The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-12-25

be killing potatoes he is leaning on his
hoe making bets With his neighbOr as to
WHO viii catch the others ''Chris' mus
eif:'' and when Ben IS presumably hunt
inC the COWS, he is loafnC under the big
bare oaks in the bottom, singing:
.Chris'nus comes but onct year,
Oh hi no my honey -
Every Niger wants his shear (share)
On hi no my hOneyl"
The old apple house on the side OF the
hill is full OF winter apples, and the cider
press is scarcely dry IRON the last grind
ing. Bees and wasps hum around the
door and pigs root IN the sticky mass of
crushed apples by the press.
The fattened hog is seized by the leg by
n stalwart negro, stabbed IN the neck,
mauled in the head and LETT kicking its
last protest against extinction, while the
big iron pot OF water comes to the scald-
ing point and the scrapers are given an
extra edge for its tough hide.
The children stand by awed but fasci-
mated, knowing the poor dying, protest.
ing creature viii soon be only impersOnal
pork, and that they viii get his meat to
brOil on the Goals and his bladder to blow
uD for Christmas.
Pompous red-cOnbed turkeys strut and
cObble in Wasteful Righteousness, not
Knowing that righteousness means death.
Pumpkins and kershaws mellow and
sweeten on the cabin roofs, and sweet POI
tatoes grow sugary in the hills The
leaves turn from red to russell; the wind gets
a keener edge and high-pitched wall; the
sun sets each evening more slanting to the
southwark, and the sky takes on that
sheet-iron lock which means last good
bye to summer. Red birds dart flashes of
fame where a half month ago the mock
ing birds sang TO the new moon. Snow
birds swirl in countless droves over the
barren fields, shivering the dried fodder
with the tempest of their wings, and oc-
easionaI fioclIs of wild geese paint zigzag
patterns of black upon lead-gray sky.
Over the ponds in the dips of the prairie
land a thin crackle of ice forms, freezing
in waves and curves with the wind against
the banks. Silent and fallOW lie the wide,
fertile fields, where thessandy loan OF the
uplands blends with the red banks Of the
old Red river, as it sullenly roars along to
the Mississippi.
In doors, the picaninnies roast Eaters
and play hull-guil, squatting in the en-
bers by the yawnIng chimney corners;
their mothers sew quilt rags and sing
camp meeting songs, while up at the big
house ole Miss puts down on q slate, as
they occur to her, items TO get when she
goes TO town for Christmas trading.
At last comes the climax OF joyful an
ticipation Ole Miss goes to town.
Ole Massa orders the carriage, and
storms and sWears about the neglected
harness, missing cushions, unmatched
brides. pulling on his big buckskin
gloves and experimenting Aunt MilIY
While she covers the floor of the car
riage with hot rocks and tucks the buf-
faio robe over them.
What does that trip to town signify!
Citrons, raisins, currants, fruit and
nuts pulverized sugar and assorted can
{ dies, wine for jellies, brandy for eggnog
and rum for the punch and puddiagl and
4 best of all, and most tantalizing, those
mysterious packages, great and small, to
be put away unopened and unexplained
till Christmas eve
Away goes the old coach, fanked by q