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Old Times in Dixie Land

Chapter 9 MISS VINE'S DINNER PARTY AND ITS ABRUPT CONCLUSION.

Word Count: 5741    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

violated the third commandment. I knew a little girl who, having seen a regiment of Federal soldiers marching along the public highway, ran to her mother crying, "The damned Yankees are

to avoid all looseness of expression. But Fannie Little asked: "Mrs. Merrick, may I not even tell Rose to '

isters can speak with propriety of the de

picture. The characters and incidents are real, but the names are assumed. The endeavor to emb

e, that the first glance suggested the idea of a village embowered in trees. The proprietorship of a noble estate implies a certain distinction, and in fact the owner of this property

fic duties on silk, which he thought operated to the disadvantage and serious injustice of the poor man. He asserted confidently that the poor people would purchase only the heavy, serviceable silken goods, while the rich preferred the lighter and flimsier fabrics, thus paying proportionately a much smaller revenue to the Government. This proved conclusively that Mr. Templeton never consulted his wife, whose rich dresses were always pai

mmetsburg, and had returned home after Fort Sumter was fired upon and other disturbances were anticipated. This slender, delicate, little creature was very graceful and pretty, timid as a fawn, and frisky as a young colt. At first she could no

eties of the parents, and was greatly respected by everybody. She was not a particularly religious person-there not being a church within ten miles-but she was kind, courteous and gentle, and exhibited a great deal of d

e artillery of the Confederate service. A grand wedding came off where many noteworthy men assembled. While the band played and the giddy dance went on, groups

and her lover-husband refused to be separated, so she virtually lived in the encampment. The spotless new tents, with bright flags flying, the

oast wild turkey with all the accompaniments, wrote to his father that he too was ready to enlist, having now had a perfect insight into soldier life. As this gallant veteran to-day looks at his empty, dangling coat-sleeve and is shown his boyish letter, he smiles a grim smile and says: "Ye

habitants. Soldiers advanced to the front, while citizens precipitately retreated to the rear. In trepidation and hot haste planters gathered up their possessions for departure. Slaves, always dearer and more precious to the average Sout

the spring seemed to justify the reduction of the place to such slender equipment. Meanwhile, Captain Paul had been through a campaign in Virginia. On the very day of the battle of Bethel, Vine clasped a new-born daughter in her arms, and the father requested that its name shoul

and Monroe, would occasionally join the group; "Never mind, Miss Vine, don't you fret," they would say; "sure, Captain Paul's all right." After many weeks of painful suspense and anxiety the shocking news came that Captain Paul had been killed by the explosion of a shell. Vine's grief was wild. She wept and raved by turn, until Miss Eliza feared

nattainable in those days. The girls in the neighborhood came and stayed

thing like Lavinia should go on forever moping herself to death in unavailing grief. There was no need of anything of the kind. While wishing her niece to avoid "getting herself talked about," Miss Eliza yet thought it needful, right and proper that s

ly, were now given up to weeds, briars and snakes. Here and there in protected nooks and corners clusters of tall golden-rod or blue and purple wild asters waved their heads. Only

ng her duties to her expected guests, she ran to the window overlooking the kitchen and called, "Becky, Becky, you know who are to be here

owers, en Captain Prince he hope her at dat. Now, ef she had put her han' to de vegables, dat would er ben sumpin. Flowers will do for purty and niceness, but you cayent eat 'em, en you cayent drink 'em. Dey're des here to-day and gone all to pieces to-morrow; whut good is dey anyhow? a whole kyart load of um don't mount ter er hill er beans. Well," she continued, "I jes' won't blame de young creetur, but Gawd ermitey only knows when all dem white folks will set down ter dat ar dinner Mi

lating her manifold duties, she heard the clock in the house striking the hour. "Lord, Gawd," said she, "ef it ain't twelve o'clock er 'ready, en shore nuff here comes all dem white folks jes' a gallopin' up de big road. Eh-eh-eh-well, dey'll wait twell em ready fur 'em, dat's all. But I does wish Miss Vine was mo' li

on the unswept floor, grasped the child and tossed her up several times over her head. "Gawd bless dis smart c

just killed. Seeing what was going on he exclaimed: "Why, Aunt Becky, yo better stop play

d es you can sen' any day. De white folks knows I ain't got but two han's and can't do a

joined the young men in the parlor, where for a time music, songs a

ce lead and choose th

his lips into an automatic, gigantic, wooden smirk reaching almost from ear to ear. Everybody giggled of course, but he went on: "I shall call out 'Pucker,' and you must instantly face about with your mouths fixed this way"-and he drew up his wonderful feature

began to think of some other refreshment. Arabella ventured to request that Captain Prince be sent to the kitchen to reconnoiter and bring in a report from the commissary department. The captain responded amiably, and said she was a sensible young lady

ake my report. I went round to the kitchen and found Aunt Becky behind the chimney ripping off the feathers of a turkey so big" (holding his hands nearly a yard apart). "I got a coal o' fire to lig

