Old Times in Dixie Land Part 6

Vine put on no mourning in her widowhood, for such a thing as crepe was unattainable in those days. The girls in the neighborhood came and stayed with her by turns, and did all they could to divert her mind from her loss.

In a short time even punctilious Miss Eliza rejoiced to perceive some return of Vine's former cheerfulness. She said it was sad enough and bad enough to have a horrible war raging and ravaging over the country, without insisting that a delicate young thing like Lavinia should go on forever moping herself to death in unavailing grief. There was no need of anything of the kind. While wishing her niece to avoid "getting herself talked about," Miss Eliza yet thought it needful, right and proper that she should take some diversion and some healthy amus.e.m.e.nt. So it came to pa.s.s after awhile that one day all the officers and soldiers who were temporarily at home, and all the young ladies living on the river, were invited to dine together at Beechwood.

The day was cool and delightful, with just a tinge of winter in the air.

Extensive fields, where hundreds of bales of cotton and thousands of barrels of corn had been grown annually, were now given up to weeds, briars and snakes. Here and there in protected nooks and corners cl.u.s.ters of tall golden-rod or blue and purple wild asters waved their heads. Only one small patch of ripened corn near the dwelling indicated that the inhabitants had not entirely forgotten seed-time and might possibly have hope of even a tiny harvest later on.

It was eleven o'clock before Vine had finished the work of decorating her parlors. She felt weary from the unusual exertion, but remembering her duties to her expected guests, she ran to the window overlooking the kitchen and called, "Becky, Becky, you know who are to be here; now do have everything all right for dinner; and, Becky, please keep the children quiet, for I should like to take a nap before I dress."

"Y'as'm," said the woman, while a shade of care came into her honest face, as she regarded the two children playing in the corner of the kitchen. "I 'clar to Gawd, dat's jes' like Miss Vine, she's done got in de bed dis minit and lef' me wid bofe dese chillun on my han's, en she knows, mitey well, dat um got a heap to tend ter, dis day. She tole me dat she wus gwine to he'p me, she did, en it's de Gawd's trufe dat she ain't done er spec of er blessed thing ceppin gether dem bushes and flowers, en Captain Prince he hope her at dat. Now, ef she had put her han' to de vegables, dat would er ben sumpin. Flowers will do for purty and niceness, but you cayent eat 'em, en you cayent drink 'em. Dey're des here to-day and gone all to pieces to-morrow; whut good is dey anyhow? a whole kyart load of um don't mount ter er hill er beans. Well," she continued, "I jes' won't blame de young creetur, but Gawd ermitey only knows when all dem white folks will set down ter dat ar dinner Miss Vine done 'vited 'em ter come here en eat! Here, Beth," said she kindly to the little girl, "clam up on dis stool, honey, by dis table; um gwine ter fix yo a nice roas' tater in a minit. Yo, Dan," she called out sharply to the boy, "yo jes' stop mashin' dat cat's tail wid dat cheer 'fo' he scratch yo to deff! Min', I tell yer! It jes' looks like Miss Vine wouldn't keer ef I bust my brains er wukin'; but I ain't er gwine to do dat fer n.o.body. Well, not fer _strange_ white folks, anyhow."

Here Beth with a mouthful of sweet potato asked for water. Becky promptly dipped a gourd full and held it to her lips grumbling all the while, "Lamb O' Gawd, how in de name er goodness is I gwine ter wait on dese chillun, wash up dese dishes, put on dinner, en fetch all de wood from de wood pile?" As she stood contemplating her manifold duties, she heard the clock in the house striking the hour. "Lord, Gawd," said she, "ef it ain't twelve o'clock er 'ready, en sh.o.r.e nuff here comes all dem white folks jes' a gallopin' up de big road. Eh--eh--eh--well, dey'll wait twell em ready fur 'em, dat's all. But I does wish Miss Vine was mo' like her mar.

