ter that
the bushels of corn poured in thick and fast, and for the rest of the
day the Elmer Mill continued its pleasant work of charity.

As the novelty of watching the mill at work wore off, the people began
to stroll towards the grove near the sulphur spring, in which an
odd-looking structure had been erected the day before, and now
attracted much attention. It was a long, low shed, or booth, built of
poles thatched with palm-leaves woven so close that its interior was
completely hidden. Mrs. Elmer, Mrs. Bevil, Mrs. Carter, Ruth, Grace,
and Aunt Chloe were known to be inside, but what they were doing was a
mystery that no one could solve.

"Reckon dey's a-fixin' up sandwitches," said one.

"Yo' g'way, chile! Who ebber heerd ob sich nonsens? 'Tain't no witches
ob no kine; hits somefin' to eat, I tell yo'. I kin smell hit," said an
old aunty, who sniffed the air vigorously as she spoke.

This opinion was strengthened when Aunt Chloe appeared at the entrance
of the booth, before which hung a curtain of white muslin, and in a
loud voice commanded all present to provide themselves "wif palmetter
leafs fo' plateses, an' magnole leafs fo' cupses."

When all had so provided themselves, they were formed, two by two, into
a long procession by several young colored men whom Mr. Elmer had
appointed to act as marshals, the white curtain was drawn aside, and
they were invited to march into the booth. As they did so, a sight
greeted their eyes that caused them to give a sort of suppressed cheer
of delight. The interior was hung and trimmed with great bunches of
sweet-scented swamp azalea, yellow jasmine, and other wild spring
flowers, of which the woods were full. But it was not towards the
flowers that all eyes were turned, nor they that drew forth the
exclamations of delight; it was the table, and what it bore. It reached
from one end of the booth to the other, and was loaded with such a
variety and quantity of good things as none of them had ever seen
before. On freshly-cut palm leaves were heaped huge piles of brown
crullers, and these were flanked by pans of baked beans. Boiled hams
appeared in such quantities that Uncle Silas Brim was heard to say,
"Hit do my ole heart good to see sich a sight ob hog meat."

Every bit of space not otherwise occupied was filled with pies and
cakes. Knives and forks had been provided for everybody, and there were
a few tin cups which were reserved for coffee. As plates were very
scarce,