The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-01-08
A Christmas Trip.

Mr. Enirnn--pAShaps few lines from your
humble friend ut this JGucrut~ wVu,d not prove
entirely unintsresting.
The christmas holidays are over, and We
hsrs, as II were, turned new loaf in the book
Of life. But we cannot keep our mind from
going back and taking q review of the old book,
We are thinking Of the many pleasant fa,cs we
met, and Of the beautiful weather we had dur.
ing those pleasant days.
We len your town on the 25th, and thought
Of the old adage, pheasant roads make pleas.
ant drives, pleasant thoughts make pleasant
lives. We had not gone far before we came
to lovely, quiet little town, and there we met
host Of good friends, both old aud young,
all seemed to say, by their actions, which al
ways "speak louder than Words" thank God
for another christmas day.
The first thing that attracted my attention
was . company Of children marching with ban.
nsr furled. I have forgotten the motto on
that beautiful banner, but was told that II
was leading Band of Hope, and thought
how appropriate were the words, Band of Hops
band against vice, band against wrong, band
| against profanity, band against drunkenness,
band to protect society, band to protect our
wives, our children, our mothers from tho
damnable curse Of intemperance. And that
Band Is ccmposed Of faith, hope, charity You
readily perceive that faith comes first. Faith
In God, hope in Immortality, charity to all man
Ykind-so the little Band Of soldiers had first
faith, and then they took up hope and made
band out ofit. Hope to alleviate human suf-
fering, hope to rescue the fallen, hope to throw
light into the homes where darkness reians
supreme, hope to make bad men good and Gle.
vate their nature, that they might finally obtain
the promise and be stved In heaven.
| Presently dinner was announced, and after
which we were asked to romain and be with
! them at twilight, to witness o christmas tree.
About G =. NJ, the bell in the church gave
notice that the hour fop the christmas tree had
arrived. - A large crowd assembled, and aftsp
appropriate religious ceremonies by the Pastor
and singing that grand old hymn "Joy to the
World the Lord has Come" the curtain fell
| this revealed to the many anxious little hearts
| the fact that there were many, many good
things for them but the best Of oil was old
Santa Claus sitting up there, with smiles show
ing free heart and good will TO the little
folks but he was not at oil handsome. He came
down the aisle greeting the children, when
little h"s dog who chsneod 70 bs there, be-
came very much alarmed at tho appearances or
the old Saintand batked vigorously mt him.
The barking Of the dog and the shouts offhe
children and the calling out Of names Of those
receiving presents, made II exceedingly lively
and Interesting for some time,
Upon the whole, 1 think it vas On occasion
that tho children Of that town win remember ia
years to como.
Next morning early, 1 started on q journey
across the couaty for visit to old Cross Keys.
| had long, lonely ride. meeting but few,
travelling with none. Arrived at my old home
at p. NJ, found all well and happy. "The
old folks at home" met me at the gate and,
DIR, cannot tell the joy, the unexpreesiLis
happiness one 6nds In tbs, homo I tliihk Itis
nearer Q piet9re Of Heaven than any artist has,
ever drawn. Thank God fora mother. As'I
walked around the old place, thoughts and
recoliec'iors came up that ! supposed had
been forgotten--of the songs We sang, OF iha
prayers We lsapned, Of the counsel we received.
could 50 on and give you o full description Of
the details I'LL returned, bot for fear weary
ron and Jour good readers win quilt. q. I"