Now, don go an deprive dem chilluns uv nuff to eat Ah means some goodies, warned old mammy.
See heah, mammy! Dis end uv de wuk am mine an yohs is takin care uv de baby. Dem little limbs ain goin t eat up all de fancy eatins Ah bake, an mek de missus blive Ah forgot t prepare fer her compny!
So old mammy ascended the kitchen stairs again, fearing she had made a great mistake by warning her daughter in time that the cakes were gone and there was nothing for tea! As she shook her gray head over the conflicts between the cook and the children, she reached the second floor where the mending had been left.
A voice calling from the library changed her current of despondency, and she leaned over the balustrade to reply.
Ah hearn dem chilluns up in de attick, Mis Parke. Shall Ah tell em yoh wants em?
Oh, please, mammy! And see if they are all dressed and ready for tea. I wish to ring for the tray, replied Mrs. Parke.
Mammy climbed the stairs once more and opened the door of the room whence sounds of merriment came. She stood in the doorway, taking in at a glance the extraordinary scene that met her eyes.
John was robed in a long black cloth draped over his shoulders. He had on a maids white bib and shoulder straps cut from an old apron. The black material was the remnant of a felt table cover, very popular a score of years before; but most of the wool embroidery had been eaten off by moths, so the gay colors could easily be hidden by the folds.
He stood by the window with the great book on Life of George Washington in his hands, reading aloud from it.
Right before him stood Jack Davis and Martha one robed in old-fashioned clothes worn by Parke ancestors before the Civil War, and the other dressed in the lavender flowered Watteau silk gown of her great-great-grandmother.
George was best man in a black swallow-tail coat with velvet cuffs, collar and pocket lapels. The buttons were gold-embroidered on black velvet. A high stock collar and a pot-shaped beaver hat gave him quite a Colonial appearance.
Jim took the left-overs, and to make the best of the assorted items, donned as many of them as he could keep on. The effect was very funny, and caused the principals in the scene to burst out in laughter every time they took notice of his raiment.
The rehearsal of the Washington wedding scene was taking place when old mammy quietly opened the door and stood watching.
You didnt come up right that time, Martha; try it again. And, Anne, dont stumble over her dress when you carry the train! ordered George, waving back the two girls to try again.
How can I carry her train and drop flowers on the path at the same time? And if were to do it again, youd better pick up the flowers, complained Anne.
Here,
point where Martha Custis subdues the fighting inclination of George, laughed Mrs. Davis.
The maid appeared with tea just then, and in the deep dish where so many tempting cakes had reposed in the early afternoon, there now were two lonely scorched cookies. Thin slices of buttered bread without jam , and hot waffles sugared but with no honey , caused consternation in all present.
Katy, is there any jam? asked Martha.
Mammy say dat jams goin t stay locked up fer anudder day!
Katy! gasped Mrs. Parke. What are these scorched cakes doing here?
Cook say ast Marse George an Martha. Dey knows bettern we-all.
Oh, yes, I remember, mother. When our cousins arrived they felt very weak and hungry, so I suggested a little bite, to keep them up till tea was served. I found the dish of cookies the most convenient, and, not wishing to disturb the cook, who was busy, I insisted upon their having a few, explained George.
And Martha hastily added: Naturally, not wishing to make our visitors feel that they were giving us any trouble, we ate some cakes, too, to make them feel at home.
Well, the cakes felt very much at home, Im sure! laughed Mrs. Davis, who was accustomed to these escapades, as well as Mrs. Parke.
But that need not deprive you ladies of the jam, you know! hinted Jack.
Nor uv dis ice cream dat cook sent up fer de two ladies t tek de place uv dem cakes! added Katy significantly, placing a deep dish of French cream before each one of the ladies.
The children stared aghast at such partiality, and then looked at each other, wondering if they would have had ice cream, had they not eaten the cakes.
At the discovery that no cakes or jam were to be served at that tea, Jim silently disappeared from the friendly portières, and soon after appeared in the culinary department, watching for an opportunity to snatch a slice of bread and butter when his mammys back was turned. And, oh joy! An apple was right there by the homely chunk of bread. In another moment Jim and the apple were gone, and when mammy turned to put the apple in the barrel, the place knew it no more!
CHAPTER III MARTHA CUSTIS STORY
I think I will read another chapter of Washingtons life, suggested Mrs. Parke.
Read a quiet, uneventful chapter, hinted Mrs. Davis.