As soon as they were all scalped they started over again, and kept up
the fun until the big plantation bell sounded, and then the Injuns
deserted in a body and ran off pell-mell to the quarters; for that
bell was for the Christmas dinner, and they wouldn't miss that for all
the scalps that ever were taken.

There were three long tables, supplied with good, well-cooked food,
followed by a nice dessert of pudding and cake, and the darkies, one
and all, did full justice to it.

Up at the house was a grand dinner, with turkey, mince-pie, and
plum-pudding, of course.

When that was through with, mamma told the little girls that the
little quarter negroes were to have a candy stew, and that Mammy might
take them to witness the pulling. This was a great treat, for there
was nothing the children enjoyed so much as going to the quarters to
see the little negroes play.

The candy stew had been suggested by Aunt Nancy as a fine device for
getting rid of the little darkies for the night. They were to have the
frolic only on condition that they would go to bed and not insist on
being at the wedding. This they readily agreed to; for they feared
they would not be allowed to sit up anyway, and they thought best to
make sure of the candy-pulling.

When the little girls reached Aunt Nancy's cabin, two big kettles of
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