spire. All was bustle and commotion. Every one
seemed to have a personal interest in the affair. The slaves talked and
sang about it as they worked in the fields, and renewed the gossip in
the evening around their cabin doors.

Aunt Nancy, the cook, attired in a dress spotlessly clean, a bright red
bandanna tied around her head, was more pompous and dictatorial than
ever. Her helpers had been increased for the event, and she issued her
commands with a force which would have done credit to a skipper on a
quarter-deck. Often she scolded those around her, but her anger was
more apparent than real, and while she smote right and left with one
hand, with the other soon after she patted and petted the object of her
wrath.

To her children: "You, Dick and Jim, git away frum under my feet. If
yo' little niggers don't cl'ar out frum dis room, ah'll beat yer wooly
heads togedder. How kin Ah see dat dis cake gits jest de right brown,
if yo' keep askin' me fer cookies an' things! Take dat--boxing their
ears--an' march out doors."

The boys ducked a second blow, and rushing into the yard, each turned a
somersault, and grinned the content he felt. Then they began to sing:

"O Miss Lu! sugar in 'er shoe,
Show me de hole whar de hog jump fru."

For days the preparations for the marriage feast went on. Such baking,
boiling, and every form of cooking, was never seen in "Mount Pisgah"
before.

Judge and Madam LeMonde had many things to occupy hand and brain, but
still they gave much thought to the time when they should be parted
from their only daughter. She and George were the idols of their
hearts. To lose one from the home even to gain a preacher-son was an
experience bringing pain and sorrow. Still their judgment confirmed
the step; for, if they were to have the sadness of separation, they
were to have the deep satisfaction of giving their daughter to a
greater service.

Miss Viola was busy most of the time preparing her trousseau. Many of
the garments were made to order in Lexington, but much fancy work on
delicate fabrics was done by the bride-to-be.

The great day dawned at last. A holiday had been given to all the
slaves on the plantation. The Judge decided to spare no expense in
making the occasion as pleasant as possible. He had instructed his
black people to have a barbecue at their quarters. Some of our readers
are benighted as to the meaning of that great word. How shall we
enlighten their ignorance? Words a