"
And so you see the giving of the vermifuge consumed considerable time.
After that was through with she would begin again at the head of the
line, and making each child open its mouth to its fullest extent, she
would examine each throat closely, and, if any of them had their
"palates down," she would catch up a little clump of hair right on top
of their heads and wrap it around as tightly as she could with a
string, and then, catching hold of this "top-knot," she would pull
with all her might to bring up the palate. The unlucky little "nig" in
the meanwhile kept up the most unearthly yells, for so great was the
depravity among them that they had rather have their palates down than
up. Keeping their "palate locks" tied was a source of great trouble
and worriment to Aunt Nancy.
The winter was always a great season with the children; Mammy would
let them have so many candy-stews, and they parched "goobers" in the
evenings, and Aunt Milly had to make them so many new doll's clothes,
to "keep them quiet," as Dumps said; and such romps and games as they
would have in the old nursery!
There were two rooms included in the nursery-- one the children's
bedroom and the other their playroom, where they kept all their toys
and litter; and during the winter bright wood fires were kept up in
both rooms, that the children might not take cold, and around both
fireplaces were tall brass fenders that were kept polished till they
shone like gold.
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