no _white lady_ should ever eat heartily in company; she might eat
between meals, if desired, or even go back after the meal was over and
satisfy her appetite; but to sit down with a party of ladies and
gentlemen and make a good "square" meal, Mammy considered very ungenteel
indeed. This idea she was always trying to impress upon the little
girls, so as to render them as ladylike as possible in the years to
come; and on this occasion, as there were quite a number of the families
from the adjacent plantations present, she was horrified to see Dumps
eating as heartily, and with as evident satisfaction, as if she had been
alone in the nursery at home. Diddie, too, had taken her second piece of
barbecued squirrel, and seemed to be enjoying it very much, when a shake
of Mammy's head reminded her of the impropriety of such a proceeding; so
she laid aside the squirrel, and minced delicately over some less
substantial food. The frowns and nods, however, were thrown away upon
Dumps; she ate of everything she wanted until she was fully satisfied,
and I grieve to say that her papa encouraged her in such unladylike
behavior by helping her liberally to whatever she asked for.

But after the dinner was over, and after the darkies had played and
danced until quite late, and after the ladies and gentlemen had had
several very interesting games of euchre and whist, and after the little
folks had wandered about as much as they pleased--swinging on
grape-vines and riding on "saplings," and playing "base" and "stealing
goods," and tiring themselves out generally--and after they had been
all duly stowed away in the spring-wagon and had started for home, then
Mammy began at Dumps about her unpardonable appetite.

"But I was hungry, Mammy," apologized the little girl.

"I don't cyar ef'n yer wuz," replied Mammy; "dat ain't no reason fur yer