Dr. Flint and his family repeatedly tried to coax and bribe my children to tell something they had heard said about me.  One day the doctor took them into a shop, and offered them some bright little silver pieces and gay handkerchiefs if they would tell where their mother was.  Ellen shrank away from him, and would not speak; but Benny spoke up, and said, “Dr. Flint, I don’t know where my mother is.  I guess she’s in New York; and when you go there again, I wish you’d ask her to come home, for I want to see her; but if you put her in jail, or tell her you’ll cut her head off, I’ll tell her to go right back.”

XXII.  Christmas Festivities.

Christmas was approaching.  Grandmother brought me materials, and I busied myself making some new garments and little playthings for my children.  Were it not that hiring day is near at hand, and many families are fearfully looking forward to the probability of separation in a few days, Christmas might be a happy season for the poor slaves.  Even slave mothers try to gladden the hearts of their little ones on that occasion.  Benny and Ellen had their Christmas stockings filled.  Their imprisoned mother could not have the privilege of witnessing their surprise and joy.  But I had the pleasure of peeping at them as they went into the street with their new suits on.  I heard Benny ask a little playmate whether Santa Claus brought him any thing.  “Yes,” replied the boy; “but Santa Claus ain’t a real man.  It’s the children’s mothers that put things into the stockings.”  “No, that can’t be,” replied Benny, “for Santa Claus brought Ellen and me these new clothes, and my mother has been gone this long time.”

How I longed to tell him that his mother made those garments, and that many a tear fell on them while she worked!

Every child rises early on Christmas morning to see the Johnkannaus.  Without them, Christmas would be shorn of its greatest attraction.  They consist of companies of slaves from the plantations, generally of the lower class.  Two athletic men, in calico wrappers, have a net thrown over them, covered with all manner of bright-colored stripes.  Cows’ tails are fastened to their backs, and their heads are decorated with horns.  A box, covered with sheepskin, is called the gumbo box.  A dozen beat on this, while other strike triangles and jawbones, to which bands of dancers keep time.  For a month previous they are composing songs, which are sung on this occasion.  These companies, of a hundred each, turn out early in the morning, and are allowed to go round till twelve o’clock, begging for contributions.  Not a door is left unvisited where there is the least chance of obtaining a penny or a glass of rum.  They do not drink while they are out, but carry the rum home in jugs, to have a carousal.  These Christmas donations frequently amount to twenty or thirty dollars.  It is seldom that any white man or child refuses to give them a trifle.  If he does, they regale his ears with the following song:—­