"Don't make too many promises, Pomp," kindly replied Mr. Smith; "we
will both try to do better; at any rate, you shall not be punished
this time. Now take your leave of your kind little friends, and let's
get towards home; we are losing lots of time this fine day."
"Good-bye, little misses," said Uncle Pomp, grasping Diddie's hand in
one of his and Dumps's in the other; "good-bye; I gwine pray fur yer
bof ev'y night wat de Lord sen'; an', mo'n dat, I gwine fotch yer some
pattridge aigs de fus' nes' wat I fin's."
And Uncle Pomp mounted the donkey that Dilsey had ridden, and rode off
with his master, while Diddie and Dumps climbed on top of the fence to
catch the last glimpse of them, waving their sun-bonnets and calling
out,
"Good-bye, Mr. Tight-fis' Smith and Uncle Pomp."
CHAPTER XV
THE FOURTH OF JULY
"THE glorious Fourth" was always a holiday on every Southern
plantation, and, of course, Major Waldron's was no exception to the
rule. His negroes not only had holiday, but a barbecue, and it was a
day of general mirth and festivity.
On this particular "Fourth" the barbecue was to be on the banks of the
creek formed by the back-waters of the river, and was to be a
"fish-fry" as well as a barbecue.
All hands on the plantation were up by daylight, and preparing for the
frolic.
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