The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24

ants Of the Puritans, or those who were
governed by their customs
In my own family the day was al
ways celebrated as long as it's members
remained together, and now / always go
/ fifteen hundred miles to be with my
grandchildren on this occasion.
WILLIAM r. ADAMS.
(Oliver Optic)
Senator Doiph's stocking.
| My first recolectlons of Christmas-Day
| goes back to an early period in my life.
| They are associated with the humble
home, I'm the interior OF the State Of New
York, which sheltered me in infancy and
youth. There was no Christmas tree, no
unusual interruption in the quiet tenor OF
the lives OF my fathers household For
ne first time. so far as / can now recol-
lect. heard about SAINT and told TO hang
up my stocking TO receive his gifts, when
during the darkness of night he should
descend the chimney and dispense his
favors. The gifts 1 received on that oc-
casion were simple and inexpensive, but
they were greatly appreciated, and afford
ed a genuine and lasting pleasure not
equalled by that OF the more-favored
children of to-day who from the excess
Of gifts and children's toys, come to re-
gard them with indifference.
j. n. DOLPH.
Jenny June and Her Aunt
The first Christmas-Day that l remem-
Der was very joyous one. II was spent
at my aunt's house, at Turlangton, in
England. 1t was a lovely country home
with great gardens back and front of the
house, full of all understanding flowers
II was a very mild season. and the roses
xrar eli In, L hn hra
bound bureaus, and that out of one
of them my aunt took rosy apples. saved
for me, and out Of another, a wax-doll,
and cradle kept for me 10 play with
during my visit | remember that we
had one of aunt's famous ground rice
puddings for dessert on the day Of our
arrival: and that / was allowed 10 carry
some of the plum-pudding in a bowl, the
next day (Christmas-Day) 10 an old wo-
man who lived I'm little cottage near.
remember one of the games IN the evening
was "Twirl the Trencher' Ca carved
wooden tread-plate used, and that my
mother was never caught; not once. re-
member the rapture of waking I'm the
morning. and leaning out Of the easement
Qattice) windows; for the sweetness Of
the air; and then climbing up 20 bury my
face i'm the roses far on the top Of the high
chest of drawers" Those were happy
days before l knew good, and evil.
JENNY JUNE.
sweet Southern Memories.
A remembrance comes to me Of my
delight at feeling the contents Of my
stocking, one by one, and experiencing
rapturous sense Of mystery, all along,
until I came to the orange in the toe.
| knew perfectly that this was an orange,
and yet when / poured out the contents
and verified touch by sight, 1 can re-
member a thrill Of extreme delight 20 !
find it was really an orange instead Of |
a pang of regret % find 10 was merely an |
orange.-which would probably have |
been the case, at a more advanced agei |
Then I remembered that all the doubt
full things were better than my imagin-
ing, and that my impression of Santa
Claus, at the close Of the day was that
less than justice had been done him.
Before bedtime. however. my opinion OF
him had been totally reversed owing TO
the fact that. being carried by my nurse
20 a childrens party where his imper-
senator actually jumped out of a fire
place. behind a screen. 1 was frightened
almost into commissions by his approach
10 me. as / was held in my nurses arms.
and when, 10 pacify me, he removed his
mask and showed me the face Of a
leighbor well-known 20 me. my pride
was so shocked that I bore the real
Santa Claus a grudge ever after-which
M his munihcence Of subsequent years
iever quite did away with. 1 believe
hat is all can remember.
JULIA MAGRUDER.
rom Anna Katharine Green
Ny sixth Christmas is the earliest I
cmember. I was then living with my
CT
n New York. I always knew that the
fits came from my friends. but / ques-
ion # any child who has been brought
% TO have unboupded faith I'm Santa u
laus could have looked forward 10 the ,
ay with greater expectancy than I did. :
The piano top was set aside for my ,
sters. the sideboard for my father ,
he pier-glass slab for my mother. And !
being the youngest, had the large
enter table assigned 20 me. No one ,
new what the other might receive, for j
cloth covered every ones gifts. OF /
nurse the cloth covering the table held | I
nv attention. The causes for the inc !
Dalities formed by the varying shapes \
nder the cloth had as great or greater [
,scination for me than the readers or ;
~ stories claim they have for them. d
hat highest point might be anything M u
ne world. That fiat place might DE- {
lgt what ] hoped IL W0uu ne. lHdl | u
ocular shape on the left, what could S
lat be2 So expectancy was Kept on q
p-toe until 81 was announced that We g
light peep. Then all crowded around o
mas table Those who were not sur II
Used showed II all the more. they s.
iowed Il I'm such eXtravagant ways b
at my old detective friend, Ebenezer h
rvce. would have doubted their sim o
ritv at once and would have marked @
EN- for the guilty givers. The more "
ev were surprised, the more 10 pleased
O. Of course. The tan shape proved TO
n dolls secretary. The Aat place was
book. the charm Of which lives WIN
r. 10 this day.-From Anna Katharine Z,
-een. -
am living over my Christmas IN my u
tie ones. They believe I'm Santa Claus' u
"a I mean they shall continue TO DO so ~
nil the beautiful fiction fades away D.
ON them into the realization that the 81
al Santa Claus was the creation or -
wing mother and father. W
ANNA KATHARINE GREEN. Ji
Americas Lsndscape Painter. ~
was n slim. yellow haired, half sickly -
OF about seven years before any very 3,
stinct recollection Of Christmas-ude im- ~
essed itself upon my mind n
rbe winter Of that year was intensely ="
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