In Old Plantation Days

In Old Plantation Dayshttps://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdaysOpen TextbookWed, 23 Feb 2022 18:29:33 +0000en-US1.2https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays25112991https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.1<![CDATA[Aunt Tempe's Triumph]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/aunt-tempes-triumph/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 16:01:01 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=55It was in the glow of an April evening when Aunt Tempe came out on the veranda to hold a conference with her master, Stuart Mordaunt. She had evidently been turning some things over in her mind. For months there had been talk on the plantation, but nobody knew the inside of what was going on quite so well as she, for was she not Miss Eliza's mammy? Had she not cared for her every day of her life, from her birth until now, and was she not still her own child, her "Lammy?" Indeed, at first she had entirely opposed the marriage of her young mistress to anybody, and had discouraged the attentions of young Stone Daniels when she thought he was "spa'kin' roun'"; but when Miss Eliza laid her head on her breast and blushingly told her all about she surrendered. And the young mistress seemed as happy over mammy's consent as she had been over her father's blessing. Mammy knew all the traditions of the section, and the histories of all the families thereabouts, and for her to set the seal of approval upon young Daniels was the final glory. The preparations for the great wedding had gone on merrily. There was only a little time now before the auspicious day. Aunt Tempe, chief authority and owner-in-general, had been as busily engaged as any one. As the time had come nearer and nearer, though, her trouble had visibly increased, and it was the culmination of it which brought her hobbling out to chat with her master on that April evening. It must have been Maid Doshy that told her about the beautiful ceremony of giving away the bride, and described to her what a figure "Ol' Mas' " would make on the occasion, but it rankled in her mind, and she had thoughts of her own on the subject. "Look hyeah, Mas' Stua't," she said, as she settled down on the veranda step at his feet; "I done come out hyeah to 'spute wid you." "Well, Aunt Tempe," said Mordaunt placidly, "it won't be the first time; you've been doing that for many years. The fact is, half the time I don't know who's running this plantation, you or I. You boss the whole household round, and "the quarters" mind you better than they do the preacher. Plague take my buttons if I don't think they're afraid you'll conjure them!" "Conju'! Who conju'? Me conju'? Wha's de mattah wid you, Mas' Stua't? You know I ain't long haided. Ef I had 'a' been, you know I'd 'a' wo'ked my roots long 'fo' now on ol' Lishy, we'en he tuk up wid dat No'ton ooman." This had happened twenty-five years before, but Stuart Mordaunt knew that it was still a sore subject with the old woman this desertion by her husband so he did not pursue the unpleasant matter any further. "Well, what are you going to l 'spute' with me about, Tempe? Ain't I running the plantation right? Or ain't your mistress behaving herself as she ought to?" "I do wish you'd let me talk; you des' keep a-jokin' an' a runnin' on so dat a body cain't git in a wo'd aigeways." "Well, go on." "Now you know dat Miss 'Liza gwine ma'y?" "Yes, she has told me about it, though I suppose she asked your consent first." "Nemmine dat, nemmine dat, you hyeah me. Miss 'Liza gwine ma'y." "Yes, unless young Daniels runs off, or sees a girl he likes better." "Sees a gal he lak' bettah! Run off! Wha's de mattah wid you?" The master laughed cheerily, and the old woman went on. "Now, we all's gwineter gin huh a big wed-din', des' lak my baby oughter have." "Of course, what else do you expect? You don't suppose I'm going to have her jump over the broom' with him, do you?" "Now, you listen to me: we's gwineter have all de doin's dat go 'long wid a weddin', ain't we?" Stuart Mordaunt struck his fist on the arm of his chair and said: "We're going to have all that the greatness of the occasion demands when a Mordaunt marries." "Da's right, da's right. She gwineter have de o'ange wreaf an' de ring?" "That's part of it." "An' she gwineter be gin' erway in right style?" asked Aunt Tempe anxiously. "To be sure." Aunt Tempe turned her sharp black eyes on her master and shot forth her next question with sudden force and abruptness. "Now, whut I wanter know, who gwineter gin huh erway?" Stuart Mordaunt straightened himself up in his chair with a motion of sudden surprise and exclaimed: "Why, Tempe, what the—what do you mean?" "I mean des' whut I say, da's whut I mean. I wanter know who gwineter gin my Miss 'Liza erway?" "Who should give her away?" The old woman folded her hands calmly across her neckerchief and made answer: "Da's des' de questun." "Why, I'm going to give my daughter away, of course." "You gwineter gin yo' darter erway, huh, is you?" Aunt Tempe questioned slowly. The tone was so full of contempt that her master turned a surprised look upon her face. She got up, put her hands behind her in an attitude of defiance, and stood there looking at him, as he sat viciously biting the end of his cigar. "You 'lows to gin huh erway, does you?" "Why, Tempe, what the—who should give her away?" "You 'lows to gin huh erway, I say?" "Most assuredly I do," he answered angrily. The old woman moved up a step higher on the porch and asked in an intense voice: "Whut business you got givin' my chile erway? Huccome you got de right to gin Miss f'Liza to anybody?" "Why—why—Tempe!" "Who is you?" exclaimed Tempe. "Who raise up dat chile? Who nuss huh th'oo de colic w'en she cried all night, an' she was so peakid you didn't know w'en you gwine lay huh erway? Huh? Who do dat? Who raise you up, an' tek keer o' you, w'en yo' ol' mammy die, an' you wa'n't able even to keep erway f'om de bee-trees? Huh? Who do dat? You gin huh erway! You gin huh erway! Da's my chile, Mas' Stua't Mo'de'nt, an' ef anybody gin huh erway at de weddin', d' ain't nobody gwine do it but ol' Tempe huhself. You hyeah me?" "But, Tempe, Tempe!" said the master, "that wouldn't be proper. You can't give your young mistress away." "P'opah er whut not, I de only one whut got de right, an' I see 'bout dat!" Mordaunt forgot that he was talking to a servant, and sprang to his feet. "Seaebout it! See about it!" he cried, "I'll let you know that I can give my own daughter away when she marries. You must think you own this whole plantation, and all the white folks and niggers on it." Aunt Tempe came up on the porch and curtsied to her master. "Nemmine, Mas' Stua't," she said; "nemmine." Her eyes were full of tears, and her voice was trembling. "Hit all right, hit all right. I 'longs to you, but Miss 'Liza, she my chile." Her voice rose again in a defiant ring, and lost its pathos as she exclaimed, "I show you who got de right to gin my chile erway!" And shaking her turbaned head, she went back into the house mumbling to herself. "Well!" said Stuart Mordaunt. "I'll be blessed!" He might have used a stronger term, but just then the black-coated figure of the rector came round the corner of the veranda. "How are you, how are you, sir!" said the Rev. Mr. Davis jocosely. "Are you the man who owns this plantation?" Mordaunt hurled his cigar down the path, and replied grimly: "I don't know; I used to think so." Meanwhile Aunt Tempe had gone into the house to tell her troubles to her young mistress. She and her Miss Eliza were mutually the bearers of each other's burdens on all occasions. She told her story, and laid her case before the bride-to-be. "Now you know, baby," she said, "ef anybody got de right to gin you erway, 'tain't nobody but me. "Yes, yes, mammy," said the young woman consolingly; "they sha'n't slight you, that they sha'n't." "No, indeed; I don't 'tend to be slighted." "I'll tell you what I'll do, mammy," said Miss Eliza; "even if you can't give me away, you'll be where Doshy and Dinah and none of the rest can be." "Whah dat, chile?" "Why, before the ceremony I'll hide you under the portieres right back of where we're going to stand in the drawing-room." "An' I cain't gin you erway, baby?" said the old woman sadly. "We'll see about that, mammy; you know nobody ever knows what's going to happen." The girl was comforting the old woman's distresses as mammy in the years gone by had quieted her childish fears. It was a putting off until to-morrow of the evils that seemed present to-day. Aunt Tempe went away seemingly satisfied, but she thought deeply, and later she visited old Brother Parker, who used to know a servant in a preacher's family, and they talked long and earnestly together one whole evening. Doshy saw them as they separated, and cried in derision: "Look hyeah, Aunt Tempe, whut you an' oP Brothah Pahkah codgin' erbout so long? 'Spec' fus' thing we knows we be gittin' slippahs an' wreafs fu you, an' you'll be follerin' Miss 'Liza's 'zample!" "Huh-uh, chile," Aunt Tempe answered, "I ain't thinkin' nothin' 'bout may'in', case I's oP, but la, chile, I oP in de haid, too!" The preparations for the wedding were completed, and the time arrived. All the elite of the surrounding country were present. Mammy was allowed to put the last touches, insignificant though they were, to the bride's costume. She wept copiously over her child, but with not so much absorption as not to be alert when Miss Eliza took her down and slipped her behind the heavy portieres. The organ pealed its march; the ceremony began and proceeded. The responses of the groom were strong, and those of the bride timid, but decisive and clear. Above all rose the resonant voice of the rector. Stuart Mordaunt had gathered himself together and straightened his shoulders and stepped forward at the words, "Who giveth this woman," when suddenly the portieres behind the bridal party were thrown asunder, and the ample form of Aunt Tempe appeared. The whole assemblage was thunderstruck. The minister paused, Mordaunt stood transfixed; a hush fell upon all of them, which was broken by the old woman's stentorian voice crying: "I does! Dat's who! I gins my baby erway!" For an instant no one spoke; some of the older ladies wiped tears from their eyes, and Stuart Mordaunt bowed and resumed his place beside his daughter. The clergyman took up the ceremony where he had left off, and the marriage was finished without any further interruption. When it was all over, neither the father, the mother, the proud groom, nor the blushing bride had one word of reproach for mammy, for no one doubted that her giving away and her blessing were as effectual and fervent as those of the nearest relative could have been. And Aunt Tempe chuckled as she went her way. "I showed 'em. I showed 'em."]]>5531post0<![CDATA[Aunt Tempe's Revenge]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/aunt-tempes-revenge/Tue, 13 Jul 2021 15:55:54 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=616132post0<![CDATA[The Walls of Jericho]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-walls-of-jericho/Tue, 13 Jul 2021 16:01:43 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=65"Some one buried in de graveyard, Some one buried in de sea, All come togethah in de mo'nin', Go soun' de Jubilee." Just the word "Jubilee" was enough to start the whole throng into agitated life, and they moaned and shouted and wailed until the forest became a pandemonium. Johnson, the preacher, saw Parker approach with the two young men and a sudden spirit of conquest took possession of him. He felt that he owed it to himself to crystallize his triumph over the elder exhorter. So, with a glance that begged for approbation, he called aloud:” “Open de baskets! Rise up, fu de Jericho walls o' sin is a-stan'in'. You 'member dey ma'ched roun' seven times, an' at de sevent' time de walls a-begun to shake an' shiver; de foundations a-begun to trimble; de chillen a-hyeahed de rum'lin' lak a thundah f om on high, an' putty soon down come de walls a-fallin' an' a-crum'lin'! Oh, brothahs an' sistahs, let us a-ma'ch erroun' de walls o' Jericho to-night seven times, an' a-eatin' o' de food dat de Lawd has pervided us wid. Dey ain't no walls o' brick an' stone a-stan'in' hyeah to-night, but by de eye o' Christian faif I see a great big wall o' sin a-stan'in' strong an' thick hyeah in ouah midst. Is we gwine to let it stan'?" "Oh, no, no!" moaned the people. "Is we gwine to ma'ch erroun' dat wall de same ez Joshuay an' his ban' did in de days of ol', ontwell we hyeah de cracklin' an' de rum'lin', de breakin' an' de taihin', de onsettlin' of de foundations an' de fallin' of de stones an' mo'tah?" Then raising his voice he broke into the song:

