a-humo'in' dat boy too much, Be'y," Fannie had
replied, although she did fully as much "humo'in'" as her husband; "hit
sho' do mek' him biggety, an' a biggety po' niggah is a 'bomination
befo' de face of de Lawd; but I know 't ain't no use a-talkin' to you,
fu' you plum boun' up in dat Joe."

Her own eyes would follow the boy lovingly and proudly even as she
chided. She could not say very much, either, for Berry always had the
reply that she was spoiling Kit out of all reason. The girl did have the
prettiest clothes of any of her race in the town, and when she was to
sing for the benefit of the A. M. E. church or for the benefit of her
father's society, the Tribe of Benjamin, there was nothing too good for
her to wear. In this too they were aided and abetted by Mrs. Oakley, who
also took a lively interest in the girl.

So the two doting parents had their chats and their jokes at each
other's expense and went bravely on, doing their duties and spoiling
their children much as white fathers and mothers are wont to do.

What the less fortunate negroes of the community said of them and their
offspring is really not worth while. Envy has a sharp tongue, and when
has not the aristocrat been the target for the plebeian's sneers?

Joe and Kit were respectively eighteen and sixteen at the time when the
preparations for Maurice Oakley's farewell dinner to his brother Francis
were agitating the whole Hamilton household. All of them had a hand in
the work: Joe had shaved the two men; Kit had helped Mrs. Oakley's maid;
the mother had fretted herself weak over the shortcomings of a cook that
had been in the family nearly as long as herself, while Berry was stern
and dignified in anticipation of the glorious figure he was to make in
serving.

When all was ready, peace again settled upon the Hamiltons. Mrs.
Hamilton, in the whitest of white aprons, prepared to be on hand to
annoy the cook still more; Kit was ready to station herself where she
could view the finery; Joe had condescended to promise to be home in
time to eat some of the good things, and Berry--Berry was gorgeous in
his evening suit with the white waistcoat, as he directed the nimble
waiters hither and thither.

II

A FAREWELL DINNER

Maurice Oakley was not a man of sudden or violent enthusiasms.
Conservatism was the quality that had been the foundation of his
fortunes at a time when the disruption of the country had involved most
of the men of his region