The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-12-27
GRANDMOTHER'S STORY
A Christmas in the Old Log House
Many Years Ago.

Many Years Ago.
The Christmas dinner had been eaten,
the afternoons frolics were over, and
now in the hush of eyentide the Daven-
port family were gathered about the
great, open fireplace in the library,
talking over the days doings; and as
Grandma Davenport put on her glasses
and glanced over her surrounding, she
said, with smile and sigh:
I'm thinking Of Christmas long
ago."
I'm the old log-housep" questioned
Ethel.
Eyes, in the old Lighthouse. This
blazing fire seems to stir up auld lang
syne, though to be sure, we didn't have
polished brass tenders and fire-sets, and
ebony-handled hearth brushes"
'.Nor plaque clocks, nor brass sconces,
nor hanging cabinets, nor decorated
porcelain lamps, nor portiere curtains,
nor" Mabel added.
mot SO fast, DEAR" laughed grand
ma. 1--WE did have portiere curtains,
though we did not call them by that es-
thetic name, nor were they of jute
velours or silk turcoman, but only of
simple curtain calico. But they were
gay, can assure you, with red, blue,
yellow and green birds fitting all over
them. They were not put up for orna-
mental purposes either, but only to par
tition off our part of the loft from the
boys, and to shut off mothers bed
from the rest of the house,
Ibid you have petsp" asked Fred.
Eyes, dear, we had our ducks, and
chickens, and turkeys, and Nancy had
golden pheasant. AS for the boys,
you would have liked to see their pets.
Zeke had wild rabbits, and squirrels and
wood-chucks, and Ichabod always had
some snakes shut up somewhere
mother would never allow them within
mile of the house-and colony of
frogs. Our house was in lonely
place, our nearest neighbor being near
ly mile away, and the little hamlet
where we bought needed articles some
times and carried our grain to the mill
was six miles off, long, weary Jour-
ney when taken in bitter weather, over
drifted roads and with the help of a
slow OK team. 1t was on the Goth of
December that father and Ichabod had
to go to Lofts Corners, as the hamlet
was called, on business. Mother wasn't
feeling very well at the time, and !
could see she didn't like to have father
60, although she didn't say so, but
looked brave and sweet as she babe
him goodbye and said: God bless you,
and keep you both, and then father
held her in his arms a moment, and
Ichabod Rugged her like BEAR Zeke
busy days that followed for, you must
know, our Nancy was to be married
upon the coming New Year Day. She
and mother were busy at their spinning
wheel from morning until night from
the time father left until the evening OF
the 23d. Then mother said:
"We'n spin no more till after Christ
mas"
20, how busy we were all the follow
ing day, the Oath. Mother sang as she
worked, sweet old hymns, that seemed
to lift us up some way, and kept oul
hearts light and made our souls strong
Nancy made cookies, great cookies az
large as tea-plate, and stamped then
with an old-fashioned picture-stamp
representing fireplace, with little
stockings hung on it; and she made
pumpkin pies and apple pies, and square
seed-cakes and gingerbread. Zeke die
the outdoor work, fed the cattle. tn,
pigs, brought in the logs and made the
old fireplace roar with heat, for it wa.
bitterly cold day, and the snow wa
falling fast and drifting in huge banks
on account of the strong wind blowing
close up to the house. Zeke killed ant
dressed pig, too, such fine, fat little
fellow, that Sophronia, who was an ode
child of seven, given to queer remarks
said she'd like it for playthin instead
of her old, greasy rag-doll, and tried t.
get Zeke to climb up into the loft t.
bring down the old cradle SO that sh,
could rock it to sleep. wasn't quite
eleven then, but my hands we've busy
too, all day long. helped mother will
the chickens and the stuffed ducks, an(
the brown-bread and about everything
else that occupied her, and noticed a,
the short-winter's day drew to close
she stopped entirely her snatches O
song, and once in awhile l heard he
sigh.
~ say, mother said Zeke, at last
it's about time father and Ichabot
were home. Where you 'spose the.
areP'
They'll be along pretty soon,
hope, mother said softly. Father said
if nothing prevented he'd be sure to b
home this afternoon
"'But the afternoon is about gone
now Zeke said. Well have to 1igh
the candles in minute. If they don
hurry along, they'll founder after dark.
"sWell, my son, said mother, look
ing up with a slightly disturbed face
we can't bring them any sooner b
worrying, and if they don't come, WEI
believe that they are in Gods keepin
elsewhere
"And they didn't come. When bed
time came we were all tired out wit
work, and mother said it would be beS
for us to 20 TO bed, for father an
Ichabod might not come until morning
She spoke 80 calmly that we didn't kno'
she was so extremely anxious and dir
tressed that she 'longed to be alone
Zeke wanted to fix a bed for himsel
down stairs on the floor, but mothe
said: MOI and she told him she'd ca
him il father came in the night, and 9
Zeke reluctantly climbed the ladder an
went to bed, after he had read q chapte
In the Bible aloud. and we had a
prayed, mother leading. Nancy and
soon followed up the ladder, leavinI
eophronia asleep In mothers bed. b
Aora had undr6ssod. / oou1d hoof ZolR