Read Online The Triumph of Grace by Kay Marshall Strom - Free Book Online
Authors: Kay Marshall Strom
Tags: Trust on God
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local office. For in South Carolina, to stand for any elected office at all, one must not only be an adult white male, but must own fifty acres of land. While Mister Shaw easily met the former requirement, he owned only a single house in the city of Charleston. Certainly he could well afford to purchase a large plantation, but he had not the slightest interest in doing so, nor would he have any idea how to manage it if he did.
Macon Waymon leaned in close, his face hot with excitement."Together we can build up the richest cotton plantations in the state of South Carolina, Samuel. Perhaps in the entire world!"
Certainly, Macon had Samuel's attention. And yet, Samuel Shaw was not entirely convinced.
"Even if all you say were true, even if the cotton came through the new engine undamaged—it still would be nothing but short-fiber cotton," he pointed out. "The whole world knows sea-island cotton is fine and strong and soft and desirable.And the whole world also knows short-fiber cotton is inferior in every way."
"True," agreed Macon. "But sea-island cotton will always be scarce and expensive. Few growers have the sophisticated knowledge and experience needed to grow it. And fewer still have access to the rare, exquisite sandy soil its cultivation requires. So even if the cotton engine does do some damage to the cotton, even if the short-fiber sells for just half the price of sea-island, consider the amount of cotton we can produce! Even with those limitations, Samuel, our profits cannot help but be enormous."
"You assume that European manufacturers will accept the crop. Remember, they have always considered short-staple nothing but worthless weed cotton," said Samuel.
Macon smiled and winked. "When they see the low price tag attached to it, they will be overjoyed. I guarantee it!"
For a long time the two men sat in silence, each lost in his own thoughts.
"If I put up the money by week's end . . ." said Samuel.
"If I pull my best workers away from the rice fields . . ." said Macon.
"If I lay my hands on the deeds of the growers most in distress and therefore most likely to sell . . ." said Samuel.
"If we get the cotton crops in now . . ." said Macon.
"If you get Eli Whitney's cotton engine in your hands . . ."said Samuel.
"If I get the right man to work it . . ." said Macon.
Both men fell silent. Planted in the spring, cotton was picked in September and October. Despite starting a bit late, with good fortune and dollars placed in the right hands, the entire crop could all be run through the cotton engine, compressed, packed, and stacked at the Charleston ports by early the following spring.
Macon and Samuel sank back in their chairs, twin smiles lighting up their faces.
This time next year, Macon Waymon thought, I will be a rich man.
By the time the swamp on the Potomac River is turned into a city and the capitol building is completed, Samuel Shaw thought, I will be seated as a representative of the state of South Carolina.
9
A ray of early March sunshine forced its way through the city's fog and misty clouds, and planted the hope of spring into the hearts of winter-weary Londoners. But in Abraham Hallam's heart it struck nothing but dread.
"How many men do we still lack to fill the crew?" Captain Hallam barked to Archie Rhodes, his first mate.
"Five, sir," Archie replied. "At bare minimum."
"Well, then, fetch us five men today!" the captain ordered.
"Where from, sir?" Archie asked.
"I don't care!" said Captain Hallam. "Scour Newgate Prison, if you must. Already winter's deprivations are too long past. Unless we sail immediately, the hurricanes will be upon us before we can catch the trade winds!"
Ever since the thirteen United States had gained their independence from Britain, filling up a crew docket had become a matter of frustrating difficulty on every ship bound for America. As tales spread, fewer and fewer men were willing to risk the journey into what was now widely considered wild territory. To
Macon Waymon leaned in close, his face hot with excitement."Together we can build up the richest cotton plantations in the state of South Carolina, Samuel. Perhaps in the entire world!"
Certainly, Macon had Samuel's attention. And yet, Samuel Shaw was not entirely convinced.
"Even if all you say were true, even if the cotton came through the new engine undamaged—it still would be nothing but short-fiber cotton," he pointed out. "The whole world knows sea-island cotton is fine and strong and soft and desirable.And the whole world also knows short-fiber cotton is inferior in every way."
"True," agreed Macon. "But sea-island cotton will always be scarce and expensive. Few growers have the sophisticated knowledge and experience needed to grow it. And fewer still have access to the rare, exquisite sandy soil its cultivation requires. So even if the cotton engine does do some damage to the cotton, even if the short-fiber sells for just half the price of sea-island, consider the amount of cotton we can produce! Even with those limitations, Samuel, our profits cannot help but be enormous."
"You assume that European manufacturers will accept the crop. Remember, they have always considered short-staple nothing but worthless weed cotton," said Samuel.
Macon smiled and winked. "When they see the low price tag attached to it, they will be overjoyed. I guarantee it!"
For a long time the two men sat in silence, each lost in his own thoughts.
"If I put up the money by week's end . . ." said Samuel.
"If I pull my best workers away from the rice fields . . ." said Macon.
"If I lay my hands on the deeds of the growers most in distress and therefore most likely to sell . . ." said Samuel.
"If we get the cotton crops in now . . ." said Macon.
"If you get Eli Whitney's cotton engine in your hands . . ."said Samuel.
"If I get the right man to work it . . ." said Macon.
Both men fell silent. Planted in the spring, cotton was picked in September and October. Despite starting a bit late, with good fortune and dollars placed in the right hands, the entire crop could all be run through the cotton engine, compressed, packed, and stacked at the Charleston ports by early the following spring.
Macon and Samuel sank back in their chairs, twin smiles lighting up their faces.
This time next year, Macon Waymon thought, I will be a rich man.
By the time the swamp on the Potomac River is turned into a city and the capitol building is completed, Samuel Shaw thought, I will be seated as a representative of the state of South Carolina.
9
A ray of early March sunshine forced its way through the city's fog and misty clouds, and planted the hope of spring into the hearts of winter-weary Londoners. But in Abraham Hallam's heart it struck nothing but dread.
"How many men do we still lack to fill the crew?" Captain Hallam barked to Archie Rhodes, his first mate.
"Five, sir," Archie replied. "At bare minimum."
"Well, then, fetch us five men today!" the captain ordered.
"Where from, sir?" Archie asked.
"I don't care!" said Captain Hallam. "Scour Newgate Prison, if you must. Already winter's deprivations are too long past. Unless we sail immediately, the hurricanes will be upon us before we can catch the trade winds!"
Ever since the thirteen United States had gained their independence from Britain, filling up a crew docket had become a matter of frustrating difficulty on every ship bound for America. As tales spread, fewer and fewer men were willing to risk the journey into what was now widely considered wild territory. To
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