CHAPTER XXI. TIFF'S PREPARATIONS.

Theannouncementoftheexpectedcamp-meetingproducedavastsensationatCanema,inothercirclesbesidethehall.Intheservants'department,everybodywasfullofthematter,fromAuntKatydowntoTomtit.ThewomenwerethinkingovertheiravailablefineryforthesegatheringsfurnishthenegroeswiththesameopportunityofdisplaythatGraceChurchdoestotheBroadwaybelles.Andso,beforeOldTiff,whohadbroughtthefirstintelligencetotheplantation,hadtimetodepart,Tomtithadtrumpetedthenewsthroughalltheclusterofnegro-housesthatskirtedtherightsideofthemansion,proclaimingthat"derewasgwinetobeacamp-meeting,andtip-topworkofgrace,andMissNinawasgoingtoletalldeniggersgo."OldTiff,therefore,foundhimselfinaprominentpositioninagroupofnegro-women,amongwhomRose,thecook,wasconspicuous. "Law,Tiff,yegwine?andgwinetotakeyourchil'en?ha!ha!ha!"saidshe."Why,MissFanny,dey'lltinkTiff'syermammy!Ho!ho!ho!" "Yah!yah!Ho!ho!ho!"roaredinachorusoflaughteronallsides,doinghonortoAuntRosy'switandTomtit,whohungupontheskirtsofthecrowd,threwupthefragmentofahatintheair,andkickeditinanabandonofjoy,regardlessoftheneglecteddinner-knives.OldTiff,mindfulofdignities,neverfailedtopropitiateRose,onhisadventstotheplantation,withthegiftwhichthe"wisemansaithmakethfriends"and,onthepresentoccasionhehadenrichedherownpeculiarstockofdomesticfowlbythepresentofapairofyoungpartridge-chicks,anestofwhichhehadjustcaptured,intendingtobringthemupbyhand,ashedidhischildren.Bythisdiscreetcourse,TiffstoodhighwhereitwasofmostvitalconsequencethatheshouldsostandandmanyachoicemorseldidRosecookforhiminsecret,besidesimpartingtohimmostinvaluablerecipesonthecultureandraisingofsuckingbabies.OldHundred,likemanyotherpersons,feltthatgeneralattentionlavishedonanyothercelebritywassomuchtakenfromhisownmerits,and,therefore,onthepresentoccasion,satregardingTiff'sevidentpopularitywithacynicaleye.Atlast,comingup,likeawickedfellowashewas,helaunchedhisjavelinatOldTiff,byobservingtohiswife,— "I's'stonishedatyou,Rose!You,cooktodeGordons,andmakingyouselfsocheap—sofamiliarwithdepoorwhitefolks'niggers!" Hadtheslantfallenuponhimself,personally,OldTiffwouldprobablyhavegivenajollycrow,andlaughedasheartilyashegenerallydidifhehappenedtobecaughtoutinarain-stormbutthereflectiononhisfamilyconnectionfiredhimuplikeatorch,andhiseyesflashedthroughhisbigspectacleslikefirelightthroughwindows. "Yougo'long,talking'boutwhatyoudon'knownothing'bout!Iliketoknowwhatyoukn