cried t

son or send a strong committee who will whoop up the cook and expedite the meal

n, rolling her fine eyes in the innocent, sweet way characteristic of some of the most fascinating of her sex, and begging him to continue to be the life and soul of her par

d that she was sorry she had persuaded her mother to let her come to such a poky affair, and another declared that she had never been anywhere in her whole lifetime before where there was not cake, fruit, candy, popcor

l the girls on the river. Being the daughter of a cotton speculator, she wore that rare article, a new dress. Unlike Arabella, whose jacket was cut from the best part of an old piano cover, she was arrayed in fine purple cashmere trimmed with velvet and gold buttons, and was otherwise ornamented with a heavy gold chain and a little watch set with diamonds. Nelly took the captain's arm and made a low bo

e, "to old Mrs. Simpson two years ago, and

om which he held down before t

ly, and they stepped over

lly until you die. I have at your request tied this matrimonial knot as tight as I possibly could, under the circumstances, and I hope yo

ly refused the privilege accorded the major, for said she, "there was no kissing in the bargain." The company crowded around

ide, "I expected to make a

madam, I think as there are no steamboats that we

a raft, Captai

m raft. I will take the

moment, her mind still dwelling on the bridal tour. "Captain,

o I will spout your fine watch and chain,

uth, pouted her lips and looked more disgust

ay 'Poor Nelly, she has thrown herself away!'" and the captain

ptain," said Billy Morris,

collar and asked, "Did you ever see a small dog trotting

ges, being just married, but you must pass your wit around. I've

d a gay center-piece. The dessert was egg-nogg, and Confederate pound-cake made from bolted cornmeal. The dinner was concluded with a cup of genuine coffee. Notwithstanding the late meal, never had there been a merrier day at old Beechwood. Healths to the absent ones were drunk from the single silver goblet of e

dessert. The cook sat and looked down the river. The window commanded a view for two mil

aw, J-o

w de ho

oun de go

t come fer me

ariot com

didn't h

Riley's house is er fire. Don't yer see it bu'nin! Run, boy, run, en call Miss Vine! Tell Mis Lizer! Go dis minit an' let 'em all know, I tell yer!" "Set right down, set down, Aunt

er ever had on dis plantashun to rule me. No nigger like you better try ter tackle Becky. I'll double you up an fling you outer dis winder in no time. You neenter tell nuthin. I'll go tell 'em-I'll go ef Gawd spars me to git dar. I nussed Miss Vine; dat gal used to suck dese yer

ke a fool I dug it up out of the garden this morning. Here, Aunt Becky, help me gather it up." The woman soon rattled a

creole pony, and you rides wid too loose a rein." To another he said, "'Fore Gawd, Miss Jinnie, I hates to see a white lady like you a-riden' uv er mule, I does dat, en er man's saddle too! Eh, eh!" "You never mind," the girl replied; "my pony and both our side-saddles were car

ump quick, Miss Nelly, while um er holdin' him fer ye." The girl sprang to her saddle, adjusted her dress, and directed the man to spread a folded shawl for her sister to ride behind. "Well, well,

ith Becky. No allusion was made to such a small matter as a passing

flustrated," and he burst into a loud guffaw. "When sumpin don' go to suit de Templetons, dey'll paw d

den she look 'roun' en seed de men wus all gone; den she clinched her teeth, en des doubled up her fis', she did, en shuck it t'wards dat big ole boat es she come puffin' en blowin' up de river, wid de gr

catching his breath,

dat; en so would you

hite folks got feelin's same as we is?" asked Becky. "No," said M

y shook her fist in imitation of Vine's passionate outbreak, en said dat I done tole yer, Miss Eliza put in en spoke up she did, en says she, 'Laviney, yo must certinly forgit yo is er lady!' Whew! Miss Vine never heerd her. 'Twan't no use fer nobody to say nuthin'. I tell you dat white gal rared en pitched untwel she bu

Becky, en d-o-n't cry no mo', dat's my good baby!' She wipe up her eyes, en stop cryin', she did, en drunk de coffee. Dar I was, down on my knees, jes' facin' of her, and she handed back de cup. 'Twas one er ole Mis' fine chaney cups.

ped up she did, en gin me her two han's to pull me up. I des knowed I was too heavy for her to lif, but I tuck a holt of her, en drug her down in my lap en hugged her in my arms, pore young thing! Den I jes' put her down e-a-s-y on de hath-rug, 'fo' de fire, en kiver her up w

see her in her brother Frank's close a-jumpin' u

iet." Becky sighed and went on: "I tell yo, man, when dat little creetur dar in de house takes a good start-yo cayn't hole her, nobody nee'n' to try; you cay

'em in de coop. I wants to brile one soon in de mawnin' en take it to Miss Vine wid some hot co'n cakes. She's used to eatin' when she fust wakes

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