The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-30
The Old Virginia Christmas,
Apple older, 'simmon beer.
Chrlstmha comes but once Yea


IL does not come any oftener; rare
things are generally valued Why, II
diamonds were as common as dewdrops
in May, or pearls as frequently seen as
the first jewels OF December, people
would say, "lovely but valuelcss' And
II Christmas came two or three times
year it would soon lose its popularity
and be held thing Of no account. AS
it is, how brightly do we anticipate its
coming; how eagerly Is il welcomed
and VITA what reluctance do we sec 1t
depart And If Christmas is now "a JOY
forever" what must it have been in the
fine old days Of yorc?n Only those
who have passed Christmas at Vir-
gina mansion, can realize its pleasures
It's JOYS begin with Christmas Eve,
when the scattered members Of the fam
lily and Il few chosen guests begin to
gather in. Carriage after carriage rolls
up to the broad steps, and merry, hap
| py faces are collecting in the cosy sit
| ting room. Jumult rules the hour, for
everybody is glad TO see everybody else,
and each one has thousand things TO
say. But after supper they quiet down,
and begin to enjoy rational converse
ton. The little ones hang their stock
ings. up and want 10 sit up half the
night talking about Santa Claus. At
an early hour the good nights" are
spoken and all 90 TO sleep, $50 as to
feel refre>he tomorrow. Tomorrow
begins at an early hour, for before cock
crow the servants come in to kindle the
fire, each eager to be the first to claim
christmas gif' of the white folks"
The children also rise early, to seek in
the toes of their stockings the hidden
treasures that have filled their dreams.
The lazy elders sumber on, or try to
slunber on, for the children and dark
les are too hilarious to admit of undis-
turhed slumbers. About nine comes
the smoking breakfast, the table drawn
up to the wide old il<- p,ace, blazing
with hickory logs. The little ones, still
busy with santas presents, are grouped
on the rug discussing and comparing
their stores. The grown people take
their places at the table; the gray-haired
father returns thanks for AL these
blessings" each one devouily bending
the head the while and the children
hushiug their chatter, whispering,
grandpa is saving grace After this
the plates are turned and many ex-
CARNATIONS Of pleasure are heard rs one
after another finds some pretty present
under his or her plate. These must all
be examined, and breakfast is forgot
ten until the father says; Come, girls,
breakfast is getting cold. You can
look at your presents after breakfast "
The mother pours the amber coffee,
clear as wine, and all begin to discuss
the good things that Dinah has sent in
from her savory kingdom, the kitchen.
Breakfast over, the iWiig, begin to dis
peuse usefu, presents 10 the servants,
aprons, handkcrchieis, WOODEN gloves,
stockings aud socks. sack, and dresses
for their children, etc. Chloe cones in,
radiant In crimson baudana turban,
new cotton dress and an immense shiny,
many coored necklace Ga present from
young Zoe, the dining-room seryanO to
wash the breakfast things. The house
is put into beautiful order, aud after
awhile the guests invited to partake OF
the Christmas dinner, begin to arrive.
The pleasant day passes quickly The
older people are in the sittiug-room,
quietly enjoying themselves the parlor
is given up to the young folks, and
whenever the door is opened gay sounds
Of song, merry chatter and bursts of
laughter issue into tho hall. About b
o clock the sumptuous dinner is ready.
| can see the table now, grooming be-
meath its load. The place of honor is
occupied by the lordly turkey, stuffed
with oysters and accompanied by its
celery sauce. At the other end OF the
table is huge roast Of beef, with mash
ed potatoes. The intervening space is
filed with such minor things as chick
ems, game, rice, macaroni, sausage,
pickles, catsup, etc, For desert, Joe,
the butler, brings in the Christmas
lum-pudding; mince pies,and custards
and goblets of cool yellow cream.
After the lamps are lit "old jim" the
banjo player, is sent for from the quar-
tiers and dancing begins reels, quad
rifles and co,illions, with now and ther
spirited waltz, The servants gather
shout the parlor windows "to peep,
and the dancers catch occasional gimp
= SEES of dusky faces peering in at them
i Presently servant enters bearing
tray filed with glasses, Another fol
t, lows with huge bowl Of foaming gold
|. en- egg nogg and silver punch ladle Il
3 dip it. Everybody drinks this lusciou
d beverage and Christmas would cease t'
be Christmas without il, In the I'VE
:, sma' hours Of morning they separat
" to sleep until the 10 o'clock breakfast
II This programme is repeated the nox
q day and is kept up for a week,