Ole Mis' wouldn't never dremped 'bout 'viten a whole pasel er folks here, widout havin' pigs, and po'try, pies and cakes, en sich, all ready, de day befo'. She had plenty on all sides an' plenty ter do de work too. Now here's Miss Vine she's after havin' her own fun. Well, she's right, you hear me, n.i.g.g.ahs!"

"You ain't talkin' to me, Aunt Becky," said Beth; "I ain't no n.i.g.g.e.r." The woman laughed, dropped her dishcloth on the unswept floor, grasped the child and tossed her up several times over her head. "Gawd bless dis smart chile! no, dat yo ain't! yo is a sweet, little, white angel outen heaben, you is dat, you purty little white pig!"

In the height of this performance Monroe came to the door and thrust in an enormous turkey just killed. Seeing what was going on he exclaimed: "Why, Aunt Becky, yo better stop playing wid dat white chile en pick dis turkey 'fo' Miss Eliza happen 'long here en ketch yer."

"Shet yo mouf, en git out o' dis kitchen, boy; you cayent skeer me; I can give you as good es you can sen' any day. De white folks knows I ain't got but two han's and can't do a hundred things in a minit." She put the child down, however, and resumed her dish washing.

The girls in the meantime had retouched their disheveled curls and joined the young men in the parlor, where for a time music, songs and dances made the hours fly. Let us play "Straw," said Nelly Jones.

"No, let Captain Prince lead and choose the game," said Arabella.

So the captain seated the company in line. "Now," said he, "not one of you must crack a smile on pain of forfeit, and when I say prepare to pucker, you must all do so,"--drawing out as he spoke the extraordinary aperture in his own good-natured face, extending his lips into an automatic, gigantic, wooden smirk reaching almost from ear to ear. Everybody giggled of course, but he went on: "I shall call out 'Pucker,' and you must instantly face about with your mouths fixed this way"--and he drew up his wonderful feature small enough to dine with the stork out of a jar. The company shouted, but the game was never played, for reproof and entreaty, joined to the captain's word of command, failed to get them beyond a preparatory attempt which ended always in screams of laughter.

The sun was getting low in the west when another want began to appeal to the inner consciousness of these young persons. Some of them had ridden for miles in the morning air; since then they had sung and danced and laughed in unlimited fashion. Now they began to think of some other refreshment. Arabella ventured to request that Captain Prince be sent to the kitchen to reconnoiter and bring in a report from the commissary department. The captain responded amiably, and said she was a sensible young lady. "Vine, ain't you hungry?" asked Arabella. "Oh, I took some luncheon before you came," replied she; "if you will go up-stairs and look in the basket under my dressing table, you will find some sandwiches, but not enough for all." The girl flew up-stairs.

When Captain Prince returned the girls rushed forward and overpowered him with questions. He threw up his hands deprecatingly and waved off his noisy a.s.sailants. "Stop, stop, young ladies, I will make my report. I went round to the kitchen and found Aunt Becky behind the chimney ripping off the feathers of a turkey so big" (holding his hands nearly a yard apart).

"I got a coal o' fire to light my pipe, then I made a memorandum." Here he pulled out an old empty pocketbook and pretended to read--"Item 1st, 'Fowl picking at three o'clock,' that means dinner at six. Can you wait that long?"

"Never!" cried the girls.

"Well, we must then go into an election for a new housekeeper who will go in person or send a strong committee who will whoop up the cook and expedite the meal which is to refresh these fair ladies and brave men,"--and he began to count them.

"Don't number me in your impolite crowd," said Arabella, "for I am content to wait until dinner is ready." Vine gave her a meaning smile and went up pleadingly to the captain, rolling her fine eyes in the innocent, sweet way characteristic of some of the most fascinating of her s.e.x, and begging him to continue to be the life and soul of her party, as he always was everywhere he went: she said if he would "start something diverting," she would go and stir Becky up and have dinner right off--she would, "honest Indian."

