Game was plenty; lightwood was a substitute for candles; and housewifely skill furnished homespun garments.

Shelter, food and clothing and possibly a small cotton crop or other surplus were thus had the first year.

Some rested with this; but the more thrifty would soon replace their cabins with hewn log or frame houses, plant kitchen gardens and watermelon patches, set out orchards and increase the cotton acreage.

The further earnings of a year or two would supply window glass, table ware, coffee, tea and sugar, a stock of poultry, a few hogs and even perhaps a slave or two.

The pioneer hardships decreased and the homely comforts grew with every passing year of thrift.