" She had great faith in the curative properties of a very
nauseous vermifuge that she had made herself by stewing some kind of
herbs in molasses, and every morning she would administer a
teaspoonful of it to every child under her care; and she used to say,
"Ef'n hit want fur dat furmifuge, den marster wouldn't hab all dem
niggers w'at yer see hyear."
Now, I don't know about that; but I do know that the little darkies
would rather have had fewer "niggers" and less "furmifuge;" for they
acted shamefully every time they were called upon to take a dose. In
the first place, whenever Aunt Nancy appeared with the bottle and
spoon, as many of the children as could get away would flee for their
lives, and hide themselves behind the hen-coops and ash-barrels, and
under the cabins, and anywhere they could conceal themselves.
But that precaution was utterly useless, for Aunt Nancy would make
them all form in a line, and in that way would soon miss any
absentees; but there were always volunteers to hunt out and run down
and bring back the shirkers, who, besides having to take the
vermifuge, would get a whipping into the bargain.
And even after Aunt Nancy would get them into line and their hands
crossed behind their backs, she would have to watch very closely, or
some wicked little "nig" would slip into the place of the one just
above him, and make a horrible face, and spit, and wipe his mouth as
if he had just taken his dose; and thereby the one whose place he had
taken would have to swallow a double portion, while he escaped
entirely; or else a scuffle would ensue, and a very animated
discussion between the parties as to who had taken the last dose; and
unless it could be decided satisfactorily, Aunt Nancy would administer
a dose to each one; for, in her opinion, "too much furmifuge wuz
better'n none.
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