The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-22
The Old Virginia Christmas.
Apple cider, 'simmon beer.


Christmas comes but once year."
And l have always felt thankful tina,
it does not come any oftener; rare
things are generally valued. Why, il
diamonds were rs common as dewdrOps
in May. or pearls as frequently seen as
the first jewels of December, people
would say, "lovely but valueless. And
If Christmas came two or three times q
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 it welcomed,
and with what reluctance do we see il
depart! And if Christmas is now ga ioy
forever" what must it have been in the
line old "days of yore?" Only those
who have passed q Christmas at q Vir-
ginia mansion, can realize its pleasures.
Its 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
mp to the broad steps, and merry, hap
Ply faces are collecting in the cosy sit
ting room. Tumult 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
zion. The little ones hang their stock
ngs up and want TO sit up half the
night talking about Santa Claus. At
an early hour the "good nights are
spoken and all GO TO sleep. $50 as to
feel refreshed 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 filed their dreams.
The lazy elders slumber on, or try to
sluiuber on, for the children and dark
les are too hilarious TO admit of undis-
turbed slumbers. About nine comes
The smoking breakfast, the table drawn
up to the wide old fireplace, blazing
with hickory logs. The little ones, still
busy with Santa's 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 ''all these
blessings" each one devoutly bending
the head the while, and the children
hushing their chatter, whispering,
grandpa is saying 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 ladies begin to dis
pense useful presents to the servants,
aprons, handkerchiefs, wooden gloves,
stockings and socks, sacks and dresses
for their children, etc. Chloe comes in,
radiant in n crimson bandana turban.
new cotton dress and an immense shiny,
many colored necklace Ga present from
young Joe, the dining-rOom servant) to
wash the breakfast things. The house
is put into beautiful order, and 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 sitting-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 the hall. About 5
o'clock the sumptuous dinner is ready.
can sec 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
filled with such minor things as chick
ems, game, rice, macaroni. sausage,
pickles, catsup, etc. For desert, Joe,
the butler, brings in the Christmas
plum-pudding; mince pies, and custards
and goblets of cool yellow cream.
After the lamps are lit sold JIM the
banjo player, is sent for from the quar-
tiers and dancing begins, reels, quad
rifles and cotillions. with now and then
a spirited waltz. The servants gather
about the parior windows ''to peep"
and the dancers catch occasional Gimp
ses of dusky faces peering in ut them.
Presently q servant enters bearing q
tray filed with glasses. Another fol.
lows with huge bowl of foaming gold
en- egg nogg and silver punch ladle tc
dip It. Everybody drinks this luscious
beverage and Christmas would cease to
be Christmas without it. In the "wet
sma' hours of morning. they separate
to sleep until the 10 o'clock breakfast
This programme is repeated the mex
day and is kept up for a week.
F.F.v.