Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-03-05
CHRISTMAS IN The SOUTH.
10 Ia Time OF Merrimen Even II tho At
mosphere Ia Warm and Hasy.

10 IL Time OF Merrimcn Evon II tho At
mosphero Ia Warm and Haxy.
The occurrence of Christmas In the
cold season in England and Germany,
where the time-honored stories and leg
ends connected with it have principally
had their origin. has been the means of
causing us to think of the day in con-
nection with snow and cold, Of cheerful
fires and indoor pastimes Such, indeed,
are its usual Accomplishments in our
northern states, but in the sunny
south" the customary scene is very diff
ferent. The boys and girls, and older
people, too, south of Mason and Dixon's
line manage to enjoy the holidays quite
as much as their cousins in the frozen
north, although skating, sleigh-riding
and snow-balling are not included in
the list of amusements
In the ante-bellum days it was GUS
tomary for the prosperous planter to
give his slaves holiday, lasting from
Christmas till New Years, which they
had liberty, under certain restrictions,
to spend about as they pleased, free
from work. They greatly enjoyed it.
Frequently the wealthy planter would
take his family by steamer to New Or
leans or Mobile, to enjoy city life during
the holidays. In case they remained on
the plantation, however, there was no
lack of gifts to be presented. Former
trips to the city had amply provided for
the occasion. The children, white and
black, were sure to be up early to see
what Santa Claus had brought them for
Christmas morn. After the children oi
the household had examined then
treasures and found them to be
"the very things they wanted,
second distribution was made
in 'the quarters" which was the
name given collectively to the
cabins of the negroes, which usually
stood punched together at some dis
tance from the plantation farm house
None were forgotten, from the little
pickaninnies, who were delighted will
piece of candy or mort sugar. e.
maple sugar, to the old ''uncles" ant
"aunts," for whom the thoughtful
'missus" had provided useful presents
in the way of clothing, or of warn
flannels for their ''rheumatics."
And the weather was usually glori
| GUS AT une SnrlSuHlaS season. Leu ny
northern friends imagine themselves u
one of the southern cities at midwinte
Little Rock or Chattanooga, for in
stance. Without the exceptional charc'
of being rainy, the weather is mos
likely to be bright and warm, with tina
peculiar, soft purple haze envelopinl
the hills, giving them a far-away ap
pearance. The wind blows soft an,
warm from the gulf, insects hum in tn
air, and violets may be found occasion
ally blooming in sheltered places Ere
quently, too, late roses are found il
bloom until Christmas, while anon,
the trees the bright evergreens of tn
magnolia, pine, cedar and holly con
trast beautifully with the somber hue
of the oaks, or the bare branches of tn
NAPLES and fig trees. On more tha
one occasion has the writer sat down t
Christmas dinner with the house door
and windows left open to admit the all
Not much like northern Christ
mas" you say. No, but when one be
comes accustomed, as l have been,
the dry and warm winters of the south
land, they cease to feel surprise at tn
absence of cold during the holidays an
, take such things as a matter of course
Arkansas Traveller.