The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-30
CONFEDERATE CHRISTMAS
TREE.


of lite we're scarce and dear. Toys were
something very few people ever dreamed
of buying; and goodies OF all sorts were
rarlties to the children at Oak Hill, as
they ~.re 70 most Southern people at
that Time.
Their father was in comfortable cir
cumstanccs- before the war had been
rich; and still had plenty of Confederate
money, but it took great deal OF that
20 buy very little, and when candy sold
for hundred dollars pound, people
made up their mind 10 do without il.
But Aunt Pattio was staying at Oak
Hill, and she declared it was outra-
geous that the little folks should have no
Christmas. 1t went to her heart, she
said, TO see little Matte (her homesake
ana especial pet nursing headless doll
and Freddie, playing horse with tobacco
stick. 1t was no use to tell her that
Matte, aged five, and Freddie, three
wears, had never been USED 10 toys or
candies, and therefore did not miss them
She was determined they should have
N treat for once, and that the treat should
be Christmas tree. SO she talked
their Mother, and their two sIsters-wbo
were almost young ladies-into the idea,
and they all went busily to work.
First for Mattie's doll. Fifty dollars
in Confederate money was sent to Rich
mond, and in return china dolls head
came back, such one rs you could buy
to-day for fi.tv cents. For this Aunt
Pattie made body of strong cotton
cloth. snd stuffed 1t with whest bran.
The legs were made sepsratetrom the
BODY. and were each in two pieces, so
that they were iointcd at the thighs and
and knees, and the feet pointed outward
beautifully.
The arms were in two pieces also, and
the parL from Inc elbow down was made
of an old kid glove. Then Miss Dolly
was dressed. She had stockings cut
from an old one of Aunt Pattiesi black
velvet shoes, laced by lattice-work OF
yellow silk; and underclothcs and dress
all complete. Her hat was plated OF
wheat straw, and trimmed with red rib
bon, with a downcv turky feather in it
for an ostrich plume, and she had real
,auF This mutt was part OF q squirrel
skin, which had been tanned by mailing
it. fur down, on board, and rubbing 1t
lightly with hickory ashes. When dry
the skin was rubbed with tallow to make
it soft. Llned with red silk and cotton
batting, it was very stylish muh, in
deed
There was also set of furniture for
Miss Dolly, made ali out of pssteboard.
covered with light brown paper, trimmed
with blue The bedStesd was u box top,
sewed between two stiff pieces of paste
board, shaped like the hesd and foot
board of French bedStesd. Paper
pasted smoothly over this hid all the
stitches and stripes of blue paper repre-
scented the the ornamental mouldlngS.
Another box, about two thirds as wide
as it WAS long, was converted into u
wardrobe One end was taken off, and u
piece OF pastebOard the size OF the bottom
WAS sewcd TO the remaining three sides,
making one end OF the box It's top.
Three strips of pasteboard cut so as to
flare outward, like window cornice,
we're sewed around the front and sides
of the top of the wardrobe 10 represent
the upper mouldings. Narrow strips of
blue papers outlined the doors, and two
little spots of the same stood for key
holes. The top was open, and into it
Maggie might stow her baby rags, The
bureau was box almost square, and hall
rs deep as wide. This was scwed up
like the wardrobc-only no opening was
Leland set on end. After covering it
with paper, strips of blue paper were
carefully pasted on, TO initiate the drawers
The knobs and key holes were OF blue
paper too, and little scrap Of looking
rlass was framed in pastebcard set in the
top of the bureau. Chairs OF pasteboard
stood on tiny round wooden legs, to
which the pasteboard seats were nailed
with small tscks, and over all the paper
was pasted.
Freddie had y horse. This hsd given
Aunt Pattie good deal Of trouble-not
so much in making as IN planning. a
horses hesd of proper size was hrst
drawn on paper the pattern taken, and
from tins two pieces cut OF b'ack cIoth
lenameled cloth is best, but tins wss not
10 be had. These were joined together
with narrow strip of the same, and
three cornereG bits OF cloth, lined with
red flannel. sewed in Tor ears. Turned
and stuffed like pin-cushlon. with
beads for eyes and uostrils, the result
was q tolerable imitation Of horse :
| hesd This was then fasteped on t. y
/ stort cane. to the other end Of which q
L A h-r.A a u a
stall. knit OF red yarn, completed the
work.
There was also trap-bsll for Freddie
home made. like everything else.
Aunt Psttle took eight oblong strips o
strong cotton cloth, shaped like The
sTces of a mushmelon, and stitched then
trcether at the edges This Was stuffed
with fine cut hay rs tight as she couIc
mack il. and covered with soft leather
overseamed closely by the aid Of a stout
need e and An swl.
The baby had bsll, too, made by th'
same pattern, of bright-coIored hanneIs
and stuffed with wool. A small spic'
box with a few shot in it, formed th'
basis of a rattle. Some little holes were
punched in the box at each end, ard !
was covered with old flannel, stretched
as tight as possible. For this one of tn
girls knit a case of red and white yarn II
alternate stripes, and string to hold l
by.
The tapers to light the tree were easil'
managed.
Some WAX and rosin were melted IN
tin platter, and string of csndlewic
several yards long was drawn througI