These girls were not sufficiently polite to keep up a pleased appearance when bored. Such little artificialities of society belonged to the days of peace. They flatly refused to dance, saying they were tired. One avowed that she was sorry she had persuaded her mother to let her come to such a poky affair, and another declared that she had never been anywhere in her whole lifetime before where there was not cake, fruit, candy, popcorn, pindars, or something handed round when dinner was as late as this. "Oh,"

said Nelly Jones, "I wish I had a good stalk of sugar-cane." In fact a cloud seemed to settle down in the parlors like smoke in murky weather.

Captain Prince stroked his blond goatee affectionately and looked serious, but brightening up in a moment he crossed the wide hall and entered the library where Major Bee was writing. He captured the major, brought him and introduced him to the ladies, and then seated him in a capacious arm-chair, while he held a whispering conference with Nelly Jones. Nelly's wardrobe was the envy and admiration of all the girls on the river. Being the daughter of a cotton speculator, she wore that rare article, a new dress. Unlike Arabella, whose jacket was cut from the best part of an old piano cover, she was arrayed in fine purple cashmere trimmed with velvet and gold b.u.t.tons, and was otherwise ornamented with a heavy gold chain and a little watch set with diamonds. Nelly took the captain's arm and made a low bow to Major Bee, and the girls were once more on the _qui vive_ when they heard the captain say in slow and measured tones, "I have come with the free and full consent of this young lady to ask you to join us for life in the bonds of matrimony." The amiable old major seemed ready to take part in this dangerous pastime, for gentle dulness ever loves a joke.

"Bring me a prayer book," said he, "if you please."

"I lent my mother's prayer book," said Vine, "to old Mrs. Simpson two years ago, and she never returned it--the mean old thing!"

The major next asked for a broom which he held down before the couple saying, "Jump over."

"Hold it lower," said Nelly, and they stepped over in a business-like manner.

"Now," said Major Bee, "I solemnly p.r.o.nounce you husband and wife, and I hope and trust that you will dwell together lovingly and peacefully until you die. I have at your request tied this matrimonial knot as tight as I possibly could, under the circ.u.mstances, and I hope you will neither of you ever cause me to regret that I have had the pleasure of taking part in this highly dignified and honorable ceremony."

Then the old major kissed the bride, whom he had always petted from childhood, and shook hands with Captain Prince, whom Nelly refused the privilege accorded the major, for said she, "there was no kissing in the bargain." The company crowded around with noisy congratulations; a sofa was drawn forward, and the mock bridal couple sat in state and entertained their guests.

"My dear," remarked the bride, "I expected to make a tour when I was married."

"Yes, miss,"--he corrected himself quickly,--"yes, madam, I think as there are no steamboats that we may take a little journey up the river on a raft."

"What kind of a raft, Captain?" asked Nelly.

"My love, I mean a steam raft. I will take the steam along in a jug."

Nelly made a terrible grimace of disgust and was silent for a moment, her mind still dwelling on the bridal tour. "Captain, you know we must have money for traveling expenses," said she.

"Yes, darling, it takes that very thing, so I will spout your fine watch and chain, and then we can find ourselves on wheels."

Nelly drew down the corners of her pretty mouth, pouted her lips and looked more disgusted than ever. To them it was all very funny.

"My dearest, I fear when your mother hears the news she will say 'Poor Nelly, she has thrown herself away!'" and the captain actually blushed at this vision of Mrs. Jones's disapprobation.

"Keep the ball rolling, Captain," said Billy Morris, "this sport is splendid."

The captain fixed his keen eye on Billy's large, standing collar and asked, "Did you ever see a small dog trotting along in high oats?

Well,"--surveying his person--"I have."

"Come now, Captain," replied Billy, "I'll allow you some privileges, being just married, but you must pa.s.s your wit around. I've had enough. Don't compare your single unmarried friend to a dog."

Dinner was then announced and the party were soon seated at table. That king of edible birds, the turkey savory and brown, was placed at one end, and a fresh stuffed ham stood at the other, while the vegetables filled up the intervening s.p.a.ce. A large bunch of zinnias and amaranthus set in a broken pitcher formed a gay center-piece. The dessert was egg-nogg, and Confederate pound-cake made from bolted cornmeal. The dinner was concluded with a cup of genuine coffee. Notwithstanding the late meal, never had there been a merrier day at old Beechwood. Healths to the absent ones were drunk from the single silver goblet of egg-nogg allowed for each guest.

