I hope that none of my readers will be shocked at the seeming irreverence of my book, for that _intimacy _with the “Lord” was characteristic of the negroes. They believed implicitly in a Special Providence and direct punishment or reward, and that faith they religiously tried to impress upon their young charges, white or black; and “heavy, heavy hung over our heads” was the DEVIL! The least little departure from a marked-out course of morals or manners was sure to be followed by, “Nem’ min’, de deb’l gwine git yer.” And what the Lord ’lowed and what he didn’t ’low was perfectly well known to every darky. For instance, “he didn’t ’low no singin’ uv week-er-day chunes uv er Sunday,” nor “no singin’ uv reel chunes” (dance music) at any time; nor did he “’low no sassin’ of ole pussons.” The “chu’ch membahs” had their little differences of opinion. Of course they might differ on such minor points as “immersion” and “sprinklin’,” “open” or “close” communion; but when it came to such grave matters as “singin’ uv reel chunes,” or “sassin’ uv ole pussons,” Baptists and Methodists met on common ground, and stood firm. Nor did our Mammies and Aunties neglect our manners. To say “yes” or “no” to any person, white or black, older than ourselves was considered very rude; it must always be “yes, mam,” “no, mam”; “yes, sir,” “no, sir”; and those expressions are still, and I hope ever will be, characteristic of Southerners. The child-life that I have portrayed is over now; for no hireling can ever be to the children what their Mammies were, and the strong tie between the negroes and “marster’s chil’en” is broken forever. So, hoping that my book (which claims no literary merit) will serve to amuse the little folks, and give them an insight into a childhood peculiar to the South in her palmy days, without further preface I send out my volume of Plantation Child-life. LOUISE-CLARKE PYRNELLE. COLUMBUS, GA. DIDDIE, DUMPS AND TOT CHAPTER I DIDDIE, DUMPS AND TOT They were three little sisters, daughters of a Southern planter, and they lived in a big white house on a cotton plantation in Mississippi. The house stood in a grove of cedars and live-oaks, and on one side was a flower-garden, with two summer-houses covered with climbing roses and honey-suckles, where the little girls would often have tea-parties in the pleasant spring and summer days. Back of the house was a long avenue of water-oaks leading to the quarters where the negroes lived.