I
had it well warmed with stoves; Darry saw to that for me and
that they were well and safely put up; I had it adorned and
clothed and made gay with evergreens and flowers, till it was
beautiful. The carpenters on the place put up long tables and
fitted plenty of seats. Then I had some rough kitchens
extemporised outside of it; and sent for loads of turkeys from
Baytown; and for days before and after Christmas my band of
cooks were busy, roasting and baking and cake-making. Coffee
was brewed without measure, as if we had been a nation of
Arabs. And then tickets were furnished to all the people on
the place, tickets of admission; and for all the holidays, or
for Christmas and three days after, I kept open house at the
barn. Night and day I kept open house. I went and came myself,
knowing that the sight of me hindered nobody's pleasure; but I
let in no other white person, and I believe I gained the
lasting ill will of the overseer by refusing him. I stood
responsible for everybody's good behaviour, and had no
forfeits to pay.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209