Glass High School - Crest Yearbook (Lynchburg, VA)

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150 THE CRITICS' a bright light on the scene below. Suspended from it was a big bunch of mistletoe, its wax-like berries gleaming in the light. Great hickory logs blazed in a big fireplace at one end of the room. ' ' Jim Hunter, the favorite iiddler in the country, who had come over with his master, was tuning up, so ,the negroes chose partners and waited impatiently for the first dance. Lucindy and Mose were dancing together, and Mose's best man, Andy, danced with Maria, the maid of honor. Those who were not dancing at the start changed their minds and shook a foot. Jim's fiddling could not be resisted. There seemed to be countless numbers of little pickaninnies, all with braids sticking out in every direction and eyes as big as saucers. They were hopping in everybody's Way and squealing with excitement. There Was a great scuiiie under the mistletoe as the constantly changing figures swept back and forth at Jim's command. When the dance was over, Mose made a bee-line for the sideboard in the big house, where he knew that a large decanter of most excellent wine and another of whiskey was kept for the guests of the Colonel. Mose's 'drst drink was not his last. In fact, he drained the Wine bottle. It had been only two-thirds full, for the sideboard was a most popular resort for the gentlemen. And so, seeing that the Wine was no more, and that the Whiskey was not up to its usual stan- dard, he went in search of Jeems, the butler. Jeems, when Hnally found, was accosted with rebukes. I Lookahere, you Jeems, you sho' es done fall down on yo' job. Dar dat decan' empty an' all dem white-folks pinin' fer de wine. Whyn't you 'ten' yo' bus'ness? You' s gittin' mighty lazy these days. Moses, J eems replied knowingly, don't fegit you's gwine to be married tonight. An' you bettah be 'tendin' to yo' Lu--.

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THE CRI TI C' 149 a liilantatinn Qlbristmas ANNE CUCULLU Christmas was always the big timev for the negroes on the plantation, but orie of the happiest was the Christmas when Lucindy and Mose were to be married. The adjoining plantations of Colonel Hill and Mr. Patter- son Were holding a common celebration, which took place at Colonel Hill's old home, because Mr. Patterson had lost most of his money and slaves, and was unable to entertain on a large scale. Besides Mr. Patterson and his servants, there were guests from all over the country-side, each bring- ing a maid or a body-servant. The negroes had their celebration in the large basement room. In the morning, Ole Marse and Ole Miss had given presents to them with a kind word for each. Lucindy had received her wedding-gifts joyfully and Mose also was made happy With a handsome gold Watch. Lucindy was a feather-brained young negress belonging to the Colonel. She was quite a belle among the slaves on both plantations. Mose, Whose courtship had extended over several months, was a big negro, as black as the ace of spades, and he was the property of Mr. Patterson. Mose had a firmly-rooted and tender affection for things alcoholic. This attachment, as we shall see, led to ruinous trouble. In the evening Was the big dance. It was held in the base- ment, which was profusely decorated with holly and ever- greens. One of the big chandeliers from upstair was hung in the middle of the ceiling, its numerous candles shedding

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THE ORITIC' 151 Here the great gong which was used to call in the Held hands rang out, and they both hurried to the feast awaiting them. The big basement seemed transformed, there was a long table in the middle of the floor, and there was a smaller table on each side. They were covered with snowy cloths and oh, that banquet was enough to make any nigger roll his eyes and smack his lips! There seemed to be everything heart could wish, and the tables fairly creaked and groaned! There were turkeys and chickens and pie and cakes and everything good! The negroes seated themselves, all the while gazing hungrily at the tempting dishes. And then the Reverend James Peters, who had come over to perform the marriage ceremony, asked the blessing, Which, to the impatient negroes, seemed terribly long. Indeed, Mirandy Jane's little boys were unable to wait till the finish and grabbed a piece of cake before the 4'amen. Lucindy and Mose sat at one end of the big table, and Andy and Maria at the other. They ate until they began to think they would have no room at all for Lucindy's wedding cake. ' Finally the last one got up, and all except Lucindy, Mose and the other attendants, adjourned to the carpenter shop where Dr. Peters conducted prayers. Lucindy was arraying herself in her full glory. The four little .flower girls, dressed in white with huge pink bows on their 'heads and pink sashes around their waists, were prac- ticing their march as importantly as if they were the bride. But Mose, what of him all this time? An unfortunate mental picture of a full decanter of amber wine formed in his brain. He had no resistance against this tempting imageg so he sneaked upstairs. He proceeded without delay to the sideboard, Where he stretched out a loving hand to the darling