Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-01-14
For The Register.
Southern Correspondence.

Unusual Cold H'sGfher- Snow and Ice
a CriOsify-The Christmas HOi-
days-HoIo They Spend 7htm-
The Freedmen, Then and .Now-
Their H'oges.
"Cold as Christmas" is an old SAYING
and will apply equally well 10 this cline.
this season. The "olJest inhsbltaUt"
has never seen such deep snow or felt
such cold westher as there has been DUR
ing the lasiiew days. On the night OF
the 23rd instant snow fell 10 lie depth
Of three inches and ice several inches
,hirk could have been obIsined in expos
ed places, which has never been seen in
this cline before. The snow has dissp-
pesred, but the ice remains. The snow
was great curiosity 10 The children and
they gathered up end prcked away barrels
Of it to mkae "snow cream" with. the
nearest approach to ice cream they can
get. II il Is as cold, in proportion to
lotDtude with you, many one IL shiver-
ing over his anthracite fire and blessing
his "OrIentsl" or Morning Glo,y."
Perhaps. We feel the cold more severely
on account Of the sudden change from
pleasant to winIy weather. We can al
most cry, in dersion. oh for the Sunny
South The young chickens and tender
flowers that had come forth 10 take "a
peep" E, the genial weather have retired
and hid themselves from The winGy blasts
The Christmas Holidays paid US their
annual visit, but am so fer IN The coun-
Try that miss-a happy mss-sll the
"noise and confusion" snc sad mirh lhs,
usually at end this season in country
towns. would scarcely have known ito
arrival, had it not been Tor the application
from anxious children for the accustomed
holidays, which they spend like children
elsewhere.
! could not help contrasting the presen.
''enjoyment Of Christmas, by the
"Freedmen" with whs, saw in 1860, in
Alabama. Ihcn. they seemed II be all
life and JOY, there were no cares 30 mar
their pleasures, nor had they thought
beyond how they could best spend their
weeks holiday and "est. drink and be
merry" Dressed in their Sunday
clothes and the happy recipients OF
many presents, from old mssss and mis-
sis and the children. they wended their
way from house TO house and made the
region sound vocal with their gay songs.
music and dancing. NOw. the scene has
changed. They have nothing TO look for.
ward to. They are their own msssas
snd mssis's and have no one 10 expec.
Christmas presents from. There time is
their own and The wants Of their bodies,
in food and clo'hug,i make heavy de-
mands upon them and they have liule
time or inclination for merry making,
while children at home are CRYING Tor
htead and suffering FOR something TO wear.
In country where ell lheiri supplies
have TO come from abroad it requires
much foresight and care 10 provide for
hungry mouths. and were il moi for the
provdeni care Of The whites in confning
them to daily ralIons they would consume
years supply in less than six months.
Some OF them work for wages and get
sl3 per month. finding themselves. The
employer furnishing them houses others
rent the land, furnishing the mules. while
the proprietor furnishes feed, seed and
land. aud receives one.hslf Of the crop.
and | have been curious To ascertain how
much they save above their rslions snd
incidenIsls. and find the average TO be a.
bout SO. Those who rent Do best ss the
proprietor has an eye to The proper cuI-
ture Of his lands and makes them attend
10 making and saving the crop.
Hoping your readers DDd yourself have
had merry Christmas. wish you
all Happy New Year" and pIeasan,
journey through it.
PEREGRINUS. ia.
Sumter District, s. c.. Dec 27. 1870.
" Wor,r,.'r pg S,,,xy,,n ALo.,