Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-25
OLD VIRGINIA XMAS.
A CHARMING STORY or THE SEASON
BY MRS. BURTON HARRISON.
First Confederation of GIFTS for the Ser
vants-scenes In su Old Virginia
Mansion In the Year 1861.

II remember, l remember" az Thomas
Hood once sang an old white stucco house
in Virginia. broad and rambling. with un-
expected wings and outer stairways, and
the kitchen Offices connected with 1t by
latticed walks.
Il stood amid grove of really noble
oak trees that in tho FIRST year of war
bowed their grand heads and fell crashing
earthward in answer 10 the order of United
States authorities TO make breastworks
against possible rebels advancing from
Manassas upon Washington. Around this
dwelling stretched uudulating lawns. en-
circled IN turn with woods that were the
fairy world Of my childhood.
By many beside the one who summons
this "reminiscences the old place, destroyed
by war, will be remembered with keen
pleasure for II was the grand parental
home OF a large family accustomed 70
resort there for delightful long southern
vis.ts. and nj ali times OF holiday.
Although the climate IN that part OF Nir-
ginia does not by any means imply warm
Christmases, It is not 90 be counted on for
snowy ones. and great was our youthful
giee when white 3akes falling on Christmas
eve caused the servants to inform US that
celestial goose picking had begun.
To recall the celebration OK CHRISTMAS
in old Virginia should have TO dispense
a hodCe.podce Of sJ,Ueui1s as much mate
rial as sentimental. For there IS prOmi-
nent the cooking part Of IL. to which the
ladies of the household always lent nice
caro-. and in which the children took VIVID
interest. There were ioaves OF sugar TO be
watched in the breaking, almonds to be
blancned and crushed IN rose water, icing
20 be made 10 assume the tracerles of frost
work on the pane.
POSTUM.
Outdoors, recall visit to a quaint
little bricht-eyed 'posSum kept IN barrel,
OF whom his negro captOr told me, smack
ing his lips to my disgust, that he'd
make prime eatin' when he gifts on o
bed OF baked sweet Eaters Christmas
night.
There were pig-tails roasted and DIS
tributed among the children by their
negro admirers, but of these JOYS | tasted
not. There were calico bags OF chlnqua-
pms fascinating little gold brown baby
chestnuts'. also brought into the house as
trophies from the cOiorod people, and big
apples, with ears of popcorn, small bottles
OF abOmlna ole sweet-scent, and boxes made
of shells bought on their visits TO the neigh
boring town.
In return we gave them whatever our
savings would allow us to contribute. IL
was inevitable that the fret consideration
OF Christmas gifts. whether from a child or
adult. should be for the servants of the
household. ! know there was a meaning,
q tenderness, in these lnterchanges that
one never sees to-day In the presents
counted upon and received with cool IN
difference by the domestic staff OF modern
DAYS.
The first Christmas remember "-ah
me gray mist surrounds it, and | seem
70 be IN the dawn of crisp Virginia
morning. nestled in-now for a shock to
modern hygIeue-tne depths of Virginia
feather-bed, with sOma ostenslbly sum-
berlng elder bumped " in warm coverings
at my side. Detachlng itself from the line
of the chImney-plece hangs my stocking,
of which 1 hasten to take thrilled posses
sion.
an AERIAL SLEIGH.
Truly-yes. fervently-I believed that
the treasures presently spread upon the
knot-work quilt came to me in an @rlal
sleigh driven by a jolly red-nosed man in
furs. Whether IL was actually swallows IN
the chimney-top or flying squirrels gam
boiling upon our caves, believed sundry
noises of the night TO be the paving OF
tiny chargers on the roof.
IhIs creed gave me years of unqualified
satisfaction, and when recently asked a
small person Of SIX whether he still be-
ieved in Santa Claus and be answered
me in whitening good English Il never
thought it was parents" felt
quenched and detected beyond reason.
At breakfast, with the sun looking in
tho eight long windows of the dining
room and twlnklIng on the holly and box
bushes under them, outside one felt there
was gala in the air.
Then we went to church. and after it we
sat down, at o'clock, to a dinner that
lasted late in the afternoon. The old sill
yer shown anew. and the jellies qulvered
with satisfaction aC the fun around the
board.
In the evening we gathered about the
fire made upon the remnants Of last year S
Yule log and told stories and played
games. There were six windows curtained
with red damark in the drawing-room
and several doors, in and out of which
boys and dogs were perpetually moving.
The indoor games | remember best at
Christmas times in old Virginia after the
ceremony of rolling IN the Yule log, which