But after the dinner was over, and after the darkies had played and
danced until quite late, and after the ladies and gentlemen had had
several very interesting games of euchre and whist, and after the
little folks had wandered about as much as they pleased-- swinging on
grape-vines and riding on "saplings," and playing "base" and "stealing
goods," and tiring themselves out generally-- and after they had been
all duly stowed away in the spring-wagon and had started for home,
then Mammy began at Dumps about her unpardonable appetite.
"But I was hungry, Mammy," apologized the little girl.
"I don't cyer ef'n yer wuz," replied Mammy; "dat ain't no reason fur
yer furgittin' yer manners, an' stuffin' yerse'f right fo' all de
gemmuns. Miss Diddie dar, she burhavt like er little lady, jes kinter
foolin' wid her knife an' fork, an' nuber eatin' nuffin' hardly; an'
dar you wuz jes ir pilin' in shotes an' lams an' squ'ls, an' roas'n
yurs, an' pickles an' puddin's an' cakes an' watermillions, tell I wuz
dat shame fur ter call yer marster's darter!"
And poor little Dumps, now that the enormity of her sin was brought
home to her, and the articles eaten so carefully enumerated, began to
feel very much like a boa-constrictor, and the tears fell from her
eyes as Mammy continued:
"I done nust er heap er chil'en in my time, but I ain't nuber seed no
white chile eat fo de gemmuns like you duz.
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