Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-27
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY.
Grange Administration Mil Creek
valley Can Do the HOnors-


There is nothing like the Grange. II
solves problem in American sociology.
The wonder now is how the American
farmer ever got along without such an or
ganiza;iOn. It fills his mind with rural
love; il fills his heart with rural joys, and,
enthusiastically, it fills his stomach with
rural comforts. A Grznge reunion is no
small affair. It is, moreover, peculiarly an
American institution. The peasantry Of
Merry Old England, from time immemori-
al, have had their Msy-pole dances in the
spring, their harvest feasts in the autumn,
and, on Christmas ewes, have burned their
blazing Yule log and hung high the tradi-
tional mistletOe, under which pretty girls
were caught and kissed. Why should not
the more independent yeOmanry OF Ameri-
ca fave similar pastimes and festivals?
The Grange has answered "Why?" with a
loud echo. Isolation, .discOntent and So
cial famine indeed Let such words be
blotted out OF the farmers vocabulary. The
Grange will do it. EStO PeTpetuG.
The UNION AND AMERICAN man is
fresh from a Christmas festival given by
"Mill Creek Valley Grange at Gethsemane
Hall, where the members Of "ROugh Rock
and~.Nubbin Ridge" Oranges were honor
ed guests. Never were Inequalities more
literally dispensed. Evidences Of welcome
confronted the reporter in every face, and
the ponderous baskets, covered with spot
less lifIen, over which he literally stumbled
in passing through the ante-room, were an
earnest OF ''the good time coming, bye and
bye" and put him in fine humor 81 once.
The hall was taStefully decorated with
fesiOOn of evergreen Conspicuous among
them was a semi-circular arch-the wOrs OF
fair hands-formed Of letters, wrought with
eTergTeens, spanning the dais upon which
were seated the presiding GOddesses Of the
Order, Ceres, Flora, and Pc
mona This arch, complete, formed
the words, "a merry Christmas tOall," and
was ''the keynote of the campaign" as the
politicians say. Merry making was the
order Of the day. The dinner was COM
plete in all its appointments; variety and
profusiOn were manifest everywhere; sub
stantials and goodies were confusedly con-
founded on that table. "Nubbin Ridge"
came up to the scratch promptly, and re-
tired man.fully; so did ~ROugh Rock"
The Grange work Ofthe day was presided
over and directed by Worthy Master DIR. j.
II. Currey, whose dignity. firmness and
familiarity with parliamentary usages,
coupled with his Characteristic Sttdriter IN
nlOdo, peculiarly fit him for the place he
has filed ever since the organization Of his
Grange.
"Ail Creek Valley" is a model Grange,
and is working wonders. Its best members,
Of course, are the good sisters who prepare
such tOOthsOme feasts-
The following were elected officers for
the year 1875: Master, j. ii. Curey; Over
seer, II. B. Hill; Lecturer, Jas. Alexander;
Steward, Y. Brown; Assistant Steward,
Turner G. Moore; Chaplain, G.. w. Hogan;
Treasurer, Andrew Baker, ST.; Secretary,
Mrs. VIM. p. Alexander; G.. K, Geo. w.
Spain, jr.; Ceres, Mrs. Bette Thompson;
Pomona, Miss Fannie Brown; Flora, Miss
Bette Baker; L. A. s., Miss Mary Min
ton.