The daily gazette., 1874-12-29
Christmas tn the Coasaatrv.

THE SPORTS .oE. THE HoLISAY sxAseN
-cHRTsTMAs EVE ExPKRfENcrS-
CHRISTMAS CIDER AND K CHRISTMAS
FIRE.
Correspondence Of tie Gazetfs.
WnLowoRovR, DEL, Dec. %, 1874
Christmas Is jolly day-a day when
all the country bucks, young and old,
gather around the villages and loaf
in the stores where candies and fire.
works are sold-a day when the dears
dress up. in their best. tucker
and watch the little brats ransack their
SOCKS (scarcely from the washtub) and
haul out the many things that Santa
Claus so generously donated-a day
when the dozen large apples lay Ioast,
| ing before the fire preparing for the
wherewithal to make happy the lord OF
the h0lse-a day when the land flows
with milk and honey" and "whiskey
and cider"
On the evening before this eventful
day, having performed the duties de-
Ivolying upon sold Kris Kingle," :" we
buried ourselves in our downy couch
when it was not yet eleven, and soon
Old chanticleer wrung out his shrili
i claviOn on the still night air, and old
bantum from the willow casting his
eye up to the laughing moon answered
with his voice pitched on o high key,
and soon again old shanghigh pitched
his song on b fiat. "Confound those
roosters Wish they would dry up :"
said /.
Then my ncighbor's iackass rem his
head on high and started his gentle
cackle, letting forth thunder and light
ing, hell-fire and birthstone at intervals
af five minutes. The fresh COW opened
er big throat, straining every nerve.
believing and lowing for her calf,
whose hide the day before had been
depositedlin the lanyard. This started
every hound, fiste and tarrier within
five miles yelping, barking and howl
ing, as if to announce the coming of an
lawful calamity and even the geese,
hauling their heads from under their
wings, rose more awful squalling
than the sacred geese of Rome and
interludes and preludes were ushered
| in by old tom-cat and puss.
] Thus they kept up their grand con
cert for three hours, when our thoughts
were directed TO regular black. lacked
injun-fiea that came tickling my feet,
and soon, having reached a desirab BILE
Ispot, he layed hold with all his might,
III have got you now" but before we
could turn up the light to kill him he
ran his dagger in on another quarter
/ "froze on to him, )" but he then 'froze
: on to me" in another place, and finally
Z we succeeded in catching him and
h pulling out his teeth ; but that jackass
2 those dogs and cats continued thei
E melodious notes until we were quietly
+ wrapped in the arms of Morpheus.
al This was Christmas eve, but Christ
D mas morning was much more inviting
A / for Tennessee Gooden, living mile
+ from our village has had the honol
: and reputation OF having excellent
+ cider, and he announced that he hac
I reserved barrel full of the luciOu
{ / fluid getting good and hard for Christ
/, mas, and he invited all in the vicinity
= 1 to assemble at his sanctum sanctorun
: early Christmas morning to drink anG
8 be jolly with him, and in accordance
1 with which the friends began to con
Il gregate. A large roaring fire had beeI
D built, tapping its flames up the chin
e ney.
8 The greetings of merry Christina
e were passing around to each as he En-
/, tered and soon the cider would hav
: been flowing rapidly when the cry 0
: -k"Fire Fire J" started every one frpu
Yhls seat. "What shall we do ~ erie,
e one "Where are the buckets - erie,
f another Where is the cider ~ erie
q the third.
II The fire started on the roof and la,
o fmade such rapid progress that ther
b was little hope of arresting the flames
i and William, the father of mine hos
e cried out "Get out the things ard lc
g her burn.'
MI They saved all the furniture, &C., e.
IS cept q part of bedstead, which
: doubtless, the company, in which IT,
s house was insured, will make right
I'll After the work was ali completed
y that same fellow raised the cry "Wher
Z, is the cider % 1t happened that III
i. cider, was in the barn and escaped th
e Iconhagration, and soon all raised ID
< song "a little more cider too"
/, The loss by the fire was $500 or $sC
l. fully covered by insurance.
ri Before the smoke ceased to cll
It gracefully in the air the misfortunat
,s was cozily fixed up in the house whe1
David Marvel lived and died, which
h situated in the heart of the villag,
Il and we advise all to wonder hither /
d Iquest of good cider. XMAS,
j.