, 1860-12-24
THE CITY
WHAT THEY DID ON SA1uRnay..


-4t0 0Ns
HOW THEY PREPARED FOR CHRISTMAS.
South Carolina having opened for hesselfan
account on rltne's big ledger, Is an indcpend-
mt nation, we could not rs former citizen Of
the United States feel otherwise than depres-
sed A fresh page In history had been turned,
We read the news aud pondered, and mt to
our comfort,
"c"ese nlteady the sufferers by the none
tafs panic haring in our Possession ayc dbl.
laf Of Illinois currency, Bank of Tfnfcum IN
Ioodle County, which nobody vould or co,,1a
enaogc' the latest forms Of once hmi,:.
Gle having gone into the ,.nro ~ ths a a;s rRs
~ ~. We knew little Of history,
.uo much not to know that when the people
are under pressure they get impatient, and
from impatience pass into pugnacionsnes6 and
belligerency. We had read Of barricades, and
began 10 belleyew We might live to see just such
use made Of onnnibuscs and bakezs' carts,
peaceful drays, and numbering country wains.
In short, VIC expected MI "emcute Of tho
populace-" If these terms strike the re.der
strangely, it may be as well to know they are
In the dictionary and were not put there for
nothing, so VIC shall not change them. We
thought It might be upon as carly in the
week. But the weather prevented. Not even
the gamcst Chantic1eer is valiant In . rain
storm hut taketh shelter under tail Of cart or
Ice Of shed; even Dunker's Hill might have
been postponed by d rainstorm. Itwets pow
der aud feathers, which latter neither game,
cocks nor military men are pleased with. So
for two days peace remained with us, and
damp quictrdc.
In this period of waiting, our meditations
aud our dreams were troub!ous by night In
one Of the Inter we saw the poor old Amcri.
can Eagle as it we're moulting, while para1yt-
ic old man was distractedly pulling ont the
ssll feathers OF the distressed bird, for q,.ills
~herewlth to trace his initials, ], B., ut the
bottom Of reasonable messages and letters to
newspapers he was made to sign. Then We
saw thu same old gentleman frantic with
snakes in his boots, and the similitude Of thc
same snake was twlned round Palmetto tree.
Then this same ancient Snowman seemed to be
feeding the snake On food set apart for the
eagle; so VIC awoke and knew there wss
trouble brewing. Still 1t wrs delayed On &C.
count Of weather.
For 1t showed, aud that, too, vas favorab1e
The eye that will not blcnca At the blaze If
cannon, will wink at SNOW fakes. No one Is
valorons or warlikc in a snow storm; witness
the march from Moscow" Why, cycn that
scrlptural Cumming, who "went down into a
pit and slew lion in snowy day." won his
most unfading laurel from tho state Of the
weather. So we had peace on Friday and no
emeute.
But On Saturday morning re saw and felt
there could be no poetponement. The sun
khouc unobscured. And abroad there was n
Stir; We knew there was something in the
wind. We ordered Bridget to close the front
blinds, which, to be sure, arc not bullet-proof
aud make our eotIee very strong, and then wc
said to our eldest, " England expects every
man to do his duty this day, giving him tLc
page where be would find the connection Of
that Aackneycd statement. Then We went
down town. We saw at once that our fears
were realized. There WIS IN extraordinary
STIR in the streets. A rush of steeds, din Of
vehicles, clang Of bells, and hu1ryins foot
falls on the crisp, white snow. We knew then
that one common purpose possessed our peo-
pic. There we're whole families bundled into
the same vehicle and evidently hurTyins some
where, and then We thought Of The sack Of
Troy. And single stecds dashed to and fro
With the tlcdges, evidently carrying general
orders. We saw marvellous machine, which
We set down at once rs travelling battery,
but subsequently, asccrtained to be tho new
snow plow Of the City Railway Company.
As VIC apprehcndcd, there was a general at
EacE upon the stores. The merchants had cyi-
icntly done their best to prepare for such al
,Ecnt, and were strongly eut1encl,cd behind |
Elcir counters, reinforced by numerous assist |
'nts, and SO they stood 4 long days siege, but
nevertheless, the assailing party seemed to eu-
oy an advantage, and they certainly secured |
IN abundance Of spoils. We looked about for |
,ur military but it was, even with them, ,"cycry |
nan for himself" and In d most unwarlike |
manner, Coloncls and Majors, and privatcs in
:iyic dress, only swe1led the general attack |
nd defence.
Surely thought We, in view Of South Caro-
ina aud the TREASON Of James Buchanan, there
sill be a ln:ge demand for weapons, mud get
IL NC SAT- purchased were oftAe uMsery rc::;u-
ation iattcrn, tin barrels md tin blades. We
bought there would surely BIZ fitting out Of
military companies, and jet learn that sales
nod 10 {1l /
in trumpcts. We followed u lercc-lookin.
citizen three squares, sladowcd !,
i'm into L store, hcard him ask for 'sco,npa-
y of soldiers" +" Aha, we have it," and VIC
eld our breath: VIC might have spared our
aims, for tho man bought set Of wooden
4illlput mllitia, and carried them Off in his
ockct. We heard 4 mother say she must buy
cr son a horse. We thought OF her OF Sparta,
0 ready to saidd her eon, but this modern
iatrou bought stced on 1ockars and seut il
ono by express.
Expresses were flashing to sud fro, and ciIi.
ems aud errand boys carrying asiniuls Of
rowu Eapcred packages. Surely munitions
war. Wcpcepcd to see lurking cartridges,
ut only bon-tons met our gaze; and ba,c-
cts, but found only batt1e-dores and toy
hips. We found ourselves out Of our reck-
ming, and under 4 dclusion. This all meant
le reverse of fighting, the reverse Of want
ID panic that lends to popular tumults. 1t
'oked like very vigorous preparation for the
olidays, aul SO it war, Only this, and noth~
6 more and We arc to possess "cakcs and
e." and the children to have good SAINTS
taus in spite Of J. B. nnd all the Palmetto
lgs in the world.
Looking at the commotion in this light, VIC
" glorious winter day, aud streets full Of
e, and stores full Of shoppers, preparing for
e feason Of gifts and gift-making. We saw
EN- selecting rich yolumes-hravc in gilt
ID Turkey morocco, or bright with pictures,
Ec.n,s .rall. .El1,.l ao..u4a.z IN [