Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-03-02
HIGH PRICE FOR ATURKEY.

SUNSHINE.
HIGH PRICE FOR ATURKEY.
The Wife OF enator Vance Tells OLA wa,
Iimo Christmas Dinner.
I'VE bad some very memorable
Christmas days in the south during
the war;" said Mrs. Zebulon b.
Vance, wife Of the Junior United
States senator from North Carolina,
to a Buffalo Express man. THAT OF
1861 vas different from any that had
preceded it, because we were in arms
against the federal government, and
many OF the male guests in southern
homes that day wore confederate
uniforms. Much of the talk at the
Christmas dinner table was Of sieges
and battles and marches. But we
were all full Of hope and confidence.
For southern bravery and fighting
blood there could be no such words
as fail in such a struggle, and we
had not the slightest doubt of the
triumphant success of our cause.
The old time prodigality of southern
hospitality was at its height that
Christmas. The negroes came up
from their quarters in the early
morning for the Christmas gifts and
as each n was literally remembered
with such tokens as the childish
African nature most delights in,
every ebony face shone with delight,
and loud and characteristic were
their expressions of pleasure. Great
bowls Of eggnog and punch bad been
prepared and were set out in the
great halls. Wood fires-Just to
take the chill Off'-went roaring up
the wide tireplaces, invited guests
gathered about the hearthstone, and
there were feasting, music and
dancing.
"Christmas, 1862, found US but
poorly prepared to celebrate it. Our
supplies were few and confederate
money va at a heavy discount
Wood was S45 per cord and turkey
Sll each, but even at those prices
many were still able to enjoy them,
and there was still some toys to give
to the little folks. Then came the
bitter year Of 1863, with the fall Of
Vicksburg and the defeat at Gettys-
burg. With sad faces, h~armoniZing
well with their dresses Of coarse,
black stuff, the women Of the south
devoted themselves to picking lint
spinning and weaving for
husbands, father, brothers and
sweethearts in the field. Christmas
cheer-such as could be obtained
cost a fabulous sum, for one bright
golden dollar was then worth S2S in
confederate money. Sugar was worth
from s. to so per pound, turkeys $50
apiece and flour $25 per barrel.
christmas, 1864-the last Christ
mas Of war times-dawned, and what
a gloomy festival it was for the peo-
pie of the south. OF manufactured
products we had practically none
Our hairpins were made of long
black thorns, with a ball of sealing
wax on one end. We had made into
dresses every scrap of available
material, and now u gowns con-
sisted of window c~uTtains, 'homespun'
and paper muslin or, colored cambria
that had once done duty as a lining,
while our feet were incased in home
spun cloth shoes. At a Christmas
dinner in a typical southern home
I'll atoday the festive board presented
a turkey that had cost 5000, a ham
worth $500, hominy and potatoes at
correspondingly high prices, and
black molasses-as desert-at $50 per
gallon. The confederate dollar was
then worth just two cents in gold.
Wood was 800 a cord, beef S25 a
pound. flour 5000 per barrel, butter
$40 per pound and sugar $50 per
pound, All was silent in the negro
qarters. There was no singing or
dancing as usual. The slaves having
all heard Of Te 'maniciDation pro-
clamatioD,' knew that they were free
and had all scattered away. Desc
lation seemed to reign over every
thing. OF all the Christmas days |
have ever known, that last Christmas
In the south in wal time is the n Of
all others that | am most certain
never to forget
His Funny story.
al want to tell You something funny
that happened TO me this morning."
said SpattS. cheerfully.