Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-27
IN THE QUARTERS.
A c,nu,,e oIa. Fsshiessd Plantation Christ.
mas.
nv A MAN WITH A MEMORY.

in the South has already passed into
the realms of legend and tradition it
NAV not may be amiss for one who was
part and parcel Of that life before the
war 10 place on record the description
Of a genuine old plantation Christmas,
such as is not likely ever to recur, but
which recalls only memories of soft and
pleasing tints.
Given plantations many miles asnu-
der: roads which at that particular
season Of the year, both by reason OF
natural depravity and the depressing
effects Of weeks of cotton-hauling, be-
come utterly impossible for anything
less substantial than an ox-team, or. at
sny rate, less manageable than sad
dle-beast, and it is easy to see how dis
couraging all attempts at cooperative
celebrations must be, and how Christ
mas readily resolves itself into a
season of leisure and Of fun for
the quarters. With no churches
garlanded and choristered to do
especial honor to the occasion within
reach, with no neighbors accessible, the
Christmas festivities of the average
Louisiana or Arkansas planters family,
even before the war, began and culmi-
mated in the interchange Of purely do
nestle greetings and the eating Of a
dinner in no way distinguishable from
the 3G4 other dinners of the year, un-
unless by the turkey, that had probably
been fattening off pecans and clabber
since the first day Of December, and
the substitution Of mince pie for the
standard sweet-potato pie.
But Christmas in the quarters meant
a great deal more than Christmas at
the "big house," and in view of its
coming but once a year the family ami
ably resigned itself to certain relaxa-
ton in the established order of domes-
tic service, never of too methodical or
rigid character, but approaching lax
ity at this indulgent season. For all
the time between Christmas and New
Years "w'ite folks" felt self-convict-
ed of churlishness if they could not
afford to overlook such peccadilloes as
the failure of cut wood on the back
gallery, or the tardy appearance OF
breakfast in the morning, or the sound
Of tipsy merriment in the quarter-lot.
The most enviable jewellers on the
plantation at this season were the
"yard folks" to whom accrued all the
delights Of the sharing "w'ite folks "
Christmas-feast together with occupy
ing the high places at the quarter BAN
quet, which was the browning glory OF
the occasion. Old Kris Kringle him
self was scarcely more alert on this
momentous night of Christmas Eve
than " Uncle Ottaway," who through
the never-locked doors of the big
house, before the faintest streak OF
dawn warranted the assumption that
Christmas was really come, crept
with his stalwart arms piled high
with cut wood, while from one pro-
truding hand the flaming Il" lightwood "
torch sent Pickering shadows dancing
over the silent bed-chamber, where the
master and the mistress lay still locked
in slumber. Careless is he this morn
ing whether he dumps his load of wood
down easily or noisily, Indifferent to
the clumsy clatter Of his brogans for
the Lord of Misrule has come to the
throne, and Uncle Getaways nOisiness
is a well-understoOd and innocent ma
nnuvre to break the slumber Of his
wife folks so that he may catch
them Christmas-gift." The faintest
heaving of a sigh, the slightest rus
tie of the bed-clothes, is warrant
enough for the suspension Of the fire.
building while he rises to his feet and
sends bedward a stentorian Chris mus
gir, ole mars; Chris 'mus-gif', ole
miss " A sleepy acknowledgment that
they are fairly caught sends Uncle OF
taway to his knees again, chuckling at
the reward Of his enterprise in having
made sure Of his Christmas-gift. But
as this manGuvre has to be repeated in
every occupied bed-chamber Of the
house, he expedites the fire-making,
and, still armed with his flaming torch,
leaves the room with a great show
Of regard for the slumber he so
ruthlessly broke in upon. Close upon
his departure a turbaned head is
protruded Just far enough for " Chris
mus-gif ole mars; Chris'mus-gif', ole
miss" to be repeated in feminine tones,
and Aunt Ailsey goes the rounds that
Getaway and his torch have already
gone, before she thinks Of lighting the
fire in the kitchen-stove or starting the
family breakfast. BY the time Sam,
whose pretext for intrusion is the
gathering up of the family shoes to
blacken, and Puss, who waits for no
pretext, but intrudes by right of her po-
sition as chief chambermaid, and Joe,
the carriage driver, and the rest Of the
army of house hands that so clogged the
domestic machinery in those lavish days,
have all repeated the ceremony inaugu-
rated by Uncle Getaway, the angel OF
sleep is fairly routed, and the be-
leaguered family good-naturedly resigns
itself to fusilade Of Christmas-greet-
ings from turbaned heads and small
woolly unturbaned heads and heads that
have grown gray in faithful service.
Breakfast over, the ceremonial Of
distributing the gifts, which are fore
gone conclusion, begins. Into the bic
central hall the yard folks " file first,
coming in according to seniority" and
receive the reward of their enterprise
in catching" the family before day.
break. A pair of Conestoga boots, a
woollen comforter, and a long black
plug of tobacco sends Uncle Getaway
chuckling out of the hall (he knows his
Christmas toddy will come later on
ian dem boots is JUS de ve'y thing
for him sloshin' roun' de woodpilt
all sorter wedder." A brilliant
shawl Of green-and-yellow plaids
which she throws over her ample
shoulders on the spot, and struts pom
pously through the hall by way Of
illustrating what a " 'splay" she i.
going to make at " meeting" next Sun
day, satisfies Aunt Ailsey's most ambi
tious desires. a heavy overcoat fol-
10, new hat and a French harp fol
Sam, who is unsteady inclined and Sc
on through the waiting line of yarC
folks, all Of whom receive substantial