders of the superintendent is essential to
the profitable conduct of the farm; therefore, disobedience to the
orders of the superintendent shall be followed by the discharge of the