I'd jump right inter dis creek an' drown myse'f. But I ain't got no
right ter be killin' up marster's niggers dat way; I'm wuff er thousan'
dollars, an' marster ain't got no thousan' dollars ter was'e in dis
creek, long er dat lazy, shif'less, good-fur-nuffin' yaller nigger."

The poor fellow's dejected countenance and evident distress enlisted the
sympathy of his mistress, and thinking that any negro who took such good
care of his master's property would make a good husband, she sought an
interview with Candace, and so pleaded with her in behalf of poor Jim
that the dusky coquette relented, and went down herself to Aunt Sukey's
cabin to tell her lover that she did love him all along, and was "jis'
er projeckin' wid 'im," and that she would surely marry him
Christmas-night.

Their master had had a new cabin built for them, and their mistress had
furnished it neatly for the young folks to begin housekeeping, and in
mamma's wardrobe was a white dress and a veil and wreath that were to be
the bride's Christmas gifts. They were to be married in the parlor at
the house, and dance afterwards in the barn, and the wedding supper was
to be set in the laundry.

So you see it was a busy day, with so much of cake-baking and icing and
trimming to be done; and then the girls had to see about their dresses
for the evening, and the young men had their shoes to black, and their
best clothes to brush, and their hair to unwrap; but, notwithstanding
all this, when Major Waldron and his family entered the chapel they
found a large congregation assembled; indeed, all were there except the
sick; and master and slaves, the white children and black, united their
hearts and voices to