"Den we'll ma'ch, ma'ch down, ma'ch, ma'ch down, Oh, chillen, ma'ch down, In de day o' Jubilee."

The congregation joined him in the ringing chorus, and springing to their feet began marching around and around the inclosure, chewing vigorously in the breathing spaces of the hymn. The two young men, who were too used to such sights to be provoked to laughter, nudged each other and bent their looks upon Parker, who stood with bowed head, refusing to join in the performance, and sighed audibly. After the march Tom and Ralph started for home, and Parker went with them. "He's very effective, don't you think so, Tom?" said Ralph. "Immensely so," was the reply. "I don't know that I have ever seen such a moving spectacle." "The people seem greatly taken up with him." "Personal magnetism, that's what it is. Don't you think so, Parker?" "Hum," said Parker. "It's a wonderful idea of his, that marching around the walls of sin." "So original, too. It's a wonder you never thought of a thing like that, Parker. I believe it would have held your people to you in the face of everything. They do love to eat and march." "Well," said Parker, "you all may think what you please, but I ain't nevah made no business of mekin' a play show outen de Bible. Dem folks don't know what dey're doin'. Why, ef dem niggahs hyeahed anything commence to fall they'd taih dat place up gittin' erway f om daih. It's a wondah de Lawd don' sen' a jedgmen' on 'em fu' tu'nin' His wo'd into mockery." The two young men bit their lips and a knowing glance flashed between them. The same idea had leaped into both of their minds at once. They said no word to Parker, however, save at parting, and then they only begged that he would go again the next night of the meeting. "You must, Parker," said Ralph. "You must represent the spiritual interest of the plantation. If you don't, that man Johnson will think we are heathen or that our exhorter is afraid of him." At the name of fear the old preacher bridled and said with angry dignity: "Nemmine, ncmmine; he shan't nevah think dat. I'll be daih." Parker went alone to his cabin, sore at heart; the young men, a little regretful that they had stung him a bit too far, went up to the big house, The Walls of Jericho their heads close together, and in the darkness and stillness there came to them the hymns of the people. On the next night Parker went early to the meeting-place and, braced by the spirit of his defiance, took a conspicuous front seat. His face gave no sign, though his heart throbbed angrily as he saw the best and most trusted of his flock come in with intent faces and seat themselves anxiously to await the advent of an alien. Why had those rascally boys compelled him for his own dignity's sake to come there? Why had they forced him to be a living witness of his own degradation and of his own people's ingratitude? But Parker was a diplomat, and when the hymns began he joined his voice with the voices of the rest. Something, though, tugged at Parker's breast, a vague hoped-for something; he knew not what —the promise of relief from the tension of his jealousy, the harbinger of revenge. It was in the air. Everything was tense as if awaiting the moment of catastrophe. He found himself joyous, and when Johnson arose on the wings of his eloquence it was Parker's loud "Amen" which set fire to all the throng. Then, when the meeting was going well, when the spiritual fire had been thoroughly kindled and had gone from crackling to roaring; when the hymns were loudest and the hand-clapping strongest, the revivalist called upon them to rise and march around the walls of Jericho. Parker rose with the rest, and, though he had no basket, he levied on the store of a solicitous sister and marched with them, singing, singing, but waiting, waiting for he knew not what. It was the fifth time around and yet nothing had happened. Then the sixth, and a rumbling sound was heard near at hand. A tree crashed down on one side. White eyes were rolled in the direction of the noise and the burden of the hymn was left to the few faithful. Half way around and the bellow of a horn broke upon the startled people's ears, and the hymn sank lower and lower. The preacher's face was ashen, but he attempted to inspire the people, until on the seventh turn such a rumbling and such a clattering, such a tumbling of rocks, such a falling of trees as was never heard before gave horror to the night. The people paused for one moment and then the remains of the bread and meat were cast to the winds, baskets were thrown away, and the congregation, thoroughly maddened with fear, made one rush for the road and the quarters. Ahead of them all, his long coat-tails flying and his legs making not steps but leaps, was the Rev. Mr. Johnson. He had no word of courage or hope to offer the frightened flock behind him. Only Parker, with some perception of the situation, stood his ground. He had leaped upon a log and was crying aloud: "Stan' still, stan' still, I say, an' see de salvation," but he got only frightened, backward glances as the place was cleared. When they were all gone, he got down off the log and went to where several of the trees had fallen. He saw that they had been cut nearly through during the day on the side away from the clearing, and ropes were still along the upper parts of their trunks. Then he chuckled softly to himself. As he stood there in the dim light of the fat-pine torches that were burning themselves out, two stealthy figures made their way out of the surrounding gloom into the open space. Tom and Ralph were holding their sides, and Parker, with 3 hand on the shoulder of each of the boys, laughed unrighteously. "Well, he hyeahed de rum'lin' an' crum'lin'," he said, and Ralph gasped. "You're the only one who stood your ground, Parker," said Tom. "How erbout de walls o' Jericho now?" was all Parker could say as he doubled up. When the people came back to their senses they began to realize that the Rev. Mr. Johnson had not the qualities of a leader. Then they recalled how Parker had stood still in spite of the noise and called them to wait and see the salvation, and so, with a rush of emotional feeling, they went back to their old allegiance. Parker's meeting-house again was filled, and for lack of worshipers Mr. Johnson held no more meetings and marched no more around the walls of Jericho.]]>6533post0<![CDATA[How Brother Parker Fell from Grace]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/how-brother-parker-fell-from-grace/Wed, 14 Jul 2021 14:45:36 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=707034post0<![CDATA[The Trousers]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-trousers/Wed, 14 Jul 2021 15:01:15 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=73"Oh, sinnah, you needn't try to run erway, You sho' to be caught on de jedgment day." He sung the camp meeting "spiritual" with its powerful personal allusions all through, and then resumed his sermon. "Oh, I tell you de Gospel is a p'inted swo'd to de sinnah. Hit mek him squi'm, hit mek him shiwah and hit mek him shek. He sing loud in de day, but he hide his face at nigh' on de gret day? What do de song say?

'W'en de roc an' de mountains shell all flee erway, W'y a you shell have a new hidin' place dat day.'

