vermifuge, would get a whipping into the bargain.

And even after Aunt Nancy would get them into line and their hands
crossed behind their backs, she would have to watch very closely, or
some wicked little "nig" would slip into the place of the one just
above him, and make a horrible face, and spit, and wipe his mouth as
if he had just taken his dose; and thereby the one whose place he had
taken would have to swallow a double portion, while he escaped
entirely; or else a scuffle would ensue, and a very animated
discussion between the parties as to who had taken the last dose; and
unless it could be decided satisfactorily, Aunt Nancy would administer
a dose to each one; for, in her opinion, "too much furmifuge wuz
better'n none."

And so you see the giving of the vermifuge consumed considerable time.
After that was through with she would begin again at the head of the
line, and making each child open its mouth to its fullest extent, she
would examine each throat closely, and, if any of them had their
"palates down," she would catch up a little clump of hair right on top
of their heads and wrap it around as tightly as she could with a
string, and then, catching hold of this "top-knot," she would pull
with all her might to bring up the palate. The unlucky little "nig" in
the meanwhile kept up the most unearthly yells, for so great was the
depravity among them that they had rather have their palates down than
up. Keeping their "palate locks" tied was a source of great trouble
and worriment to Aunt Nancy.

The winter was always a great season with the children; Mammy would
let them have so many candy-stews, and they parched "goobers" in the
evenings, and Aunt Milly had to make them so many new doll's clothes,