The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-01-16
Christmas in Charleston Jail.
BY REV. HIRAM EDDY.

Some things are revealed to greater ad-
vantage by the aid of darkness. The camera
oJscura requires not only its lens, its light
within, the white surface upon which to throw
is image, but also the dark chamber. The
s,ars blaze the brightest and smile the sweet
st where the darkness is the densest. The
Great Illuminator flashes truth on the mind
tv startling contrasts. Thus beautiful and
glorious things, social and moral, are seen to
tie best advantage from some place of dark
.u. dreaYy Secusion.
Charleston Jail was by no means a camera
.rija, but perfect camera oJsc,ua to those
who had the light within. That Jail was lit
.a..y black hole, and beautiful ere the
nlgCS We sometimes saw flung upon the
,'ayaS. Every external thing was gloomy.
We were behind bars and bolts, and within
u,.siye walls. The creaking of iron doors
al the rattle Of the keepers keys sounded
/. our ears eTery day, the last thing at night
nj the first in the morning. Then in ad-
ll.on We were imprisoned with rioters, negro
wh.ppers, loose women, looser men, murder
-. Ersrn wenches of suspected virtue to
whom all the prisoners had free access, ma
Aing the jail worse than Jail, very den of
pollution. At the same time we lived in the
midst of the most vllainous smells and ate
the most yi!lainous food, food that was alive
and kicking when it was brought to US.
This was our camera Uhe dark vault,) and
lights Of other days sometimes shone there
and revealed beautiful things on the WALL
such was Christmas where thousand things
as real as life came marching over the canvas
each one giving US smile, dead times re-
viewed.
1t was proposed to get up Christmas din
aer which was an enterprise of stupendous
magnitude, when you consider our living ba-
con, hard bread, Our less than half rations,
our empty pockets and the difficulty of get
ting things in from the market. 1t was no
ordinary task, but all the officers had deter.
mined upon the matter. Every mess was
all astlr with preparations. One mess room
was trimmed for the festival. Lieut. Walter,
our artist, frescoed cartoon with his magic
coal on the wall above the fire place, which
was admired for its speaking power. Above
lie fresco was the cross and above the cross
the immortal letters "J. II. S. The artistic
work of the cross and the letters were per-
to:med by Capt Jenkins. They were done
IN turnip leaves, sewed on paper, these being
the only green things to which We lad access.
Although the turnip leaves did not afford the
best association, still there was no levty.
Like the widows two farthings it was the
best We could do, and We saw one hanging
On tree" while we heard the angels sing
ing ito the shepherds, "peace on earth"
But what shall We eat? Guess, "Peter.
'ench ," Higher, Scouse:9' Higher, " Pc
ieg.rnch and Scouse sweetened ?" Higher
Boiled Bacon and Cabbage, or fried Bacon
and Eggs?" Higher, Boiled Chicken etc.?'
Higher, Turkey and Cranberry sauce ?'
Higher, " "Scallopel Oysters and Pumpkin
f.c' All bat the scallop and pumpkin pie.
i1at dear Old yankee dish which hath a his
':y IN it. appeared only in our memories
Oar mess first engaged chickens of Crack
-. Now You must know that Cracker in
,..s SENSE is not something to be eaten, as
va would think if you should see some Of
.aem, but something that eats and produce;
>methng to eat. \ Cracker in Souti
Iro.Ina is a small planter and held IN great
..'r-Pute This man was in prison because
he "ould not burn up his cotton and join the
-sbe. army. But when the day came he
.a.gu US, for he could not make the connec
"JIs with his friends outside. Thus GU,
...us of the last hour were all knocked into
j.. The black, greasy bacon stared US il
l"e iace and for a moment the Christina.
"'nner stocks were at a startling discount
"1t our momentary discontinue ended in
our going up step higher in our bill of fare
NlIIlken, the fat, sputtering Irish jailor was
cooking turkey for our next door mess, 6
dinner being sent into the latter, we came
INTO possession of the turkey by right O
purchase. We sat down to dinner with tur
Key for the groundwork, sweet potatoes, tur
alp, soft bread and coffee, the whole of which
was beautifully set off by plate of butter
Our table needs description. 1t was com
posed of rough board about foot and
'ali wide. one end laid upon a light stand
with three whole legs and one broken, anC
the other end on barrel which was used al
cur pantry. Two common earthern plates
appear on the table, the rest are tin. Tn,
turkey was sent in on an old earthern platte
cracked and ready TO fall to pieces; but i
contaned precious morsel. Our appetite
were all ready and each face glowing will
Pleasure. The Chaplain was called on to sa,
grace, which he engaged in with great equa
h.mity until he came to remember thos,
Tlund the hom e-hearths; here tenderness
u associations were too much for him anC
MS voice faltered. The turkey was carved il
ne best style and discussed with the great
est zest. The staple Of conversation, wha
could It be but the dear ones at home. n,
o'Aer thought got in edgewise. Home wa
'Ae thought, home the reflection, home tn
anticipation. Home sweet home, never di,