Oh, sinnah man, is you a huntin' fu' de new hid in place? Is you a fixin' fu' de time w'en de rocks shell be melted an' de mountains shell run lak rivers?" Parker had settled well down to his work. As his own people would have expressed it, "He'd done tried de watah an' waded out." They were shouting and crying aloud as he talked. A low minor of moans ran around the room, punctu ated by the sharp slapping of hands and stamp ing of feet. On all sides there were cries of "Truth, truth!" "Amen!" "Amen!" and "Keep in de stream, Pahkah; keep in de stream!” This encouragement was meat to the pastor's soul and he rose on the wings of his eloquence. The sweat was pouring down his black face. He put his hand back to his pocket to pull out his handkerchief to wipe his face. It came out with a flourish, and with it a pack of cards. They flew into the air, wavered and then fluttered down like a flock of doves. Aces, jacks, queens and tens settled all about the floor grinning wickedly face upward. Parker stopped still in the midst of a sentence and gazed speechless at the guilty things before him. The people gasped. It all flashed over them in a minute. They had heard a story of their pastor's fondness for the devil's picture books in his younger days and now it had come back upon him and he had fallen once more. Here was incontestable proof. Parker, in a dazed way, put his hand again into his back pocket and brought forth the king of spades. His flock groaned. "Come down outen dat pulpit," cried one of the bolder ones. "Come down!" Then Parker found his voice. "Fo' de lawd, folks," he said, gazing sorrowfully at the king. "Dese ain't my pants ner my cyards." Then his eye fell upon Ike, who was taking advantage of the confusion to make toward the door and he thundered at him. "Come back hyeah, you rapscallion, an' claim yo' dev'ment! Come back hyeah." Ike came shamefacedly back. He came forward and commenced to pick up the cards while Parker was making his explanations to the relievcd flock. The sinner got all of the cards, except one and that one the preacher still held. "Brothah Pahkah, Brother Pahkah," he whispered, "You's a hol'in' de king." The old man dropped it as if it had burnt him and grabbing it, the scapegrace fled. Outside the door all things were explained. Several fellows with angry faces were waiting for Ike. "Couldn't he'p it, boys," he said. "He done begun sehvice w'en I got in. I couldn't stop him, an' den w'en he dropped all the res' he held on to de king." "Well, all I got to say," said the fiercest of the lot, "don' you nevah put dat deck in yo' pocket no mo' an' len' yo' pants. Come on, de game's been waitin' a houah, put' nigh."]]>7335post0<![CDATA[Acknowledgements]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=back-matter&p=77Wed, 14 Jul 2021 15:28:34 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=back-matter&p=777702post0<![CDATA[Glossary]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/back-matter/glossary/Wed, 14 Jul 2021 15:28:49 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=back-matter&p=79Public Domain Core Collection Faculty Guide.]]>7902post0<![CDATA[The Last Fiddling of Mordaunt's Jim]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-last-fiddling-of-mordaunts-jim/Wed, 14 Jul 2021 15:40:46 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=828236post0<![CDATA[A Supper by Proxy]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/a-supper-by-proxy/Wed, 14 Jul 2021 16:06:48 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=85"Mas' done gone to Philamundelphy, Juba, Juba. Lef us bacon, lef us co'n braid, Juba, Juba. Oh, Juba dis an' Juba dat, an' Juba skinned de yaller cat To mek his wife a Sunday hat, Oh, Juba!" Not long did the sounds continue to issue from isolated points. The people began drifting together, and when a goodly number had gathered at a large cabin, the inevitable thing happened. Some one brought out a banjo and a dance followed. Meanwhile, from the vantage ground of the big house, the more favored servants looked disdainfully on, and at the same time consulted together. That they should do something to entertain themselves was only right and proper. No one of ordinary intelligence could think for a moment of letting this opportunity slip without taking advantage of it. But a dance such as the quarters had! Bah! They could never think of it. That rude, informal affair! And these black aristocrats turned up their noses. No, theirs must be a grave and dignified affair, such as their master himself would have given, and they would send out invitations to some on the neighboring plantations. It was Julius, the coachman, who, after winning around the head butler, Anderson, insisted that they ought to give a grand supper. Julius would have gone on without the butler's consent had it not been that Anderson carried the keys. So the matter was canvassed and settled. The next business was the invitations, but no one could write. Still, this was a slight matter; for neatly folded envelopes were carried about to the different favored ones, containing—nothing, while at the same time the invitations were proffered by word of mouth. "Hi, dah I" cried Jim to Julius on the evening that the cards had been distributed; "I ain't seed my imbitation yit." "You needn't keep yo' eyes bucked looking fu' none, neithah," replied Julius. "Uh, puttin' on airs, is you?" "I don't caih to convuss wid you jest now, said Julius pompously. Jim guffawed. "Well, of all de sights I evah seed, a dahky coachman offen de box tryin' to look lak he on it I Go 'long, Julius, er you'll sholy kill me, man." The coachman strode on with angry dignity. It had been announced that the supper was to be a "ladies' an' gent'men's pahty," and so but few from the quarters were asked. The quarters were naturally angry and a bit envious, for they were but human and not yet intelligent enough to recognize the vast social gulf that yawned between the blacks at the "big house" and the blacks who were quartered in the cabins. The night of the grand affair arrived, and the Mordaunt mansion was as resplendent as it had ever been for one of the master's festivities. The drawing-rooms were gayly festooned, and the long dining-room was a blaze of light from the wax candles that shone on the glory of the Mordaunt plate. Nothing but the best had satisfied Julius and Anderson. By nine o'clock the outside guests began to arrive. They were the dark aristocrats of the region. It was a well-dressed assembly, too. Plump brown arms lay against the dainty folds of gleaming muslin, and white-stocked, brass-buttoned black counterparts of their masters strode up the walks. There were Dudley Stone's Gideon and Martha, Robert Curtis' Ike with Dely, and there were Quinn, and Doshy, and, over them all, Aunt Tempe to keep them straight. Of these was the company that sat down to Stuart Mordaunt's board. After some rivalry, Anderson held the head of the table, while Julius was appeased by being placed on the right beside his favorite lady. Aunt Tempe was opposite the host where she could reprove any unseemly levity or tendency to skylarking on the part of the young people. No state dinner ever began with more dignity. The conversation was nothing less than stately, and everybody bowed to everybody else every time they thought about it. This condition of affairs obtained through the soup. Somebody ventured a joke and there was even a light laugh during the fish. By the advent of the entree the tongues of the assembly had loosened up, and their laughter had melted and flowed as freely as Stuart Mordaunt's wine. "Well, I mus say, Mistah An'erson, dis is sholy a mos' salub'ious occasion." "Thank you, Mistah Cu'tis, thank you; it ah alius my endeavoh to mek my gues'es feel deyse'es at home. Let me give you some mo' of dis wine. It's f'om de bes' dat's in my cellah." "Seems lak I remembah de vintage," said Ike, sipping slowly and with the air of a connoisseur. "Oh, yes, you drinked some o' dis on de 'ca-sion of my darter's ma'ige to Mas'—to Mistah Daniels." "I ricollec' yes, I ricollec'." "Des lis'en at dem dahkies," said the voice of a listening field hand. Gideon, as was his wont, was saying deeply serious things to Martha, and Quinn whispered something in Doshy's ear that made her giggle hysterically and cry: "Now, Mr. Quinn, ain't you scan'lous? You des seem lak you possessed dis evenin'." In due time, however, the ladies withdrew, and the gentlemen were left over their cigars and cognac. It was then that one of the boys detailed to wait on the table came in and announced to the host that a tramp was without begging for something to eat. At the same instant the straggler's face appeared at the door, a poor, unkempt-looking white fellow with a very dirty face. Anderson cast a look over his shoulder at him and commanded pompously: "Tek him to de kitchen an' give him all he wants." The fellow went away very humbly. In a few minutes Aunt Tempe opened the dining-room door and came in. "An'erson," she cried in a whisper. "Madam," said the butler rising in dignity, "excuse me—but " "Hyeah, don't you come no foo'ishness wid me; I ain't no madam. I's tiahed playing fine lady. I done been out to de kitchen, an' I don' lak dat tramp's face an' fo'm." "Well, madam," said Anderson urbanely, "we haven't asked you to ma'y him." At this there was a burst of laughter from the table. "Nemmine, nemmine, I tell you, I don' lak dat tramp's face an' fo'm, an' you'd bettah keep yo' eye skinned, er you'll be laughin' on de othah side o' yo' mouf." The butler gently pushed the old lady out, but as the door closed behind her she was still saying, "I don' lak dat tramp's face an' fo'm." Unused to playing fine lady so long, Aunt Tempe deserted her charges and went back to the kitchen, but