The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-12-27


heads, whispering about Christmas aud letters
TO Santa Claus are confidently committed to
the smoke and sparks Of the tall brick chin
neyS.
So Christmas approaches.
At last comes the climax Of joyful anticipa-
ton.
Ole misA goes to town.
Ole massa orders the carriage. and storms
and swears about the neglected harness, mis-
sing cushions, unmatched brides. pulling on
his big buckSkin gloves and experimenting Aunt
Milly while she covers the floor of the carriage
with not rocks and tucks the Buffalo robe over
them.
What does not that trip to town signify?
CitrOns, raisins, currants. fruit ana NUTS
pulvcrized sugar and assorted cancies. Wine
fuT jellies. brandy for egGnog and rum 1or tAe
punch and pudding, and. best OF all. aud most
tantalziug, those mysterious packages. great
md small. to he put away unopened and I'M
explained till Christmas eve.
Away goes the old coach. thanked by. mot,
tied escort of children and dogs, and followed
bv the sound of god speeding voices as 1af
as the pasture gate. Then. on alone, over the
marshy pralrieS and wind-swept Winding ROAD
to town. .
Now CONS an interregnnm on the p'an1a!:lon1
Servants and Children hold h'Eh ca antted
tasks are forgotten The children race
through the house leaving doors open banging
on the "td TInr Sin p luder than ever as she
PASSES from the outdoor kitchen TO the dining
room. and Harriet. the house maid, scolds and
threatens i'll vain
Christmas comes hut onct year.
Oh hi no. my honey!
Every negro wants his shear. =
Oh hi no, my honey.
And so the dav wears
The shadows lengthen eastward Zen comes
home with the cows. Inc rat o'd turkeys
turn round and round on their rOoStS. and the
voodchopper's chorus rings from the cabin
yards.
Aunt AIiIlv strains her eyes from the Kitchen
door coffee Pct in hand. as she adds an extra
handful of berries to the grinding and sings:
King Jesus rides n mk-wllite boss,
See de beedim' lamb.
He rides him up an down de cross,
See de blrcdin' lamb!
Oh. pore Danyul, who's on de lords side:
Oh, pore Danyul. who's on de lords Side?
Coney beaps armfM after armful Of fire
wood on the back porch, and Harriet makes
way for u huge backlog which she heaveS
behind the anG-irons, piling il front Of them
green logs and lghtwc0d TIL the room is
blaze of warmth aud clory-for ole miss will
De cold when she gets bone. AT last it comes
the familiar old carriage, creeping like q
beetle over the brow Of the big hill. Away
flies the escort of children and dogs scream
ing and running over the rutted road, across
the pasture.
Harriet stands, broom in hand, calling to
them from the porch, her voice lost in the
wind and the freight dancing back of her
through the open door
Aunt Mi'y sings on putting in the biscuits
to bake. and giving the coffee final turn
through the dripper.
Creak! goes the heavy pasture gate, pushed.
and sturdy yellow legs. IN comes the car
riaee and stops. Then. such ciamborine
and four deep the baby IN mothers lap
and the picannnies on the floor under the
buffalo robe, aud hanging on behind. Then on
they come, the tires rafting, the horses
smoking. the curtains Tapping, the children
ole maSsa smiling. Home, sweet home
The carriage is unloadtd. Aunt MilIy Claims
king would claim his rithcs., Harriet takes
charge of the mysterious packages, ard the
children are diverted with bag Of nuts and
Then comes supprr-~reat thin SLICES of
pink fried ham: win us, red gravy heared
on cones of white boiled rice. .watiles and
butter; and coffee''as is coffee
Then comes sleep.
She LAYS her warm white fnger-tips on
earth ant sky; on human cyeds and human
hearts: on human cares and human Joys; she
negro and brute, child and mother, aud all
sleep. The moon comes up in low siivc very
nus ana n s hns pd ba ee haEns and
fields
Only tie river still runs on: roaring and
GGompaining over its snaEs ana gnG;R-sanhhs ,;
they know it and love it-and God keeps them
And now, hurrah for Christmas!
The cakes baked, row upon row, iced
and caudy -decket they set upon the pantry
shelves. The pudding is made and mince pies,
by the DOZENS Turkeys are roasted and stuff
ed with bread crumbs. sage and onions; bar
becued shoat lies brown. crisp and whole
with red apple in it's mouth; and possum
and tater simmer III oily dcllciousnesS.
Company is coming from town. and the
darkies going to have dance i'll the barn
after the children have had their Christmas
tree.
Miss Matte has been ut work all day with
her girl friends who are visiting her. and young
Mars Willie has climcd TO the top of the barn
getting his good clothes dusty and his black
curlS full OF col,-wpbs. fixing the tree and hang
ing the presents for the little niggerS."
The candles the brackets around the
y wall are lighted and the old three-leSged. sheet
Iron stove in corner. gets red hot and tries
10 go up its own fiue. warming up the room.
Still the doors must be guarded to keep out
inquistive anticipative eyes. The carriages
and hughes have come from town, emptying
their loads of merry makers on the hOsptable
porches. The girls are dressing and chattering
up stairs: the young men drinking toddy III
Mars Whites room: and the city horses
munchng sweet hay and good Red river corn,
In the stables. Some boys and girls have come
over from the neighboring plantations on
horseback and the dogs are barking at the
unusual stir and excitement. Now the barn
doors are thrown open.
In rush the children and their scarcely less
eager mothers. Old Santa Is there obsequi-
ons. and free handed. familiar with each name
and its corresponding face. Mars Willie Is