The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-20
AT THE WAGON YARDS.
The Farmers Christmas Trip to
Town.

AOWn.
The wagon yards are some of the most
interesting places in Savannah at this season
Of the year. They are chock-a-block with
carts. Fully 500 farmers are here now, and
tbs yards are full of business. The farmers
come from all over the surrounding coun-
try, some Of them from sixty and seventy
miles distant They bring IN cotton, syrup.
pork, potatoes, chickens, turkeys, eggs and
hides, principally. For this produce they
receive good prices, and they lay in their
Christmas stores.
At this season of the year the farmers
are an independent class OF people, as they
are sought our for their fresh produce
Thsy get their own prices. Fresh eggs are
q scarcity in the market. and the demand
for them by families is great New syrup
always sells well, and the demand for IL
this year is said to be greater than ever bs-
fora Fresh country chickens and fat tur-
keys, raised in pea patches, are as much Of
rarity as anything else, and the price for
shem has gone up out of the reach OF a
good many people, and they have TO be
content with imported produce, the price
Of which has not advanced 90 much.
The farmers coming in with their carts
laden with the. good things from the
cosmtry take a survey OF tho market before
driving their carts of TO the wagon wards.
They come prepared to stay q week IL nec-
essary. The rear part Of their carts is Ill
Il corn and fodder for their mules. and
their weeks rations are stored in a big tin
box in the front Of the cart. They do not
wait until they have disposed OF the con-
tents of their carts before making their
Christmas purchases. As fast as they sell,
the money for their produce is put into holi-
day goods, and when they have disposed of
all they have to sell their purchases are
made, and they are ready TO lsave town.
The scene in the yards last night was an
animated one. What atmers there were
coming to the city for the night had lust
backed their wagons into the yards and
were feeding their stock. The rustljng of
the fodder, the shocking of tho corn and the
braying of the mules made a noise calcu-
lated to be grinding on the ears of town
people, but 30 the sturdy old farmers it was
welcome sound.
After the feeding hour the farmers
sought their carts, aid out-of the tin boxes
in them they made their s1ppers. Some OF
them were acc mpanied by their wives, and
most Of them brought their youngest born
20 town to see the sights Fhey choose
the night to make their tours of the city.
After that trip is made they return to the
yards and sit on the cart shafts, wagon
tongues, and water troughs, and talk over
what they have seen. They tell each other
about the trades which they made during
the day, what they got for their produce,
and what they EXPECT TO take
home. Tie boys nestle around close tc
their parents, and listen to the con.
VIBRATIONS with as much earnestness as il
they were ''full fisdged' themselves It is
q custom in the country for parents to keep
their children in ignorance Of VINO is the
real Santa Claus, and it is said that the
children never know who fills their long
stockings with presents and Christmas
goodies until they have passed their first
twelve years of innocence. They sea old
"Santa's" tracks in the fireplace and around
the hearth, and they go about hunting in the
yard for the carriage tracks whore that
good old man came and went.
In the wagon yards at night, when the
farmers begin 70 talk about the ri Is for
the stockings. they send the urchins out &c
look after the stock or let them have a few
minutes TO romp on the streets. The boys
are glad enough to get out. They make
friends with the town boys by swapping
Ea% Isx.s~x g.