Middletown transcript., 1892-12-22

backaches weaving tnelr green's luio
wreaths and stars and anchors
and long garlands; and then
putting these around the room.
over windows and doors, about pic
lures and ornaments, wherever they
can brighten or Tighten the usually
staid aspect of the chambers and give
fresh assurance to every eye that
Christmas has come.
Often the little church must be
adorned for the great feast day, and
this cannot be done, as in the city, by
hands of paid professional decorators.
In the country it must be a labor Of
love, and busy hands must work
early and late to make the trimming
of the church all they would have
it.
Then, too, the day before Christ
mas the Christmas tree-chosen and
marked long before-must be cut and
carried home, with almost as much
enthusiasm as attended, 10 old times,
the bringing 10 Of the yule log.
It is not only in the decoration de.
partment that there are great labors
on foot the day before Christmas.
The kitchen is veritable hive of in
dustry. The mincemeat has been
prepared days ago. and has been
ripening in great stone crock in the
cellar, but to-day the pies are to be
made-pies of many kinds. as befts
an American household. Crullers and
doughnuts are to be mixed and fried
cranberry sauce to be compounded,
the material for the plum pudding to
be prepared, cakes, jellies, blanc
manges, tarts and other goodies
brought to state of perfection.
1t is not possible to send out here,
as in town. and repair deficiencies in
the larder at the last moment. Every
thing must be in hand that will be
needed, and that there may be not too
much to do tomorrow, the
turkey and the chickens for broiliDg
or frying or for chicken pie must be
picked and dressed. The house is
full of all sorts of good smells.
Outside of the kitchen there is an
air of subdued mystery. There have
been restrictions laid upon nearly
every member of the family concern
ing his or her free access to some part
of the house. The eldest boy, whose
chief desire for months has been a
bicycle, is warned to give the wood
shed wide berth. The closet in the
guest chamber is forbidden ground to
the mother, while none of the children
are allowed to go near the linen
closet, where mamma has stored her
gifts
Everything in the house is in a
state of shining cleanliness by the time
the day falls. Perhaps there is a
touch of superstition 10 tue house,
wifery which ordains that there shall
be no dust or untidiness in the house
when it is made ready for the COM
ing of the Christ Child, but it is a
harmless and helpful fancy and lends
thorougbness as we'll as touch of
sacredness to the strokes of broom and
duster.
The house is fragrant with odors Of
spruce and pine and looks a very
bower of greenery by the time that
the tinkle Of the sleigh bells, or more
probably the rattle Of the wheels
for in these degenerate days snow
does not always come for Christmas
So announces the arrival Of the
guests.
From the city come the scattered
members of the flock, who would
travel any distance sooner than miss
Assem- bling for Christmas under the
home roof tree. They come with
laden arms and gay greetings, bring
ing in a rush of cold air and a fresh
eDing of the Christmas spirit. They
are full of stories about the trip in
the train, of the country people and
their parcels, of children going home
to grandfather's for Christmas, of the
parties of young people eager for a
days skating or coasting, of the
crowds of vehicles awaiting the travel :
lers aG the stations, of the merry
greetings, of the spirit of love and
good will that seemed to brood over
everything and everybody.
After dinner comes the great event
of the day-the event for which the
children fondly believe Christmas eve
was first devised-hanging the stock
ings. Then there is the repetition Of
the never old, always charming poem,
Twas the Night Before Christmas "
This is followed by anxious conjunc-
lures as to how Santa Claus will man.
age his sleigh and reindeers if there is
no snow on the ground, and then the /
little ones are tucked away and left t
while visions of sugar plums dance J
through their heads"
With the first break of dawn on
Christmas morning there is a rustic
If excitement through the house.
Ghostlys form fit through the halls
and happy voices shout Merry
Christina" from door to door. Then ,
come the hurried dressing, the jolly i
breakfast, the exchange of gifts and ,
all the dear delights of the day of
lays. There is no sound outside to |
distract the attention from these joys. y
Fhe solemn silence of the country in
winter surrounds them on every side
ind makes sweeter the mirth and
,heer within.-N. Y. Herald.