the "straggler man" had gone. It is a good thing she did not go around the veranda, where the windows of the dining-room opened, or she would have been considerably disturbed to see the tramp peeping through the blinds—evidently at the Mordaunt plate that sparkled conspicuously on the table. Anderson with his hand in his coat, quite after the manner of Stuart Mordaunt, made a brief speech in which he thanked his guests for the honor they had done him in coming to his humble home. "I know," he said, "I have done my po' bes'; but at some latah day I hopes to entertain you in a mannah dat de position an' character of de gent'men hyeah assembled desuves. Let us now jine de ladies." His hand was on the door and all the gentlemen were on their feet when suddenly the window was thrown up and in stepped the straggler. "W'y, w'y, how daih you, suh, invade my premises?" asked Anderson, casting a withering glance at the intruder, who stood gazing around him. "Leave de room dis minute!" cried Julius, anxious to be in the fray. But the tramp's eyes were fastened on Anderson. Finally he raised one finger and pointed at him. "You old scoundrel," he said in a well-known voice, as he snatched off his beard and wig and threw aside his disguising duster and stood before them. "Mas' Stu'at!" "You old scoundrel, you! I've caught you, have I?" Anderson was speechless and transfixed, but the others were not, and they had cleared that room before the master's linen duster was well off. In a moment the shuffling of feet ceased and the lights went out in the parlor. The two stood there alone, facing each other. "Mas' Stu'at." "Silence," said Mordaunt, raising his hand, and taking a step toward the trembling culprit. "Don' hit me now, Mas' Stu'at, don' hit me ontwell I's kin' o' shuk off yo' pussonality. Ef you do, it'll be des' de same ez thumpin yo'se'f." Mordaunt turned quickly and stood for a moment looking through the window, but his shoulders shook. "Well," he said, turning; "do you think you've at last relieved yourself of my personality?" "I don't know, I don't know. De gyahment sho' do fit monst'ous tight." "Humph. You take my food, you take my wine, you take my cigars, and now even my personality isn't safe. "Look here, what on earth do you mean by entertaining half the darkies in the county in my dining-room?" Anderson scratched his head and thought. Then he said: "Well, look hyeah, Mas Stu at dis hyeah wasn't rightly my suppah noways." "Not your supper! Whose was it!" "Yo'n." "Mine?" "Yes, suh." "Why, what s the matter with you, Anderson? Next thing you'll be telling me that I planned it all, and invited all those servants." "Lemme splain it, Mas', lemme splain it. Now I didn't give dat suppah as An'erson. I give it ez Mas' Stu'at Mordaunt; an' Quinn an' Ike an Gidjon, dey didn't come fu' deyse'ves, dey come fu' Mas' Cu'tis, an' Mas' Dudley Stone. Don' you un'erstan', Mas' Stu'at? We wasn' we-all, we was you-all." "That's very plain; and in other words, I gave a supper by proxy, and all my friends responded in the same manner?" "Well, ef dat means what I said, dat's it." "Your reasoning is extremely profound, Anderson. It does you great credit, but if I followed your plan I should give you the thrashing you deserve by proxy. That would just suit you. So instead of that I am going to feed you, for the next day or so, by that ingenious method. You go down and tell Jim that I want him up here early to-morrow morning to eat your breakfast." "Oh, Mas' Stu'at! Whup me, whup me, but don't tell dose dahkies in de quahtahs, an' don't sta've. me!" For Anderson loved the good things of life. "Go." Anderson went, and Mordaunt gave himself up to mirth. The quarters got their laugh out of Anderson's discomfiture. Jim lived high for a day, but rumors from the kitchen say that the butler did not really suffer on account of his supper by proxy.]]>8537post0<![CDATA[The Trouble About Sophiny]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-trouble-about-sophiny/Thu, 15 Jul 2021 14:09:34 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=888838post0<![CDATA[Mr. Groby's Slippery Gift]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/mr-grobys-slippery-gift/Thu, 15 Jul 2021 14:54:59 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=919139post0<![CDATA[Ash-Cake Hannah and Her Ben]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/ash-cake-hannah-and-her-ben/Thu, 15 Jul 2021 16:18:43 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=9696310post0<![CDATA[Dizzy-Headed Dick]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/dizzy-headed-dick/Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:13:20 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=9999311post0<![CDATA[The Conjuring Contest]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-conjuring-contest/Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:05:07 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=102102312post0<![CDATA[Dandy Jim's Conjure Scare]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/dandy-jims-conjure-scare/Mon, 19 Jul 2021 14:46:28 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=107107313post0<![CDATA[The Memory of Martha]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-memory-of-martha/Mon, 19 Jul 2021 16:03:50 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=110110314post0<![CDATA[Who Stand for the Gods]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/who-stand-for-the-gods/Tue, 20 Jul 2021 13:40:24 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=112112315post0<![CDATA[A Lady Slipper]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/a-lady-slipper/Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:31:40 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=119119316post0<![CDATA[LibriVox Audio Book]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/back-matter/librivox-audio-book/Tue, 27 Jul 2021 12:49:05 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=back-matter&p=176LibriVox. Aunt Tempe's Triumph https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_01_dunbar_128kb.mp3 Aunt Tempe's Revenge https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_02_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Walls of Jericho https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_03_dunbar_128kb.mp3 How Brother Parker Fell from Grace https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_04_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Trousers https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_05_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Last Fiddling of Mordaunt's Jim https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_06_dunbar_128kb.mp3 A Supper by Proxy https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_07_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Trouble About Sophiny https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_08_dunbar_128kb.mp3 Mr. Groby's Slippery Gift https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_09_dunbar_128kb.mp3 Ash-Cake Hannah and Her Ben https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_10_dunbar_128kb.mp3 Dizzy-Headed Dick https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_11_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Conjuring Contest https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_12_dunbar_128kb.mp3 Dandy Jim's Conjure Scare https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_13_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Memory of Martha https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_14_dunbar_128kb.mp3 Who Stand for the Gods https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_15_dunbar_128kb.mp3 A Lady Slipper https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_16_dunbar_128kb.mp3 A Blessed Deceit https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_17_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Brief Cure of Aunt Fanny https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_18_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Stanton Coachman https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_19_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Easter Wedding https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_20_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Finding of Martha https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_21_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Defection of Maria Ann Gibbs https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_22_dunbar_128kb.mp3 A Judgment of Paris https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_23_dunbar_128kb.mp3 Silent Sam'el https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_24_dunbar_128kb.mp3 The Way of a Woman https://www.archive.org/download/in_old_plantation_days_2105_librivox/inoldplantationdays_25_dunbar_128kb.mp3]]>17601post0<![CDATA[Cover Image]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?attachment_id=248Fri, 21 Jan 2022 17:27:28 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?attachment_id=2482481600<![CDATA[Series Introduction]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/front-matter/introduction/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/2021/07/12/introduction/Public Domain Core Collection consists of over 50 titles of public domain works that have been created using Pressbooks and made available in online, epub, pdf and editable formats. Although the primary audience for this collection is students and faculty members in the post-secondary education sector in Ontario, the titles are freely available on the web to anyone who wants to read or adapt them for their own use. Titles were chosen for this collection based on the following criteria:

