Old Virginia and her neighbours

SOCIETY IN THE OLD DOMINION. 233hogsheads the tobacco was prized in, and the tightcasks to hold the cider and other liquors. Thetanners and curriers, with the proper vats, etc.,tanned and dressed the skins as well for upper asfor lower leather to the full amount of the consumptionof the estate, and the shoemakers madethem into shoes for the negroes. A professedshoemaker was hired for three or four mouths inthe year to come and make up theshoes for thewhite part of the family. The blacksmiths didall the ironwork required by the establishment,as making and repairing ploughs, harrows, teeth,chains, bolts, etc. The spinners, weavers, andknitters made allthe coarse cloths and stockingsused by the negroes, and some of finer textureworn by the white family, nearly all worn by thechildren of it. The distiller made every fall agood deal of apple, peach, and persimmon brandy.The art of distilling from grain was not thenamong us, and but few public distilleries. Allthese operations were carried on at the homehouse, and their results distributed as occasionrequired to the dijfferent plantations. Moreover,all the beeves and hogs for consumption or salewere driven up and slaughtered there at the properseasons, and whatever was to be preserved wassalted and packed away for after distribution." My father kept no steward or clerk about him.He kept his own books and superintended, withthe assistance of a trusty slave or two, and occasionallyof some of his sons, all the operations ator about the home house above described. ... Tocarry on these operations to the extent required, it