第55章 Chapter XV.(4)

　　On that particular Christmas I have now in my mind， adeion whereof will serve as a deion of the daygenerally， Miss Lively and Mr. Sam， the first belonging toStewart， the latter to Roberts， started the ball. It was well known that Sam cherished an ardent passion for Lively，as also did one of Marshall’s and another of Carey’sboys； for Lively was lively indeed， and a heart-breakingcoquette withal. It was a victory for Sam Roberts， when，rising from the repast， she gave him her hand for the first“figure” in preference to either of his rivals. They weresomewhat crest-fallen， and， shaking their heads angrily，rather intimated they would like to pitch into Mr. Samand hurt him badly. But not an emotion of wrath ruffledthe placid bosom of Samuel as his legs flew like drumsticksdown the outside and up the middle， by the sideof his bewitching partner. The whole company cheeredthem vociferously， and， excited with the applause， theycontinued “tearing down” after all the others had becomeexhausted and halted a moment to recover breath. ButSam’s superhuman exertions overcame him finally，leaving Lively alone， yet whirling like a top. Thereuponone of Sam’s rivals， Pete Marshall， dashed in， and， withmight and main， leaped and shuffled and threw himselfinto every conceivable shape， as if determined to showMiss Lively and all the world that Sam Roberts was of noaccount.

　　Pete’s affection， however， was greater than his discretion.

　　Such violent exercise took the breath out of him directly，and he dropped like an empty bag. Then was the timefor Harry Carey to try his hand； but Lively also soon outwindedhim， amidst hurrahs and shouts， fully sustaining her well-earned reputation of being the “fastest gal” onthe bayou.

　　One “set” off， another takes its place， he or she remaininglongest on the floor receiving the most uproariouscommendation， and so the dancing continues until broaddaylight. It does not cease with the sound of the fiddle，but in that case they set up a music peculiar to themselves.

　　This is called “patting，” accompanied with one of thoseunmeaning songs， composed rather for its adaptation to acertain tune or measure， than for the purpose of expressingany distinct idea. The patting is performed by striking thehands on the knees， then striking the hands together， thenstriking the right shoulder with one hand， the left withthe other—all the while keeping time with the feet， andsinging， perhaps， this song：

　　“Harper’s creek and roarin’ ribber，

　　Thar， my dear， we’ll live forebber；

　　Den we’ll go to de Ingin nation，

　　All I walls in dis creation，

　　Is pretty little wife and big plantation.

　　Chorus. Up dat oak and down dat ribber，

　　Two overseers and one little nigger”

　　Or， if these words are not adapted to the tune calledfor， it may be that “Old Hog Eye” is—a rather solemnand startling specimen of versification， not， however， tobe appreciated unless heard at the South. It runneth asfollows：

　　“Who’s been here since I’ve been gone？

　　Pretty little gal wid a josey on.

　　Hog Eye！

　　Old Hog Eye，

　　And Hosey too！

　　Never see de like since I was born，

　　Here come a little gal wid a josey on.

　　Hog Eye！

　　Old Hog Eye！

　　And Hosey too！”

　　Or， may be the following， perhaps， equally nonsensical，but full of melody， nevertheless， as it flows from the negro’smouth：

　　“Ebo Dick and Jurdan’s Jo，

　　Them two niggers stole my yo’.

　　Chorus. Hop Jim along，

　　Walk Jim along，

　　Talk Jim along，” &c.

　　“Old black Dan， as black as tar，

　　He dam glad he was not dar.

　　Hop Jim along，” &c.

　　During the remaining holidays succeeding Christmas，they are provided with passes， and permitted to go wherethey please within a limited distance， or they may remainand labor on the plantation， in which case they are paidfor it. It is very rarely， however， that the latter alternativeis accepted. They may be seen at these times hurrying in199

　　all directions， as happy looking mortals as can be foundon the face of the earth. They are different beings fromwhat they are in the field； the temporary relaxation， thebrief deliverance from fear， and from the lash， producingan entire metamorphosis in their appearance anddemeanor. In visiting， riding， renewing old friendships，or， perchance， reviving some old attachment， or pursuingwhatever pleasure may suggest itself； the time isoccupied. Such is “southern life as it is，” three days in theyear， as I found it— the other three hundred and sixtytwobeing days of weariness， and fear， and suffering， andunremitting labor.

　　Marriage is frequently contracted during the holidays，if such an institution may be said to exist among them.

　　The only ceremony required before entering into that“holy estate，” is to obtain the consent of the respectiveowners. It is usually encouraged by the masters offemale slaves. Either party can have as many husbandsor wives as the owner will permit， and either is at libertyto discard the other at pleasure. The law in relation todivorce， or to bigamy， and so forth， is not applicable toproperty， of course. If the wife does not belong on thesame plantation with the husband， the latter is permittedto visit her on Saturday nights， if the distance is not toofar. Uncle Abram’s wife lived seven miles from Epps’， onBayou Huff Power. He had permission to visit her once afortnight， but he was growing old， as has been said， andtruth to say， had latterly well nigh forgotten her. Uncle Abram had no time to spare from his meditations onGeneral Jackson—connubial dalliance being well enoughfor the young and thoughtless， but unbecoming a graveand solemn philosopher like himself.