Relevance to post-secondary courses taught in Ontario
Frequency of appearance on syllabi listed in the Open Syllabus Project
Proposed usage in open assignments in courses at Ryerson and Brock universities during the Fall 2021 semester
Inclusion of underrepresented voices (including titles by BIPOC authors)
In the public domain

All texts are in the public domain (50 years after the death of the author) in Canada as of 2021. If you are accessing these texts from another country, please be aware that some of these works may not be in the public domain in your country. Supplementary materials (introductions, acknowledgements, etc.) are licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license. Credit Statement Adaptations of public domain texts do not require attribution; however, we would appreciate acknowledgement of the source of the work as follows:

This work has been adapted from In Old Plantation Days, a title from the eCampusOntario Public Domain Core Collection. This work is in the Public Domain.

Content from the front and back matter is licensed under CC BY 4.0, and should be attributed according to Creative Commons best practices. If you have suggestions for additional public domain titles that you would like to see in this collection, please complete this suggestion form. This project is made possible with funding by the Government of Ontario and the Virtual Learning Strategy. To learn more about the Virtual Learning Strategy visit: https://vls.ecampusontario.ca/.]]>401post0<![CDATA[Authors]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/authors/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/authors/]]>7000<![CDATA[Cover]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/cover/]]>8000<![CDATA[Table of Contents]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/table-of-contents/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/table-of-contents/]]>9000<![CDATA[About]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/about/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/about/]]>10000<![CDATA[Buy]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/buy/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/buy/]]>11000<![CDATA[Book Information]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?metadata=book-informationMon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/2021/07/12/book-information/16010Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license unless otherwise noted. Cover image, Tobacco Plantation, by J.W. Orr, Public Domain, from Wikimedia Commons.

