The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
GRANDFATHER'S CHE
MAS. |
BY WILLIAM HOSEA BALLOON
A TRADITION.

BY WILLIAM HOSEA BALLou! 49,
loswego county, Northern New York, aee% !
liter part of the eighteenth century
nown as the far West. vast forest,
IN with wild animals and Indians. preyA
heir county and river derived their NJ
ON three Indian words, 'Os we CO." sigS
lG "over we CO." in reference to crossingl
ream In canoes. The path made by rr 4.
ANTS on Their way to water, was called Il
deer race" beetle used 10 "drivef
Sedge home" when splitting logs, was mao
section OF tree, some eight inches in di,
neter' Inc section was one foot in length
lth iron rings about the ends, and long
andle fastened in an anger hole midway be-
Veen the ends. The rifle invariably hung OH
lie wall, upheld by leather straps. 1t was the
oast OF the housewife, that she could sit in
le centre OF the only room the log cabin con-
nned, and reach all the different and small
ipply OF household utensils from pockets in
10 logs. sledge, made of two hewn logs
lrned up at the front ends, with one cross
zee, was used indifferenily, to haul logs or
TRY the housewife ON her tours of visitation,
Remembered be the Christmas Day
hundred years ago,
Among Oswego's snow-clad hills
And rivers winding flow.
Broad waters swept in grandeur by,
With ice encrusted DER;
Deep were the SHOWS, fast whirled the flakes,
Fierce was the black pines roar.
A forest wild was all the land,
With clearings here and there
Denuded by bold pioneers
Who Stunned nor toll nor care.
With ak and beetle, sledge and wedge,
With little time to rest,
The woodmen wrought their honest road
In the vast trackless West.
Lone, standing on lofty hill,
or logs rough hewn, there stood
cabin, where my grandsire reared
Six children in the wood.
One room alone was there for all,
In which to sleep aud live;
And corn and fish were all the food
The grandsire had TO give.
Mid flash of steel and crash of trees
Fast grew the open space,
DARK forest hooks soon changed to day, 4
Where ran the red deer's race. Eg
Rang out the merry laughter wild,
As boys and girls at night M
Piled brush in heaps and piled the torcl
Till heaven reflected light.
Amid the roar of flame and spark
One tall tree stood unframed, ,
Where nightly sat and hooted long 8
The owl, all unbalanced. Nh
But In the shadows roundabout s
The bear and panther prowled, e
And when the flames leaped TO the skies
In anger tiercely growled. w
Remembered be the Christmas Day,
The first upon the nil,
No harvest bins the grandsire cheered,
No corn was there to mill.
The logs were cleared for acres DER,
The ground was sown with wheat;
But in the cabin on the hill
There was no bread or meat.
The grandsire sat that early morn
With face bowed in his hand,
And moaned aloud, "There is no food
With all my miles of land.
The SHOWS are deep, the village far;
The storm goes raging past
No one can reach the neighbours hut;
This Christmas we must fast"
The hungry chill dren looked aghast,
But grandam tried to cheer;
"Fear not" she said, 'for God hath food
For all His children here.
DuO WutIo Wtub fGue nave uOU seen
My eldest son to-day;
What il in the deep snow he lies,
Lost from the forest way?'
The grandsire leaped from off his seat
His face an ashen hue,
And strobe in haste to the wall straps
To get his rifle true.
He stopped amazed. No gun was there,
Nor powder flask nor ball;
And springing through the cabin door
He loud began to call.
The hurricane his deep tones drowned,
The snow beat in his face,
Loud DER the storm the dismal howls
or wolves rang through the place.
The children wept, the mother prayed
The old man gHsped for breath,
"God pity u.s. quoth he, in fear.
"The wolves will be his DEATH"
Just then proud stag bounded up
Close by the cabin door,
When rang shot and the buck fell
Almost upon the floor;
And, painting through the deep-laid snow
Thrown DER his back bag,
With a wild turkey in enc hand,
Came Vede to claim the stag.
"There's corn all ground, " he roared in glee.
Il got 1t at the mill
And, with this bird and big stag,
guess we'll have our fill"
Caressed on every side, the boy
A seat took by the fire,
While grandam clasped, with joyful tears,
The hand Of the proud sire.
''Did I not say" she gladly said,
"That God his children feeds?
Hath He not sent from His own hand
To satisfy our needs2"
Full soon the turkey roasted red,
With steaks from the wild deer,
And steaming Johnny-cakes supplied
The cabin with good cheer.
Remembered be that holiday
Of the long years ago,
Where roamed the stately Mohican
By the stream eos we CO."
Long since the forest disappeared,
The red man ana wild beast;