The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-12-25
Christmas on the Old Plantation.

Christmas on the Old Plantation.
The coming of Christmas suggests no
memory more vivid than those of the
customs that used TO prevail in the old
plantation life.
Familiar as they are to all southern
people, they are perhaps totally un-
known beyond the borders of the South
ern States. A history of the negro
as he was is therefore incomplete with
out record of the festivals which he
enjoyed with an abandonment of mirth
and an absolute exemption from care of
any sort.
The customs on the generality of
plantations throughout the South ran
similar, with notifications, or improve
ments, according to the means of the
masters, but on all Christmas was OBJ
served with the utmost merriment and
enjoyment, and was a season of pro-
longed holidays and unusual indul-
gences.
Early in the fall the negroes searched
the woods for the largest tree they
could find, felled it, and the first cut was
hewed off for back log, or "yule log"
as it was called. Into the creek it was
Immediately plunged, to soak, so that it
might resist the action of fire as long as
possible. For just so long as piece of
it remained unburned in the masters
fireplace just so long carnival and holi-
day held sway on the plantation.
Christmas eve it was removed from
its watery grave and hauled up to the
house, and by light the next morning
~ -, Ero
place, with great state and ceremony.
Before the family breakfasted, which
was generally not until eleven O'Clock,
the whole plantation surged up en-
,ndSse to the house, where the master
and mistress were conveniently located
to be "caught" with the inevitable
"Chris'mas gif', Marsterl Christmas
gif', Mistis"
They swarmed like bees-old and
young, men, women and children
about the doors of the ample store
rooms and smoke-houses, drdiUing
Chris 'mas," as it was always called.
Presents were there for them all.
Pocket-knives, handkerchiefs, gloves,
comforters, etc., for the men; brilliant
Madras Observation-Disclosures, gloves,
,
for the women and children; tobacco
and whiskey for men and women, and
extra provisions for all for a Christmas
dinner and the week of festivities.
Rice, sugar, coffee, flour, spices, extra
meat and molasses, apples, ground peas,
ETC., were served out. All was issued
with liberal hand and received with
great hilarity and lavish display of
worries.
Away went the happy throng and
Christmas was fairly inaugurated. Such
jollifcation and merry-making, and so
many weddingsl For it was the GUS
tom, when possible, to set the marriage
days to fall at Christmas time.
"Tinet an Big John - Black Sally
an Jim" " House Billy an DIANA
limbo an Zanger" were to marry
during the holidays.
Then the dances! In " the house"
in the kitchen and down at the quar-
ters. AS soon as night came there fell
on the ear the measured tread of dane.
ing feet and the inspiring strains of the
fiddle and banjo. Few were the heels
that did not have metal in them then.
On all of the plantations, at least on
all that | ever knew, there were
amongst the negroes fiddlers and banjo.
players, sometimes making spirited,
sweet music, sometimes not so good
But be the music sweet or otherwise
the performers were occasionally sent
for to play at the house. And thithel
they went with great pride and that
delicious conceit which is a distinctive
feature of the race.
The master, or, more frequently, the
young master, would send and ask il
they would not come up with their
instruments and play for the dance,
unless they had something pleasanter
to do"
" Humph, h,nnph! Knowed dat was
commit Do very well all dis hyah
BAN music from Richmon' an de jem.
plemens dey selves playin' dere fiddle
and gittar but ole marster doan' feel
like he got thro' Christmas in a. ole
fashion way ontil dis hyah fiddle an
Lisburn troup done tech up tings an
mex, sho' huff, music fer dey all to dance
by. To be sure we comm! Tell mar
ster much obleege fer de honor, an we
will certain be on ham.
"Now, you Mimy, jes' get GU my
close at once. Dem long tail coat, Oh
course. Dat fine shut Mar Charlie
gimme. Dat blue breeches, an dem
spangle ves'. You list'nin', gal? Dem
spangle ves', say, an you mine how
you han'le it. Dat ves' got to sparkle
'mong de white folks tonight same as
stars in de firmamint.
"Hyah, Hannah, take dis key an
onlock dat leetle box in my CHS, an