]]><![CDATA[A Blessed Deceit]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/a-blessed-deceit/Tue, 20 Jul 2021 15:26:29 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=124124317post0<![CDATA[The Brief Cure of Aunt Fanny]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-brief-cure-of-aunt-fanny/Tue, 20 Jul 2021 15:29:18 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=127127318post0<![CDATA[The Stanton Coachman]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-stanton-coachman/Thu, 22 Jul 2021 14:10:34 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=134134319post0<![CDATA[The Easter Wedding]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-easter-wedding/Thu, 22 Jul 2021 14:48:17 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=137137320post0<![CDATA[The Finding of Martha]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-finding-of-martha/Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:51:11 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=140140321post0<![CDATA[The Defection of Maria Ann Gibbs]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-defection-of-maria-ann-gibbs/Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:52:43 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=143"Jedgement Day is a-rollin' round', Er how I long to be there!" It was a wonderfully affecting sight, and it was not long before the whole church was in a tumult of rejoicings. These two damsels were very popular among their people, and every young man who had looked with longing eyes at Lucindy, or sighed for the brown hand of Maria Ann, joined in the shouting, if he was one of the "saved," or, if he was not, hastened up to fall prostrate at the mourners' bench. Thus were the Rev. Eleazar Jackson's meetings a great success, and his name became great in the land. From the moment of their conversion Lucindy and Maria Ann went hand in hand into the good work for the benefit of the church, and they were spoken of as especially active young members. There was not a sociable to be given, nor a donation party to be planned, nor a special rally to be effected, but that these two consulted each other and carried the affair to a successful issue. The Rev. Eleazar often called attention to them in his exhortations from the pulpit, spoke of the beautiful harmony between them, and pointed it out as an example to the rest of his flock. He had a happy turn for phrase-making, which he exercised when he called the two "twin sisters in the great new birth o' grace." For a year the church grew and waxed strong, and the minister's power continued, and peace reigned. Thai as the rain clouds creep slowly over the mountain-top and bring die storm thundering down into the valley, so ominous signs began to appear upon die horizon of Bethel's religious and social life. At first these warning clouds were scarcely perceptible; in fact, there were those unbelievers who said that there would be no storm; but the mutterings grew louder. The first sign of danger was apparent in the growing coolness between Lucindy and Maria Ann. They were not openly or aggressively enemies, but from being on that high spiritual plane, where the outward signs of fellowship were not needed, and on which they called each other by their first names, they had come down to a level which required, to indicate their relations one to the other, the interchange of "Sister Gibbs" and "Sister Woodyard." There had been a time when they had treated each other with loving and familiar discourtesy, but now they were scrupulously polite. If one broke in upon the other's remarks in church council, it was with an "Excuse me, Sis' Gibbs," or "I beg yo' pa'don, Sis' Woodyard," and each seemed feverishly anxious to sacrifice herself to make way for the other. Then they came to work no more together. The separation was effected without the least show of anger. They simply drifted apart, and Lucindy found herself at the head of one faction and Maria Ann in the lead of another. Here for a time a good-natured rivalry was kept up, much to the increase of Bethel's finances and its minister's satisfaction. But an uncertain and less genial note began to creep into these contests as the Rev. Eleazar Jackson continued to smile upon both the ardent sisters. The pastor at Bethel had made such a glowing record as a financier that the Bishop had expressed his satisfaction by a special letter, and requested that at the June rally he make an extra effort to raise funds for the missionary cause. Elated at this mark of distinction, and with visions of a possible Presiding Eldership in his mind, Mr. Jackson sought out his two most attractive parishioners and laid his case before them. It was in the chapel, immediately after the morning service, that he got them together. "You see, sisters," he said, "Bethel have made a record which she have to sustain. She have de reputation o' bein' one o' the most lib'l chu'ches in de Confer'nce. Now we don't want to disa'point the Bishop when he picks us out to help him in such a good cause. O' co'se I knowed who I could depend on, an' so I come right to you sisters to see if you couldn't plan out some'p'n that would make a real big splurge at de June rally." He paused and waited for the sisters to reply. They were both silent. This made him uneasy, and he said, "What you think, Sister Gibbs?" “Oh," said Maria Ann, "I'm waitin' to hyeah f'om Sis' Woodyard." "Oh, no," said Sister Woodyard politely, "don' wait on me, Sis' Gibbs. 'Spress yo'se'f, 'spress yo'se'f." But Maria Ann still demurred. "I couldn't think o' puttin' my po' opinions up fo' Si's Woodyard," she said. "I'd a good deal ruther wait to hyeah f'om my elders." She laid especial stress on the last word. Lucindy smiled a smile so gentle that it was ominous. "I ain't holdin' back 'ecause I cain't think o' nothin'," she said, "but jes' 'ecause I ain't been used to puttin' myse'f forrard, an' I don't like to begin it so late." And she smiled again. The minister began to feel uneasy. Figuratively speaking, both of the sisters seemed to be sparring for wind, and he thought it better to call the council to a close and see each one separately. "Well," he said hurriedly, "I know you sisters will come to some conclusion, an' jes' 'po't to me on next Wednesday night, an' I will pass a kind o' 'view over yo' plans, an' offer a su'jestion, mebbe. We want to do some'p'n that will bring out de people an' mek 'em give gen'ously of their means for de benefit o' de heathen." The two sisters bowed very politely to each other, shook the minister's hand, and went their different ways. It must have been Satan himself who effected the result of having both women hit upon the same plan of action. Maria Ann was pleased at her idea, and hastened to church on Wednesday evening to report it to the pastor, only to find that Lucindy Woodyard had been before her with the same plan. "I mus' congratulate you, asters," said the Rev. Eleazar, "bofe upon yo' diligence an' yo' fo'thought. It must V been P'ovidence that directed bofe yo' min's in de same channel." Both the sisters were aghast They had both suggested dividing the church into soliciting parties and giving a prize to the one collecting the highest amount of money. Perhaps the Devil was not so much concerned in making their minds revert to this as it appeared, as it is a very common device for raising money among negro churches. However, both the women were disappointed. "I'd jes' leave draw out an' let Sis' Gibbs go on an' manage dis affair," said Lucindy. "I'd rather be excused," said Maria Ann, "an' leave it in Sis' Woodyard's han's." But the minister was wily enough to pour oil on the troubled waters, and at the same time to suggest a solution of the problem that would enlist the sympathies and ambition of both the women. "Now