Old "Mammies" strive for the honour of having Daddy and Bradshaw sup
at their cabins, taunting each other on the spareness of their meal.
Fires are soon lit, the stew-pans brought into requisition, and the
smoke, curling upward among a myriad of mosquitoes, is dispersing
them like a band of unwelcome intruders; while the corn-mills rattle
and rumble, making the din and clatter more confounding. Daddy and
Bradshaw being "aristocratic darkies from the city"-caste being
tenaciously kept up among negroes-were, of course, recipients of the
choicest delicacies the plantation afforded, not excepting fresh
eggs poached, and possum. Bradshaw is particularly fond of ghost
stories; and as old Maum Nancy deals largely in this article, as
well as being the best believer in spectres on the plantation, he
concludes to sup with her, in her hospitable cabin, when she will
relate all that she has seen since she last saw him. Maum Nancy is
as black as a crow, has a rich store of tales on hand; she will
please the old man, more particularly when she tells him about the
very bad ghost seen about the mansion for more than "three weeks of
nights." He has got two sarpents' heads; Maum Nancy declares the
statement true, for uncle Enoch "seen him,"-he is a grey ghost-and
might a' knocked him over with his wattle, only he darn't lest he
should reek his vengeance at some unexpected moment. And then he was
the very worst kind of a ghost, for he stole all the chickens, not
even leaving the feathers. They said he had a tail like the thing
Mas'r Sluck whipped his "niggers" with. Bradshaw sups of Maum
Nancy's best, listening to her stories with great concern. The story
of the ghost with two heads startles him; his black picture, frame
fills with excitement; he has never before heard that ghosts were
guilty of predatory crimes. So enchained and excited is he with her
story, that the party at the house having finished supper, have made
preparations to leave for the city. A finger touches him on the
shoulder; he startles, recognises Daddy, who is in search of him,
and suddenly becomes conscious that his absence has caused great
anxiety. Daddy has found him quietly eating Maum Nancy's cakes,
while intently listening to the story about the ghost "what" steals
all her chickens. He is quite unconcerned about Mas'r,
Missus-anything but the ghost! He catches his cap, gives Nancy's
hand a warm shake, says God bless 'em, hastens for the mansion,
finds the carriage waiting at the door, for Mas'r and Missus, who
take their seats as he arrives. Bradshaw mounts the box again, and
away it rolls down the oak avenue. The happy party leave for home;
the plantation people are turned out en masse to say good bye to
Missus, and "hope Mas'r get safe home." Their greetings sound forth
as the carriage disappears in the distance; fainter and fainter the
good wish falls upon their ears. They are well on the road; Mr.
Scranton, who sits at the side of the good lady, on the back seat,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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