The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-12-27
Christmas Times FOrty.sevcn
Wears ago.


Christmas Times FOrty.seven
Years ago.
Mr.. Editor
This Christmas and New-Year
business carries me away back when
l was wee bit Of boy, full of fun
and mischief. lived of course with
my father and my mother in a great
big stone house four.stories high,
and there were stairs starting from
the ground floor in the center of
this big stone house clear up to the
garrett, and a door opening from each
floor on both sides of these stairs, in.
to large commodius rooms. Now, it
happened, that all of my mothers
sisters-only eight of them-and
their children, numbering about
thirty, including eight of my broth.
ers and sisters, all met ut my fathers
tohave the "NIcrry, merry Christmas"
and "New-Y Year." as was the custom
in those days, when old and young,
rich and poor, preachers and all,
met on such occasions to have a
dance; none of your walks, around,
but "hoc it down" good and strong.
4
And the occasion now speak of was
one of this sort. / went into the
cellar and got a large pumpkin and
one of my mothers sisters, "Aunt
Polly" we called her, was just as
full of mischief as 1 was, only older
and wiser to plan fun. We scraped
out the inside of that big pumpkin
until it was almost transparent;
then we cut q huge pair of eyes,
nose, and in fact, made a very ugly,
horrid face, with big teeth. After
this horrid face was ready, we took
il into a dark room and put candle
into it. We found it n success
Near the house was a tall chestnut
tree, and it being a very dark night,
Aunt Polly held durk-luuternI
while climbed up into the top Of
the tree and placed the pumpkin in
proper position, with the candle.
Aunt Polly said all right; 1 then
covered it with her apron until she
went into the house and got them
all interested in some great yarn so
as to keep them from looking out of
the window until l could remove
the apron, and get into the house.
When l got into the large room
Aunt Polly turned her eyes towards
the tree-then with one unearthly
scream, fell on the floor, and such
another screaming and running l
never did see or hear of. For some
time they were terribly frightened,
until my good mother came in, and
after looking the situation over, said
be calm, that is nothing buta pump.
kin with candle in it-some of that
mischievous boy-Net's work, that
being my nickname, After n while
peace and quiet was restored and the
dance was resumed.
Aunt Polly and l went into the
cellar and got our large tabby-cat and
a pint of bees.wax, melted it, and got
four big clam shells and put the
melted bees-wax into them, and set
them where the wax got a little cool,
so rs not to burn pushes toes, for /
always had a horror of tormenting
animals. We then held all four of
pushes feet into those shells, until
Che wax got as hard as the clam
shells were; all of that being done,
aunt Polly went up stairs, closed all
the doors, leaving thestairs from bot.
tom to top clear. She then went
into the big ballroom and soon at.
tractcd their attention and all
were so still you could have heard a
pin drop. When closed the outside
door and let poor pussy loose, and up
the stairs she went, and another such
an unearthly bowling and cattcrwal.
ing, with chatter of tho clam-shells, |
don't think there ever was, or ever
will be again on a merry Christmas
dark night, with aunt Polly rolling
on the floor frightened almost to
death, and making great effort to
jump out the window, when my good
mother put in her appearance once
moro and Quiotod all their fears by
having poor pussy in her arms, dig.
gipg the wax out Of the clam shells,
at the same time saying, 81 do won.
der whore lint little scapo.graco
ma 40 A,l 4. 800, e., II,,I I ..,,.