The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-12-07
when the militia lawv we're IN force, all |


the boys, on reaching the age Of twenty
one years, were obliged to be mustered
in, have uniform with great deal of
yellow about it, knapsack marked U
S. on the back, cartridge box, gun
with glistening bayonet; and 1t was
matter of pride among bis relatives to
see young man, armed and equipped
as the law directs, going through the
evolutions and keeping time to the music
of very warlike fife and drum, which
the same persons had played since the
memory of the oldest townsman.
After the May training there was
respite until the general muster, when
infantry, artillery and cavalry joined in
celebration. The day was appointed
several weeks beforehand The day be-
fore the celebration people were putting
up tents and making preparations, and
all through the night people came to
the grounds At early dawn the farm
ers around tbs country came with wag-
ons loaded with honey, sweet cider,
Summer sweetings, pies, cakes, roasted
meats and whatever might serve for
dinner, and having taken the tailboard
of the wagon and put it across two bar
rels, peddled their stock to che hungfy
crowd. All was hustle, hurry and con-
fusion There were bakers offering
their ginger bread in sharp voices, ped
dlers their wares, men and boys who
sold everything, from Brandeth's pills to
an accordion, and fddlers who had put
up tent and put down floor, where
all who could pay could "trip the light
fantastic toe The parade and review
in distant part of the field being over,
the sham fight closed the days excite
ment. As the evening air grew chill,
many q tired child, who had run away
from school, hied him to his home and
bed to escape parental detection; and
when it was known next morning that
the school-master was at the muster, all
the truants were shielded and muster
day declared a jolly time.
The next holiday to look forward to
was Thanksgiving. Of course, the ponds
were frozen, and the smooth ice covered
with lively skaters (boys and girls. Ifa
girl could not skate, a boy who was no
relation to her would cut withe of alder
or birch, and giving her one end twisted
into handle co hold on by, he would
draw her about on the ice until she tired;
then another would take turn, and SO
on. In this way the day passed until
dinner time came. Then the tables were
spread SO large that none of the children
had to wait, and with appetites sharp
ened by active sport we ate turkey,
mince pie with raisins in it, pumpkin
pies with deep crust and lots of pie to
it, doughnats, apples with rosy cheeks,
nuts that we had gathered afterth frost
came, and nice sweet cider to finish eff
with. Then came the games with cous-
ms, uncles and aunts, and grandparents
who watched us occasionally looking
over their spectacles, and the day closed
as all Thanksgivings do I had almost
forgotten to say that there was meet
ing in the forenoon, to which all the
parents of the neighborhood went and
the unmarried women who were too old
to skate, and the young men (bachelors)
who had outgrown the sports Of boyhood
and remained single of sheer neglect, all
found much to be thankful for, and, ac-
cording to the New England custom,
thanked God with their whole hearts for
all his mercies.
Although we had enjoyed Thanksgiv-
ing, we were no less prepared for Christ
mas festivities. Christmas was the
crowning glory of all our holidays. We
selected tree the Summer before, when
we went after raspberries in the pasture.
It was tall, graceful, full of little needle
tassels that are found OH the fir trees of
New England It was carefully taken
home, deeked with popcorn and cram
berries, and covered with little tallow
candles made on purpose when the larger
candles were dipped. When it was dec
grated, and placed in the centre of the
fore room, all the presents that had
been secretly prepared, were hanged.
There were suspenders, and mittens knit
for the boys; wooden stockings, soft and
warm, for the girls, and soft, white nit
tens to wear to school; caps, stocks,
bright silk handkerchiefs, silver bowed
spectacles, ETC., for the 'old folks a
whistle and rattle for the baby, and
some nice things for the poor neighbors,
who were invited in because they were
not able to get one of their own-to say
nothing of the jack-in-a- box, that was
opened by every new conner, Then came
the Christmas dinner-chicken pie, plum
pudding, ETC., and saucer pie for each
of the children. Then came candy
pulling in the evening; and thus went
Christmas, where so many other Christ.
mas days have gone-into memory's
treasure box.
We always enjoyed the time when
the teacher boarded with MS. Parents
gave the board in proportion to the
number of scholars they sent to school.
If woman had made mince pies, or
had packed spare-ribs in snow, OF fat
tened turkey, they We're sure to come
on the table while the master or mis-
tress boarded with us. The spare room
which usually contained bed, bn-
reau, some wooden chairs, light stand
over which was looking glass with a
carved frame and gilt eagle just in the
center at the top; mat before the fire.
place and one at the side of the bed, as
witnesses of the industry Of the house
hold; patchwork quilt of bright colors,
giving cheerful aspect to the bed-was
the sacred place where all the little
keepsakes were arranged on the mantel
of the bureau, the Bible always forming
the prominent feature in the collection,