logs before two o'clock. Let
it burn to coals--have a log fire some little way off to supply fresh
coals at need. Lay a breadth of galvanized chicken-wire--large
mesh--over the trench. Take out carcass--split it half down back bone,
lay it flesh side down, on the wire grid, taking care coals are so
evenly spread there is no scorching. After an hour begin basting with
"the sop." It is made thus. Best butter melted, one pound, black pepper
ground, quarter pound, red pepper pods, freed of stalk and cut fine to
almost a paste, half a pint, strong vinegar, scant pint, brandy, peach
if possible though apple or grape will answer, half a pint. Cook all
together over very slow heat or in boiling water, for fifteen minutes.
The sop must not scorch, but the seasoning must be cooked through it.
Apply with a big soft swab made of clean old linen, but not old enough
to fray and string. Baste meat constantly. Put over around four in the
morning, the barbecue should be done, and well done, by a little after
noon. There should be enough sop left to serve as gravy on portions
after it is helped. The meat, turned once, has a fine crisped surface,
and is flavored all through with the mint, and seasoning.

[Illustration: _Soap and Candles_]

Dip-candles I never saw in common use--but Mammy showed me how they were
made back at Ole Marster's, in the days when candle-molds were not to be
had. Dipped or molded, the candles were of varying substance. Tallow was
the main reliance--mutton tallow as well as that from our beeves. It was
tried out fresh, and hardened with alum in the process. The alum was
dissolved in a little water, and put with the raw fat as it went over
the fire. By and by the water all cooked away, leaving the alum well
incorporated through the clear fat. Lacking it, a little clear lye went
in--Mammy thought and said, the lye ate up the oil in the tallow, making
it firmer and whiter. But lye and alum could not go in at the same time,
since being alkaline and acid, they would destroy each other.

Great pains were taken not to scorch the tallow--that meant smelly and
ill-colored candles. After straining it clear of cracklings, it was
caked in something deep, then turned out and laid on the highest shelf
in the lumber house to await molding time. Cakes of beeswax were kept in
the Jackson press, so children, white and black, could not take bites
for chewing. It ranked next to native sweet gum for such uses--but Mammy
felt