The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-12-19
SARGE PLUNKETT.
HE TELLS OF THE OLD PLANTATION
LIFE IN GEORGIA.
Christmas in the Olden Times-The Negro. as
he Was Seen Going to the Village store.
Tho Old and the Now South.
For The Constitution.


Georgia is as clear to an old mans mind
as if it was only yesterday since they
passed away.
These winter nights I sit by the fire and
muse upon the olden times, and sometimes
| feel most disconsoate over the changes
that have come. Along the winding lanes
/ wander keeping in sight the high rail
fences on either side, till up the hill ana
far away / see the smoke curling from the
chimneys of the old plantation. Then
listen for the melody of the Negroes song
or the barks of the hounds thaS guard the
premises. AS clear yesterday L near
these sounds, and just as the old Plantation
was | see it still. / count the great fodder
stacks standing in rows about the lot,
hear the Jingle of the COW bells and the
suueal of the hogs. | see the blaze OF the
freight from the chinks Of the whiteWash-
ed cabins and watch the blazing torch
lights which fit about the quarter Such
as this is what crowds upon an old mans
mind as he muses. by the fire on these WIN
ter nights as Christmas draWeth near, and
somehow we can't help from feeling sorry
for a new generation who boast of a prog
ress which has no charms to fasten upon
the heart and cheer old age with sweet and
happy memories.
The delights of the old plantation about
Christmas times is something never to be
again and never to be understood by COM
ing generations The abundance of every
thing would make the new SOUTH stare in
wonder. Corn by the thousands, wheat,
oats and provender for the cattle, smoke
houses filled with Georgia raised meat, and
spare ribs, backbones, sausage, souce meat
and Cuttings to laVishly Them hog
killings! The old plantation Was joyful on
these occasion. The negroes d-tnced and
patted JUDAH when word was given tt
get ready for hog killing. Wood was hauled
Iva, Fr1Iic to1,-, limo eth nd -
hang the porkers were made ready with a
VIM and long before day the morning
of the killing the whole plantation was
astir, the fire was ablaZe heating rocks.
the barrels were full of water and by the
drst streaks of light in the east the hair
was flying from the backs of big fat hogs,
Little and big, old and young were on hand
and every negro had his pone of cornbread
and some salt in rag ready to begin
devouring of the mets Broiling of melts
upon the Goals went to make a charming
breakfast for all, and We who have never
eaten broiled melts with cold corrbread
have missed meal never to be supplied
by modern menus. Perhaps hog killing
times in Georgia was the greatest delight
of the old plantation-but there were many
delightful things in those days ana Tor the
negro. happier than he has ever been since
or will ever be again, but he is free
though"
The young generation, especially the
northern young generation Will thlhh II
strange that negroes in those days could
have had any happiness, but they dld. NO
negro was caught without some OF the
good things Of the world to give them
Christmas cheer. A thrifty negro hau
plenty of money to spend at Christmas
and it was his great delight to hltch MS
masters OK team to the old-fashloned cart
| and go with his family to the village store
THESE negroes earned money by making
chairs, baskets. shuck collars and proohs
Besides many little ways Tor the negro
to nick I'D his dimes and quarters, they
were always allowed patch a piece
of ground was allotted each negro to plant
as he pleased and to do as ne pleased
with the proceeds. This patch was al
ways sufficient to buy the family ITS sun
day wear for the year ana SOME 4eLL -
spend at Christmas.
full week the time generally al
lowed the negroes at Christmas on the Ola
plantations. This was a week of perfect
freedom from labor or anxiety. Some OF
the Plantations, in the spirit OF fun ana
froIic, would claim all the time for moi
liday that it would require great back
ioe" to burn out in the masters fireplace
nut on Christmas morning. This is one
historical yew log custom of which the
poets have sung. The negroes would soak
a big gum log for weeks before CHRISTMAS
TO have it ready for an extended ire IN the
masters residence. This ''yew log was
most certain to force Il compromise by the
master allowing a few more days than the
'NA''''E-'eo
a. ioted week Really for week before and
after Christmas the old plantation was
place CT freedom and troIc.
AS muse over these old times | feel
| little disconsoIate but I am happy to
feel that the times are growing better than
they were a few years ago. The pendulum
| is beginning to swing back and, Whlle
| have no hopes of ever seeing such times
as was had In the old plantation days,
| feel that there some good times ahead
| and prosperous times, for the Georgia coun-
! TRUMAN Especially does old-tlme Ways
seem to be coming back in my settlement
| The young folks have been having their
parties for several weeks now, and they
| set IN to each other and look into each
others eyes as they used to when every
| voungster was inspired by the prosperity
! of the land and when a poor fellow was not
! hammered with keeping up style out OF
! all proportion to his income The young
| people are goo / indicators of the pulse of
! the country. They are sOrter getting over
| the score of hard times in my settlement
/ and begin to hold up their heads and step
proud They are hunting up sWeethearts
and marrying right along, and it makes
! me feel good. / despise healthy young
! man who can be satisfied with living with
/ ont = wife and there is no good sense in
| n pretty girl making up her mind to shiver
| through all the cold winters of her life il
! loneliness This cry Of hard times has
! much to do with the temper OF the young in
! this matter of marrying. They are mad
! towards
times and grow afraid that they
| cannot make a living for the girls
| thev love Many of the illustrious grand
| fathers and grandmothers went to house
| l[eening with only a skillet and frying
| nan in a house of mud-daubed chinks, and
| rrowed on to prosperity and the blessing of
! many children, and there is no reason now
| r,hv the poorest young couple should not
| co and do likewise, I think they will-the
| trend is that way, and if they do the coun-
| try is safe.
| 0nIv yesterday I sauntered over to old
! r2ro+her Webb's. He has married three
! cou1,les in the last week, and his house
| was filled with a happy crowd around the
/ uniting frames the day l was there. 1t is
/ = happy inspiration for the young to meet
! at the house of this good old man. Nearly
! ninety years old, he is as cheerful as at
| sixteen. His good old wife Is nearly as
/ old as he, but she was drying up lard and
| stuffing sausage while the young folks
| made the quilt; and the crib Is full of corn
! tbe ward is full of singing hens hogs sdueaI
| in his "woodslot," and, all in all, every
! thing is so akin to the old, old times that
| the good cheer is catching and everything
made happy. -,.
! for ALL but I know that many
will not be-especially in the