In the centre of the table was a pyramid, beginning with a large cake
at the bottom and ending with a "snowball" on top.

At the head of the table was the bride-cake, containing the "ring" and
the "dime;" it was handsomely iced, and had a candy Cupid perched over
it, on a holly bough which was stuck in a hole in the middle of the
cake. It was to be cut after a while by each of the bridesmaids and
groomsmen in turns; and whoever should cut the slice containing the
ring would be the next one to get married; but whoever should get the
dime was to be an old maid or an old bachelor.

The supper was enjoyed hugely, particularly a big bowl of eggnog,
which so enlivened them all that the dancing was entered into with
renewed vigor, and kept up till the gray tints in the east warned them
that another day had dawned, and that Christmas was over.

But you may be sure that in all Christendom it had been welcomed in
and ushered out by no merrier, lighter hearts than those of the happy,
contented folks on the old plantation.

CHAPTER III

MAMMY'S STORY

ONE cold, rainy night a little group were assembled around a crackling
wood fire in the nursery; Mammy was seated in a low chair, with Tot in
her arms; Dumps was rocking her doll back and forth, and Diddie was
sitting at the table reading; Aunt Milly was knitting, and the three
little darkies were nodding by the fire.