The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-02-04
THE DRUMMER's DREAH.
.BT MARY E. TUCKER

Z [ am emily drummer; not one who calls
forth very eqaiyocal music from the noisy.
instrument called drum, but one whose bu-
siness it is to bring to bear all the weight or
force of tongue-inhuence upon the mind Of
man by irritating the tympanpfn Of his ear,
by which means I often convince him, and
against his will, that my employers sell goods
at a much lower figure than any one else pos
sibly can, because they (my employers) man
ufacture first the materials and then convert
them into articles for their traffic, which, Of
course, enables them to deduct frosl the pur-
chaser's price a certain percentage, which
would otherwise be paid into the hands Of
the original manufacturer. ,!.i ei'i '9
Before the war it was my duty and pleas
ure to travel through the Southern States,
and more social and hospitable people was
never born than l found there. was born
in cold New England, where you were duly
weighed before being received into a house
as a guest, and to me the warm Hearted greet
ings of the Southern stranger were. as pleas
ant as it was surprising. Many day have
I spent, an honorea guest, at the country res
idence Of some rich city merchant, whose
fast accommodating funds were invariably in
vested in negroes and lands, until the double
burden Of plantation and store ruined him in
purse or worried him into his grave r
During the latter part Of the year 1853.
was travelling through Georgia and Alabama.
l had hoped to arrange my business SO as to
be able to spend Christmas in my New Eng
land home, but advices from my employers
convinced me of the necessity of closing &C
counts with our Southern patrons because Of
the prospective war, which we felt could not
be avoided.
So on Christmas day I found myself in
theprairie lands of Alabanna, and glorious
day it was. was fortunately the guest Of a
wealthy planter, who counted his slaves by
the hundreds, and never shall | forget that
morning et
Immediately after breakf fast mine host ard
his family went out upon the portlco, upon
which stood dozen large boxes. A negro
man opened them, and displayed dress goods
Of very superior quality, and also ready
made clothing for men, among which recog-
nized many Of our own goods.
81 suppose" said my entertainer, pointing
to the articles, "you thought | bought these
things to establish country store but they
are destined only for family use. I have
quite small family of my own, as you viii
sce-three or for hundred. Simon, ring the
bell" sssga4ist
Scarcely had the ringing ceased, when the
doors of the cabins opened, the servants
| gathered around the masters house, and the
presents we're disturbed. All were valuable
I am sure that five dollars would scarcely
have paid for the most inferior. Each seem
ed to give satisfaction, aud a more happy joy
| Gus set of servants never was. ~
The remainder of the day was spent in gen
eral festivities. Good things were provided
by the quantities, aud the white family was
expected to visit each cabin to taste Of ths
Christmas cheer At night the negroes gave
ball, using as a dancing room large barn
which had just been completed. =
To me the grotesque appearance OF tbs
black faces, and gaily dressed forms OF TIL
black women, were most amusing, and thel
smiling ceuntenances showed how intcnsel.
they enjoyed themselves. a i.a
| Musical fondness is one of the chief ele
! ments of the negro character. Each planta
| ton had its musician, and nigh dancing lnva
riably followed the day. work.
The supper that night, prepared entirely
by the negroes, would have put to shame on
Of Demonico's chef d oeuvres. 2i
Whole pigs were barbecued, lordly turkeys
which Two days before were the pride Of tn
poultry yard, roasted crisp and brown upo'
the table. Chicken pies and salads wer
among the entrees, and cold ham and pickle
make excellent relishes True, they had n
ice-cream, but cups of golden custard wer
! far more acceptable, andsyllabub aud jelly re
licved the heaviness of the bountifully sprea
cake-table. stT6a ea
"Do you make SO much OF Christmas ever
year" aifasa s.3a
| eyes, massa,' answered very old negro
| awe always hab nlonstrous good time cher
Christmas, chen in old massa,s time, and n
warn't mig h so good to.we 'uns as Mars Hal
ry. We don't do muffin now till New Year
day, and den we goes to work like dc mi'
chief"