The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1882-12-30
CHRISTMAS ON THE FRONTIER.
A MEMORY.


A heavy snow fell about the first
of December, but the driving north
west wind which followed, left it in
piles and drifts. So little addition
to the first supply, which fell two
days before Christmas, was welcomed
by all. On the following morning
the sun rose clear, but, the air was
biting. After an early breakfast
every man who owned gun was out
hunting wild turkeys, and every boy
who could lay claim to a dog was in
pursuit of rabbits. There being no
scarcity of either kind Of game, both
men and boys were generally more
or less successful. But scliool-timc
saved many rabbit, and sent many
u boy to his tasks with mutterings
Of what he would do tomorrow"
On Christmas we the children, rs
is usual with children, were anxious
to know what ''Old Kriss" would
bring them, but they had been wise
enough to examine rs carefully as
they could without showing too much
interest, all parcels which their fathers
had brought from town within the
last week. And childish curiosity
had in many cases circumvetned the
cunning of mature years. But sleep
comes sooner to young eyes then to
old, and it stays more stubbornly
with them. The stockings having
been hung. the light.--candle-ligllt--
of Christmas morning revealed all
mysteries and solved all doubts
about the annual return of the benc-
VIOLENT visitor.
The first excitement Of the
morning over, the meeting in the
country church began to occupy
attention. The boys gave up their
rabbit hunts or cut them shOrt-nOt
so much for the sake of the sermon
as for fear of missing what came
after. At ten O'Clock team of farm
horses. whose spirits had been reused
by few weeks Of rest and cold
weather, were driven around to the
front gate drawing an ol,l-fashioned
long sled, the box of which WAS half
full of prairie hay. Soon all were in,
seated Oh the hay. covered with
shawls, buffalo robes, and blankets,
and otherwise protected from the
cold, which none feared. Up hill
and down, the horses kept their their
speed. Coming to the church, all
hurried in, for the flying snow had
prepared them to enjoy gathering
around the red-hOt stoves. One of
these stood Oh each side of the room
that on the left being particularly
adapted to the use of the male
portion of the Congregation. The
people did not come all at once,
but in half an hour so many were
present that the minister went into
the pulpit. After the singing of q
hymn, without trained leader or
instrument, he read of the shepherds
who abode in the field, and kept
watch over their flock by night on
the plains of Bethlehem; knecling he
fervently prayed for himself and all
of his congregation, for well he knew
each one. Then he proclaimed the
Glad TidiDgs and repeated the old,
old story of saviour sent from
Heaven to fallen man. When tho
parting bcnediction, had been invoked
upon the congregation, they did not
dispense so quickly as il thought
proper among more assuming people.
They fingered that they might
exchange cheerful words with many
friends. And when they went, il
was to gather in groups of two on
three families each, in various farm-
houses Of the neighborhood. III ~,
In many places Christmas has
been the occasion Of the renewal of
old family ties Not so on the from
tier. Those who lived there were
but the scattered fragments of fami-
lies farther east. But community Of
joys, hopes, cares, fears, and sorrows
established a kinship of its own. Here,
then, they meet--often families from
different states, sometimes from
different continents. The Christmas
turkey was not wanting, but many Of
the luxuries of olSleni countries were
enjoyed in memory only. The dinner
over, it was not thought improper for
all the women to 90 to the kitchern
and help put things TO rights. And
the merTror big boys when there
were sucl-fed and cared for their