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 hem 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 cakes of all sorts and sizes, iced and plain;
large bowls of custard and jelly; and candies, and fruits and nuts.