As they were the only whites on board, the captain took little Tommy
into the cabin with him to sit at the same table; but there was too
much truth in the negro's statement, and instead of sitting down to
one of those nice dinners which are spread in Boston ships, both
great and small, there, on a little piece of pine board, swung with
a preventer, was a plate of black homony covered with a few pieces
of fried pork, so rank and oily as to be really repulsive to a
common stomach. Beside it was an earthen mug, containing about a
pint of molasses, which was bedaubed on the outside to show its
quality. The captain looked at it for a minute, and then taking up
the iron spoon which stood in it, and letting one or two spoonfuls
drop back, said, "Old daddie, where are all your stores? Fetch them
out here."
"Gih, massa! here 'em is; 'e's jus' as Massa Stoney give 'em," said
the negro, drawing forth a piece of rusty and tainted bacon,
weighing about fifteen pounds, and, in spots, perfectly alive with
motion; about a half-bushel of corn-grits; and a small keg of
molasses, with a piece of leather attached to the bung.
"Is that all?" inquired the captain peremptorily.
"Yes, massa, he all w'at 'em got now, but git more at Massa Whaley
plantation win 'em git da."
"Throw it overboard, such stinking stuff; it'll breed pestilence on
board," said the captain to the negro, (who stood holding the
spoiled bacon in his hand, with the destructive macalia dropping on
the floor,) at the same time applying his foot to the table, and
making wreck of hog, homony, molasses, and plates.
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