The supper was enjoyed hugely, particularly a big bowl of eggnog,
which so enlivened them all that the dancing was entered into with
renewed vigor, and kept up till the gray tints in the east warned them
that another day had dawned, and that Christmas was over.
But you may be sure that in all Christendom it had been welcomed in
and ushered out by no merrier, lighter hearts than those of the happy,
contented folks on the old plantation.
CHAPTER III
MAMMY'S STORY
ONE cold, rainy night a little group were assembled around a crackling
wood fire in the nursery; Mammy was seated in a low chair, with Tot in
her arms; Dumps was rocking her doll back and forth, and Diddie was
sitting at the table reading; Aunt Milly was knitting, and the three
little darkies were nodding by the fire.
"Mammy," said Dumps, "s'posin you tell us a tale." Tot warmly seconded
the motion, and Mammy, who was never more delighted than when
astonishing the children with her wonderful stories, at once assumed a
meditative air. "Lem me see," said the old woman, scratching her head;
"I reckon I'll tell yer 'bout de wushin'-stone, ain't neber told yer
dat yit. I know yer've maybe hearn on it, leastways Milly has; but den
she mayn't have hearn de straight on it, fur 'taint eb'y nigger knows
it.
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