Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-01-01
XMAS IN FORTY FOUR.
sARTY, HOMELY, OLD FASH
IONED SANTA CLAUS.

SenOritaS~ SamDOS, DIhdAS, A1ocrAS,
Bandanna-Hcadsa and Pickaninnies
Employed and Enjoyed Themselves
Mt n. c. Farm House, During
Holiday Week." Forty Years Ago.
BY EDWARD PAYsOS HALL.
For TIE Sentinel.
At day-break "old master and mis-
tress' >" sitting-room door was beseiged
bw a mob, including every plantation
negro able to be ON foot, from the two
atriarchal and original Guineas, Un-
lie Jupiter and Aunt Lid to the in
antilc and Dixie heritaged twin pick
aninnies, Polk and Dallas, born the
aonth preceding and duly and demo-
.ratically christened in honor of the
then newly elected President and Vice
President. A wildcat chorus of
Christmas gift, massa! Christmas
gift, missEs! Christmas gift, Miss
Nancy-Niss Emeline! Christmas gift
mass Robert, mass Davy, mass John,
mass Andy jackson, mass Van Buren,,
mass Calvin and mass Whitfield Wes-
icy! Christmas gift l got all yuzez
Christmases what's in de big-house!"
rang out on the frosty air from every
side of the beleaguered dwelling, wan
dered in sound-streams all over the
river hills, and then struck the catar-
net of the mill-dam, half mile away,
which borrowed and caught up the
refrain and sentit back with the lusty
ana lion-like interest of deafening
Santa Claus roar. Old master, who
haa been unwittingly guilty of the u1-
wontedly heinous dissipation of sitting
up quite late the nj ight before, hotly
arguing with Whig visitor who was
,Ot in favor of the annexation of
'exas," had arisen in rather an unen-
Iiably controversial mood, we'll adapt
ID to the scenic popularity of the
nock-heroic duties, which, by sheer
orce of custom, he was now definitely
expected SO perform, viz, with we'll
dissembled and fun-provoking anger
to drive the whole "pretuckian" of
larkies pell-mell helter-skelter to their
>itchens, and, in the course of Gn hour
1r so, to call 'em all back to his front
doorstep, to treat 'em individually to
Il generous dram of double-rectifed
whiskey, to make each and every one
OF en- some nice and appropriate lit
tie present, and to receive their conf
cal ovations-their unfeigned thanks,
heart-engendered praises and congrat-
ulatory somersaults Meanwhile we
white children. having delightfully."-
interviewed the redoubtable ST. Mich
tlls through the rose-tinted medium
I he welcome contents of our night
oefore-hung-up-stockings, stood hap
piness-bewiIdered ON the porch, hands,
arms and mouths crammed to over
flowing with rations from reindeer
land in the shape of nuts, apples, can
lies, jews -harps, pop-guns, cross-bows,
Sork-baskets, writing desks, toy-drums
reticuIes, dolls, rocking horses, wooden
elephants, leather aud gutta- -percha
parking dogs and mewing cats and
'nging birds, rty,jointed supple
-cks, glass pea-fowls, china mugs and
nlimi.ed chunks of gingerbread; !;
boxing down, like spectators in a roy
menagerie, upon the show of fifty
-frlcan curiosities in the yard be-
cath, over whom "old massa" stood
softly defined magisterial dignity,
their recognized and sponsorial
ohm Robinson. First we would watch
nele Jupiter, the grand gorilla of
establishment, shut his ewes swal-
H his dram, smile far off Gulf-of-
Iulnea Joyous contraction of the facial
uscles, and roundly pat his stomach
funny enough, We used to say, "to
aAe dog laugh Next cane ST.
on, Abner. Stokes, Samson and
Jackson, the five big young bucks and
Gully own-brothers Of Herculean
lraWn, all sons of Aunt Dinah and
Sncle Sambo Goujer, who, awkardly
lowing, would accept the proffered
glass measured as to its contents to
them by prudent mistress in accurate
hnger-length doses, hold it off demure.
~ for moment as if afraid of it, Jerk
1t up to their thick lips and guip il
down, celebrating the obsequies of the
- lost swallow by hearty and enjoy.
ent-fraught smack and a "thankee
ASA, thankee missus! !' The grand
nd-l"fty" tumbler of King Alcohol
as circulated in regular order from
lie kinky-head to another till all the
en- and likewise the women and chill
en- had well tasted and sampled the
rry-making stuff-yea, till ever
TX and Dallas had many times roll
up the large whites of their little
ihful eyes, fond anticipation of thai
prious and surely not far off Xma:
" when they too would be big
Aough to be allotted Xmas dram,
o top it down with Guinea-Americar
81 gusto, and to smack their thick lips as
Il loudly rs the loudest.
Then. forming in couples, the trusty
lffectionate and religious creatures
Z would march round and round the
big house," and afterward round ano
'ound the kitchens, singing:
% run, Mary, run, Hallelu, Hallelu
run, Mary, run, Hallelujahi
: was early in de mornn', Hallelu, Hallelu,
7 was early in de mornin, Halleluiah
20 de sepulchre she went, HalleIu, Hallelu,
20 de sepuichre she went, Hallelujah
Ind Je Lord he wasa't dah, Hallelu, Hal
lelui
And de lord he wasn't dab, Hallelujah.
But she see man a-comin, HaIlelu, Hal
IL lelu!
Bot she see man a-comin', Halieluiah +
And a. 3 55n1,,sslght mo he was the garPner, Hal.
lelu, fIafielu -
"A nd she thvnght he was the gardiner, Hal
FM ie'9nnis q Kakme-