"The glorious Fourth" was always a holiday on every Southern plantation,
and, of course, Major Waldron's was no exception to the rule. His
negroes not only had holiday, but a barbecue, and it was a day of
general mirth and festivity.

On this particular "Fourth" the barbecue was to be on the banks of the
creek formed by the back-waters of the river, and was to be a "fish-fry"
as well as a barbecue.

All hands on the plantation were up by daylight, and preparing for the
frolic. Some of the negro men, indeed, had been down to the creek all
night setting out their fish-baskets and getting the "pit" ready for the
meats. The pit was a large hole, in which a fire was kindled to roast
the animals, which were suspended over it; and they must commence the
barbecuing very early in the morning, in order to get everything ready
by dinner-time. The children were as much excited over it as the negroes
were, and Mammy could hardly keep them still enough to dress them, they
were so eager to be off. Major and Mrs. Waldron were to go in the light
carriage, but the little folks were to go with Mammy and Aunt Milly in
the spring-wagon, along with the baskets of provisions for the "white
folks' tables;" the bread and vegetables and cakes and pastry for the
negroes' tables had been sent off in a large wagon, and were at the
place for the barbecue long before the white family started from home.
The negroes, too, had all gone. Those who were not able to walk had gone
in wagons, but most of them had walked, for it was only about three
miles from the house.

Despite all their efforts to hurry up Mammy, it was nearly nine o'clock
before the children could get her off; and even then she didn't want to
let Cherubim and Seraphim go, and Uncle Snake-bit Bob, who was driving