Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-25
GRANDFATHER'S CHRIST.
MAS.
A TRADITION.
BY WILLIAM HOSEA BA11ou.

BY WILLIAM HOSEA BALLoU
lOswego county, Northern New York, in the
tier part Of the eighteenth century, was
nown as the far West. vast forest. over
IN with wild animals and Indians, prevailed.
heir county and river derived their names
ON three Indian words, 'Os we 60" signify
lg lover we CO." in reference to crossing the
ream in canoes. The path made by rumi-
lnts on their way to water was called the
deer race" A "beetle," used to "drive q
edge home" when ,plitting logs. was made
section Of tree, some eight inches in di-
meter. The section was one foot In length,
It'll iron rings about the ends, and q long
andle fastened in an anger hole midway be-
yeen the ends. The rifle invariably hung on
he wall, upheld by leather straps. 1t was the
past OF the housewife, that she could sit in
le centre Of the only room the log cabin con.
lined, and reach all the different and small
ipply of household utensils from pockets in
re logs. sledge, made OF two hewn logs
lrned up at the front ends, with one cross
ece, was used indifferently, to haul logs or
irry the housewife on her tours of visitation. /
Remembered be the Christmas Day
hundred years ago,
among OsWtgO'e 6nOW-clad hills
And rivers winding flow.
Broad waters swept in grandeur by,
With Ice encrusled 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 summed nor toll nor care.
With az and beetle, sledge and wedge,
With little time to rest,
The woOdmen wrought their honest rood
In the vast tiackless West.
Lone, standing on a lofty hill,
OF logs rough hewn there stood
A 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 grandsre had 10 give.
Mid fash of ste ! and crash Of trees
Fast grew the open space.
Dark forest hooks soon changed to day,
Where ran the red deers race.
Rang ont the merry laughter wild,
As boys and girls at night
Piled brush in heaps and piled the torch
Till heaven reflected light
Amid the roar of flame and spark
One tall tree stood unframed,
Where nightly sat and hooted long
the owl, ali nnAarmed.
But in the shadows roundabout
The bear and panther prowled,
And when the flames leaped 10 the skies,
In anger tiercely growled.
Remembered be the Christmas Day,
The first upon the mill
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 .at 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 10 cheer;
Fear Lot, she said, "for God hath food
For all His children here.
But where went Vede? l have not seen
My eldest son to-day;
What it in the deep snow he lies,
Lost from the forest way 2
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
OF wolves rang through the place.
The children wept, the mother prayed
The old man gasped for breath,
GOD pity us, quOth he, in fear.
1.-The wolves will be his death"
Just then proud stag bounded up
Close by the caOin door,
r. When rang a shot and the buck fell
Almost upon the floor;
And, painting through the deep-laid snow
Thrown DER his back bag.
With wild turkey in enc hand,
Game Nede to claim the stag.
There's corn al ground, he roared in glee.
Il got 1t at the mill
And, with this bird and a big stag,
guess we'll have our fill"
Caressed on every side, the boy
A seat to- by the fire,
While grandam clasped, with joyful tears,
The hand of the proud sire.
"Did not say, she gladly said,
THAT God his children feeds?
Hath He not sent from His own hand
To satisfy our needs?"
Full soon the turkey roasted red,
With steaks from the wild deer
And steaming Johnny-cakes supplied
The cabin with good cheer.
Remembered he that holiday
OF the long years ago,
Where roamed the stately Mohican
BY the stream " Os we CO.
Long since the forest disappeared,
The red man ana wild beast;
But where the old log cabin stood