“Who’s going to get what’s made on this land?” asked Sanders.
“All of us. It is going first to pay for the land, then to support the Home and the School, and then to furnish capital for industries.”
Johnson snickered. “You mean youse gwine to git yo’ livin’ off it?”
“Yes,” answered Alwyn; “but I’m going to work for it.”
‚ÄúWho‚Äôs gwine‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù began Simpson, but stopped helplessly.
“Who’s going to tend this land?” asked the practical Carter.
‚ÄúAll of us. Each man is going to promise us so many days‚Äô work a year, and we‚Äôre going to ask others to help‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe women and girls and school children‚ÅÝ‚Äîthey will all help.‚Äù
“Can you put trust in that sort of help?”
“We can when once the community learns that it pays.”
“Does you own the land?” asked Johnson suddenly.
“No; we’re buying it, and it’s part paid for already.”
The discussion became general. Zora moved about among the men whispering and explaining; while Johnson moved, too, objecting and hinting. At last he arose.
“Brethren,” he began, “the plan’s good enough for talkin’ but you can’t work it; who ever heer’d tell of such a thing? First place, the land ain’t yours; second place, you can’t get it worked; third place, white folks won’t ’low it. Who ever heer’d of such working land on shares?”