I su'jest," he said, "that bofe you sisters remains in dis contest, an' then, instid o' throwin' the competition open, you sisters by yo'se'ves each be de head o' a pa'ty that shall bring de money to you, an' the one of you that gets the most f om her pa'ty shall have de prize." Lucindy's eyes glittered, and Maria Ann's flashed, as they agreed to the contest with joyful hearts. Here should be a trial of both strength and prowess, and it would be shown who was worthy to walk the ways of life side by side with the Rev. Eleazar Jackson. Joyfully they went to their tasks. Their enthusiasm inspired their followers with partisan energy. Side bantered side, and party taunted party, but the leaders kept up a magnificent calm. It was not they alone who knew that there was more at stake than the prize that was offered, that they had more in view than the good of the heathen souls. There were other eyes that saw and minds that understood besides those of Lucindy, Maria Ann and the preacher. Pokey Williams, who was very warm in the Gibbs faction, called from the fence to her neighbor, Hannah Lewis, who was equally ardent on the other side: "How yo' collection come on, Sis' Lewis?" "Oh, middlin', middlin'; de w'ite folks I wok fu f done promise me some'p'n, my grocery man he gwine give me some'p'n, an' I got fo' dollahs in little bits a'readv." "Oomph," said Pokey, "you jes' boun' an' 'termine to ma'y Locindy Woodyard to de preachah!" "G'way Tom hyeah, Pokey, you is de beat-enes! How you gittin' on?" "Heish, gal, my w'ite folks done gi' me ten dollahs a'ready, an' I'm jes' tacklin' evahbody I know." "Ten dollahs! Wy, dey ain' no way fu' de preachah to git erway Tom Maria Ann Gibbs ef you keep on!" The two waved their hands at each other and broke into a rollicking laugh. The rally in June was the greatest the annals of Bethel Chapel had ever recorded. The prize decided upon was a gold watch, and on the evening that the report and decision were to be made, a hall had to be procured, for the chapel would not hold the crowd. A brief concert was given first to get the people in a good humor,and to whet their anxiety, and though the performers were well received, little attention was paid to them, for every one was on the qui vive for the greater drama of the evening. The minister was in his glory. When the concert was over, he welcomed Lucindy and Maria Ann to the stage, where they sat, one on either side of him. The reports began. First one from Lucmdy's side, then one from Maria Ann's, and so alternately through. It was very close I The people were leaning forward, eager and anxious for the issue. The reports came thick and fast, and the excitement grew as the sums increased. The climax was to be the reports of the two leaders themselves, and here Lucindy had shown her shrewdness. Maria Ann's side had begun to report first, and so their leader was compelled to state her amount first. There was a certain little reserve fund in the pocket of her opponent with which young Mrs. Worthington was somewhat acquainted, and it was to be used in case Maria Ann should excel her. Maria Ann made her report, reading from her book: "'Codin' to de returns made by my pa'ty, which you hev all hyeahed, they hev collected one hun'erd an' eight dollahs; addin' to that what I hev collected by myse'f, fifty-two dollahs, I returns to de chu'ch one hun'erd an' sixty dollahs." Down in her lap Lucindy did some quick, surreptitious writing. Then she stood up. "'Co'din' to de returns which my pa'ty hev made, an' which you hev all hyeahed, they hev collected one hun'erd an' two dollahs, an' I, by my own individual effort" —she laid wonderful emphasis upon the last two words, "bring in sixty dollahs, mekin' the total one hun'erd and sixty-two dollahs, which I submit to de chu'ch." There was a burst of applause from Lucindy's partisans, but Maria Ann was on her feet: "I forgot," she said, "de last donation I received. Mrs. Jedge Haines was kin' enough to give me a check fu' ten dollahs, which I didn't add in at fust, an' it brings my collection up to one hun'erd an' seventy dollahs." The volume of applause increased at Maria Ann's statement, but it wavered into silence as Lucindy arose. She smiled down upon Maria Ann. "I'm mighty thankful to de sister," she said, "fu' mindin' me o' some'p'n I mos' nigh fu'got. Mis' Cal'ine Worthington desired to put her name down on my book fu' twenty dollahs, which brings my collection to one hun'erd an' eighty dollahs." Mrs. Worthington looked across at Mrs. Haines and smiled. That lady raised her chin. An ashen hue came into Maria Ann Gibbs' face. With great acclamation the watch was awarded to Lucindy Woodyard, and in congratulating her the Rev. Eleazar Jackson held her hand perhaps a little longer than usual. Mrs. Worthington was standing near at the time. "If I had known it meant this," she said to herself, "I wouldn't have given her that twenty dollars." The lady saw that she was likely to lose a good servant. When the meeting was out the preacher walked home with Lucindy. On the following Thursday night the Afro-American Sons and Daughters of Hagar gave a dance at their hall on Main Street. Maria Ann Gibbs, the shining light of Bethel Church, went, and she danced. Bethel heard and mourned. On the next Sunday she went to church. She walked in with Mose Jackson, who was known to be a sinner, and she sat with him near the door, in the seat of the sinners. The Rev. Eleazar Jackson went Lucindy's house and they walked to church together. Lucindy had increased her stock of jewelry, not only by the watch, hot by a bright gold ring which she wore on the third finger of her left hand. But if Maria Ann cared, she did not show it. She had found in the tents of the wicked what die could not get in the temple of the Lord.]]>143322post0<![CDATA[A Judgment of Paris]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/a-judgment-of-paris/Fri, 23 Jul 2021 15:17:47 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=149149323post0<![CDATA[Silent Sam'el]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/silent-samel/Fri, 23 Jul 2021 15:31:13 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=152152324post0<![CDATA[The Way of a Woman]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/chapter/the-way-of-a-woman/Fri, 23 Jul 2021 16:03:07 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=154154325post0<![CDATA[Introduction to the Book]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=235Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:32:37 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=chapter&p=2351903 Dodd, Mead and Company edition of In Old Plantation Days courtesy of the Internet Archive. Wherever possible, audio recordings of the text have been added to provide an alternative way to access the content of the texts. Some audio recordings may differ slightly from the text version of the book. This LibriVox audio file was made from the same version of the book.]]>235326post0<![CDATA[Introduction to the Book]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/front-matter/introduction-to-the-book/Thu, 16 Sep 2021 14:19:57 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=front-matter&p=2371903 Dodd, Mead and Company edition of In Old Plantation Days courtesy of the Internet Archive. Wherever possible, audio recordings of the text have been added to provide an alternative way to access the content of the texts. Some audio recordings may differ slightly from the text version of the book. This LibriVox audio file was made from the same version of the book.]]>23702post0<![CDATA[Acknowledgements]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/front-matter/acknowledgements/Fri, 21 Jan 2022 13:59:56 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=front-matter&p=245Core Project Team