The girls did not relish this mixture made of crude and fiery Louisiana rum, but the soldiers were not so fastidious; they said they often had occasion to repeat the remark of the Governor of North Carolina to the Governor of South Carolina that "it was a long time between drinks."

Monroe removed the dishes and retired to the kitchen while the guests lingered over the dessert. The cook sat and looked down the river. The window commanded a view for two miles. Her work was done and she manifested her relief by breaking into singing these words:

"John saw, J-o-h-n saw, John saw de holy number Settin' roun de golden altar.

Golden chariot come fer me, come fer me, Golden chariot come fer me, Childun didn't he rise?"

She had commenced the second verse, "John saw," when suddenly her jaws fell, and springing up she exclaimed: "Jesus marster! what's dat? Look!

Everybody! Here comes er gunboat, en Riley's house is er fire. Don't yer see it bu'nin! Run, boy, run, en call Miss Vine! Tell Mis Lizer! Go dis minit an' let 'em all know, I tell yer!" "Set right down, set down, Aunt Becky! 'tain't none er my business to tell nuthin'. Set right down, 'oman, en let dem white folks 'lone," and the man seized her and pushed her with all his force towards the chair.

The woman turned fiercely upon him and planted a blow on the side of his head which sent him headlong on the floor. "Look er-heah, boy, who is you foolin' wid, anyhow? You think yerself a man, does yer when yous er born fool! I let you know it tuck de tightest overseer ole marster ever had on dis plantashun to rule me. No n.i.g.g.e.r like you better try ter tackle Becky.

I'll double you up an fling you outer dis winder in no time. You neenter tell nuthin. I'll go tell 'em--I'll go ef Gawd spars me to git dar. I nussed Miss Vine; dat gal used to suck dese yere"--and Becky eloquently placed her hands on her round ebony bosom, as she broke into a full run from the kitchen door. She entered the dining-room crying out in breathless, agitated tones, "Look heah, people, thar's a big gunboat er comin' up de river en Riley's house is er-fire!"

In an instant confusion and utter consternation reigned. "Good G.o.d!"

exclaimed Vine, "and here's all mother's silver! Like a fool I dug it up out of the garden this morning. Here, Aunt Becky, help me gather it up."

The woman soon rattled a pile of spoons and forks into a dishpan. "No, no," screamed Vine, "don't wash them, let me hide them, quick, somewhere!"

The officers and soldiers had disappeared, and in ten minutes the only male creatures to be seen on the place were Monroe and the baby. The man was in fine spirits while engaged in a.s.sisting the young ladies to mount their horses. "Take kere, Miss Em'ly, dis is a skittish little creole pony, and you rides wid too loose a rein." To another he said, "'Fore Gawd, Miss Jinnie, I hates to see a white lady like you a-riden' uv er mule, I does dat, en er man's saddle too! Eh, eh!" "You never mind," the girl replied; "my pony and both our side-saddles were carried off by the last raid from Morganza, and I had no choice but to use my brother's saddle and this mule or stay at home. Cut me a good stick, Monroe, and I shall get along." "Well, you'll need a stick," said Monroe, "wid dat lazy ole mule, ef you 'spects to see home dis night."

One of the horses jerked away every time he was led up to the steps, but the man was patient with him, only remarking, "Dis hoss been brutalized 'bout de head by somebody 'twel he's a plum fool. Jump quick, Miss Nelly, while um er holdin' him fer ye." The girl sprang to her saddle, adjusted her dress, and directed the man to spread a folded shawl for her sister to ride behind. "Well, well," said he, "dis beats de bugs, to see white ladies what's used to rollin' 'long in der carriages a-ridin' double like dis!" "We don't care," said they, as the party started off gaily down the road.

After the last departure Monroe went to talk over the eventful day with Becky. No allusion was made to such a small matter as a pa.s.sing blow, and the man sat down by the fire grinning with real enjoyment.