molasses were on the fire, and, to judge by the sputtering and
simmering, the candy was getting on famously. Uncle Sambo had brought
his fiddle in, and some of the children were patting and singing and
dancing, while others were shelling goobers and picking out scaly-barks
to put in the candy; and when the pulling began, if you could have heard
the laughing and joking you would have thought there was no fun like a
candy stew.

As a special favor, the little girls were allowed to stay up and see
Candace married; and very nice she looked when her mistress had finished
dressing her: her white Swiss was fresh and new, and the wreath and veil
were very becoming, and she made quite a pretty bride; at least Jim
thought so, and that was enough for her.

Jim was dressed in a new pepper-and-salt suit, his Christmas present
from his master, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen all looked very fine.
Mamma arranged the bridal party in the back parlor, and the
folding-doors were thrown open. Both rooms and the large hall were full
of negroes. The ceremony was performed by old Uncle Daniel, the negro
preacher on the place, and the children's father gave the bride away.

After the marriage, the darkies adjourned to the barn to dance. Diddie
and Dumps begged to be allowed to go and look at them "just a little
while," but it was their bedtime, and Mammy marched them off to the
nursery.

About twelve o'clock supper was announced, and old and young repaired to
the laundry. The room was festooned with wreaths of holly and cedar, and
very bright and pretty and tempting the table looked, spread out with
meats and breads, and pickles and preserves, and home-made wine, and