"Eat all you can, now, everybody,--I got more still when you git through this. There, Jason, wait till the girls is helped,--ladies first, son,--haint you got no manners? Take some, Nancy, eat a-plenty, Rosabel, don't hold back, Narcissa, here's a good lump, Dilsey. Now, boys, pitch in,--you little fellows, Iry, Hen, Jason, take your pick first,--the big boys waits till after you,--I don't aim to see you run over. Don't be afeared, take all you need! Now Taulbee, Killis, Hose, Keats, everybody,--dive in! Just eat all you can hold, and fill up your bel--stummicks. I love to see folks eat and enjoy theirselves. No thank you, I wouldn't choose none myself,--'druther see the rest eat! I spent thirty cents on them crackers, and thirty-five on that 'ere sugar,--dag gone, I reckon a man't works hard for his money's got the right to spend it to suit him! Some folks haint fitten to live,--wants to eat up all they git theirselves; but I like to pass around mine, I do,--it makes me happy. What's the use of livin' if you can't make folks see a good time? Gee-oh, I aim to make me a big grain of money this summer, so's I can give a treat onct a month come next school; and I want every man-jack of you, and ladies too, to come every time. Dad burn ole Heck, generous never ruint nobody!" Almost unable to believe my eyes and ears, I stood, murmuring to myself, "And they say the day of miracles is past!" Nucky alone was absent from the feast, visiting Blant. On his return, there was a surprising change in his demeanor. He appeared to have shed several years of age and care, played boisterously about the yard, got into two or three fights, and a short while after we began reading to-night leaped from his chair to the table, where he executed a wild war-dance. All of which distressed me not a little, and seemed perfectly unaccountable. The thought that he was sitting beside me, and leaning his head on my shoulder, for probably the last time, was eating into my heart; and his carelessness of the fact hurt me deeply. But of course parting means little to the very young. XXVIII "KEEPS" _Tuesday._