Ryerson University

Payton Flood, Digital Publication Coordinator
Nipuni Kuruppu, 4th year, Creative Industries student
Val Lem, Collections Lead, Faculty of Arts
Ann Ludbrook, Research Lead, Copyright and Scholarly Engagement Librarian
Emma Seston, 4th year, New Media student
Sally Wilson, Web Services Librarian, Project Lead

Brock University

Giulia Forsythe, Associate Director, Centre for Pedagogical Innovation
Cal Murgu, Liaison and Instructional Design Librarian
Jennifer Thiessen, Head, Liaison Services

This project is made possible with funding by the Government of Ontario and through eCampusOntario’s support of the Virtual Learning Strategy. To learn more about the Virtual Learning Strategy visit: https://vls.ecampusontario.ca.”]]>24503post0<![CDATA[Accessibility Statement]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/front-matter/accessibility-statement/Mon, 14 Feb 2022 15:30:19 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/?post_type=front-matter&p=255Accessibility Features of the Web Version of this Resource The web version of In Old Plantation Days has been optimized for people who use screen-reading technology and includes the following features:

All content can be navigated using a keyboard,
Links, headings, and tables use proper markup, and
All images have text descriptions.

Other Formats Available

In addition to the web version, this book is available in a number of file formats including digital PDF, epub (for eReaders) and LibriVox audio recordings (where available). You can download these alternative formats from the book's home page.

Known Accessibility Issues and Areas for Improvement

There are no known accessibility issues at this time. Let us know if you are having problems accessing this book. If accessibility issues are stopping you from accessing the information in this book, please contact us at pressbooks@ryerson.ca to let us know and we will get it fixed. If you discover any other issues, please let us know of those as well. Please include the following information:

The location of the problem by providing a web address or page description
A description of the problem
The computer, software, browser, and any assistive technology you are using that can help us diagnose and solve your issue e.g., Windows 10, Google Chrome (Version 65.0.3325.181), NVDA screen reader

This statement was last updated on February 15, 2022.]]>25503post0<![CDATA[In Old Plantation Days]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/part/in-old-plantation-days/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/2021/07/12/main-body/301post0<![CDATA[Access Denied]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/access-denied/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:35 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/access-denied/]]>12000<![CDATA[H5P listing]]>https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/h5p-listing/Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:12:37 +0000https://pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca/inoldplantationdays/h5p-listing/]]>20000