Part 6 (2/2)

”My dear,” remarked the bride, ”I expected to make a tour when I was married.”

”Yes, miss,”--he corrected himself quickly,--”yes, madam, I think as there are no steamboats that we may take a little journey up the river on a raft.”

”What kind of a raft, Captain?” asked Nelly.

”My love, I mean a steam raft. I will take the steam along in a jug.”

Nelly made a terrible grimace of disgust and was silent for a moment, her mind still dwelling on the bridal tour. ”Captain, you know we must have money for traveling expenses,” said she.

”Yes, darling, it takes that very thing, so I will spout your fine watch and chain, and then we can find ourselves on wheels.”

Nelly drew down the corners of her pretty mouth, pouted her lips and looked more disgusted than ever. To them it was all very funny.

”My dearest, I fear when your mother hears the news she will say 'Poor Nelly, she has thrown herself away!'” and the captain actually blushed at this vision of Mrs. Jones's disapprobation.

”Keep the ball rolling, Captain,” said Billy Morris, ”this sport is splendid.”

The captain fixed his keen eye on Billy's large, standing collar and asked, ”Did you ever see a small dog trotting along in high oats?

Well,”--surveying his person--”I have.”

”Come now, Captain,” replied Billy, ”I'll allow you some privileges, being just married, but you must pa.s.s your wit around. I've had enough. Don't compare your single unmarried friend to a dog.”

Dinner was then announced and the party were soon seated at table. That king of edible birds, the turkey savory and brown, was placed at one end, and a fresh stuffed ham stood at the other, while the vegetables filled up the intervening s.p.a.ce. A large bunch of zinnias and amaranthus set in a broken pitcher formed 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 egg-nogg allowed for each guest.

The girls did not relish this mixture made of crude and fiery Louisiana rum, but the soldiers were not so fastidious; they said they often had occasion to repeat the remark of the Governor of North Carolina to the Governor of South Carolina that ”it was a long time between drinks.”

Monroe removed the dishes and retired to the kitchen while the guests lingered over the dessert. The cook sat and looked down the river. The window commanded a view for two miles. Her work was done and she manifested her relief by breaking into singing these words:

”John saw, J-o-h-n saw, John saw de holy number Settin' roun de golden altar.

Golden chariot come fer me, come fer me, Golden chariot come fer me, Childun didn't he rise?”

She had commenced the second verse, ”John saw,” when suddenly her jaws fell, and springing up she exclaimed: ”Jesus marster! what's dat? Look!

Everybody! Here comes er gunboat, en 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 Becky! 'tain't none er my business to tell nuthin'. Set right down, 'oman, en let dem white folks 'lone,” and the man seized her and pushed her with all his force towards the chair.

The woman turned fiercely upon him and planted a blow on the side of his head which sent him headlong on the floor. ”Look er-heah, boy, who is you foolin' wid, anyhow? You think yerself a man, does yer when yous er born fool! I let you know it tuck de tightest overseer ole marster ever had on dis plantashun to rule me. No n.i.g.g.e.r 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 yere”--and Becky eloquently placed her hands on her round ebony bosom, as she broke into a full run from the kitchen door. She entered the dining-room crying out in breathless, agitated tones, ”Look heah, people, thar's a big gunboat er comin' up de river en Riley's house is er-fire!”

In an instant confusion and utter consternation reigned. ”Good G.o.d!”

exclaimed Vine, ”and here's all mother's silver! Like 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 pile of spoons and forks into a dishpan. ”No, no,” screamed Vine, ”don't wash them, let me hide them, quick, somewhere!”

The officers and soldiers had disappeared, and in ten minutes the only male creatures to be seen on the place were Monroe and the baby. The man was in fine spirits while engaged in a.s.sisting the young ladies to mount their horses. ”Take kere, Miss Em'ly, dis is a skittish little 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 carried off by the last raid from Morganza, and I had no choice but to use my brother's saddle and this mule or stay at home. Cut me a good stick, Monroe, and I shall get along.” ”Well, you'll need a stick,” said Monroe, ”wid dat lazy ole mule, ef you 'spects to see home dis night.”

One of the horses jerked away every time he was led up to the steps, but the man was patient with him, only remarking, ”Dis hoss been brutalized 'bout de head by somebody 'twel he's a plum fool. Jump 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,” said he, ”dis beats de bugs, to see white ladies what's used to rollin' 'long in der carriages a-ridin' double like dis!” ”We don't care,” said they, as the party started off gaily down the road.

After the last departure Monroe went to talk over the eventful day with Becky. No allusion was made to such a small matter as a pa.s.sing blow, and the man sat down by the fire grinning with real enjoyment.

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