nce afterwards in the barn, and the wedding supper was
to be set in the laundry.

So you see it was a busy day, with so much of cake-baking and icing and
trimming to be done; and then the girls had to see about their dresses
for the evening, and the young men had their shoes to black, and their
best clothes to brush, and their hair to unwrap; but, notwithstanding
all this, when Major Waldron and his family entered the chapel they
found a large congregation assembled; indeed, all were there except the
sick; and master and slaves, the white children and black, united their
hearts and voices to

"Laud and magnify His holy name,"

and to return thanks to God for his great Christmas gift of a Saviour to
the world.

As they were leaving the chapel after service, Dumps drew close to her
mother and whispered,

"Mamma, bein' as this is Chris'mas, an' it's rainin', can't we have some
of the little quarter niggers to go to the house and play Injuns with
us?"

Mamma was about to refuse, for the little girls were not allowed to play
with the quarter children; but Dumps looked very wistful, and, besides,
Mammy would be with them in the nursery, so she consented, and each of
the children were told that they might select one of the little negroes
to play with them.

Diddie took a little mulatto girl named Agnes. Dumps had so many
favorites that it was hard for her to decide; but finally she selected
Frances, a lively little darky, who could dance and pat and sing and
shout, and do lots of funny things.

Tot took Polly, a big girl of fourteen, who could, and sometimes did,
take the little one on her back and trot around with her. She lifted her
now to her shoulders, and, throwing her head up and snorting like a
horse, started off in a canter to the house; while Diddie and Dumps, and
Chris and Riar, and Agnes and Frances followed on behind, all barking
like dogs, and making believe that Tot was going hunting and they were
the hounds.

"See, Mammy, here's Agnes and Polly and Frances," said Diddie, as they
entered the nursery; "mamma let us have them, and they are to stay here
a long time and play Injuns with us."

"Now, Miss Diddie, honey," said Mammy, "Injuns is sich a sackremenchus
play, an' makes so much litter and fuss; git yer dolls, an' play like er
little lady."

"No, no, no," interrupted Dumps; "we're goin' ter play Injuns! We're
goin' ter make out we're travellin' in the big rockin'-cheer, goin' ter
New Orleans, a