Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/198

 with the twilight darkness of the Louisiana interiors. The dining-room, separated from the hall by an arched screen of exquisitely carved white wood, was the first object of interest to the hungry excursionists.

A dainty breakfast was served them by a pair of pretty bronze handmaidens, whose beauty of form and color delighted Margaret's artistic eye. Mrs. Harden found the viands "utterly delicious," and complimented her host on the excellence of his coffee, his home-made wine, his marvellous orange sweetmeats and golden corn bread. They sat together after the meal on the shaded gallery until the sun was low in the horizon. General Ruysdale was much interested in conversing with the old planter, whose mind was wont to revert to the days when his plantation produced three times as much cane as now, and his fields teemed with the laborers who worked without hire. General Ruysdale complimented him on his fine estate and the healthy appearance of the negroes. The old man shook his head and sighed.

"Ah, poor creatures," he said, "they are badly off now—half clothed, badly fed. My dear sir, it was a sad day for the negro when the responsibility of feeding and clothing himself was put upon him. My men were dressed well, sir,—two suits of clothes a year, of the best materials;