Middletown transcript., 1893-12-23

So iod in the life Of
those who are nc
~ longer young. But
have lately learn
ed that q the good old times" is only sy-
nonymous term and applies to those bliss
full days ofyore. when life was young and
hope was high, and runs all the way form
twenty to fifty or sixty years ago.
The Christmas days that / remember
with such tender recollection were about
thirty years ago. and l suppose when l tell
the young folks of how times have changed
since then, they win regard me with some
thing of the same feelings that regard the
aged grand sire who tells of the wonderful
Christmas days when he was boy. some
some sixty or seventy year ago.
1t is quite natural to "episode" on these
anniversary days, and in the midst of all
the gayety and mirth of the season I find
my heart going back to the old home. and
scenes long passed away.
In the old house at home we observed the
day in genuine country fashion, and even
now Christmas day in the country seems to
me much more genuine Christmas.
There were alays elaborate preparation
in the culinery department. and as / re-
member those matchless cakes, pies,
doughnuts and other goodies ! cannot
wonder that visions of sugar-plums
danced through our heads
Hanging up the stockings was a very in
teresting performance, the greatest care
being taken to choose the biggest.
There were certain little nails, hooks and
knobs that we're engaged from one Christ
mas the next and we each one had our
own little special place; the choice loca-
tioh, however, was always given to the
,yok1gest ones of the flock, and little knobs
On either side, of the mantle were always
taken" remember with peculiar dis
tinctness certain little brass hook on the
under cupboard door that was always orna-
mented with dangling stocking on Christ
mas eve. How plainly seem 10 see them
now, those stockings hung by the
chimney with care.p How eagerly we
watched the hours creep by as we gathered
about the hearth's bright glow. while the
evening shadows darkened the outside
world. We talked and guessed and won
dered about the mysteries of "0ld Kris"
Santa Claus was then unknown to US and
our patron saint at Christmas time was jolly
old Kris Krinkle.
The group that formed that happy
family circle on those Christmas ewes of
long ago, is ever a beautiful picture on
memory's wall, and the capacious old sit
ting room with its plain and homely furn-
ishings is more attractive than the most
gorgeous apartment in the palace of a
king.
There was the open fire place with q
veritable yule-log. The Pickering of the
fre-light, the shining brass andirons, the
polished bricks on the wide hearth, even
the shovel and tongs that stood by the jam
all are vividly seen by the minds eye to-
day. 1t did not require any great stretch of
Imagination to see old Kris coming down
the chimney. That great cayernous open
ing could well admit his sainthood with
all his compliance, and he seemed SO much
more likely to come through an open fire.
place than through register hole or a
stram radiator, such as are found in this
more luxurious period. Early retiring was
always the rule on Christmas eve, butbefore
we were coaxed off to bed we were treated
to the story, TWAS the night before
Christmas" 1t was always mothers task
to repeat this most beautiful Christmas poem
having learned it in her own child hood
days; and from hearing the story repeated
we came to have quite a intimate &C.
quaintance with 'St. Nick" and knew his
ways so we'll that one night We actually
heard him as he was taking his leave, hav,
ing awoke just in times to hear the echos
of his sleigh bells away down the lane, and
as the "eight tiny reindeers" crossed ovel
the bridge we were sure we heard the jolly
old soul say, "Merry Christmas to all, good
night" But, being honor bound to stay ir
bed until o'clock we were soon again in
dream-land.
But Oh! the delight of Christmas morn
The stars were still shining when row o
white robed children could be seen cominl
down the winding stairs and as we seizet
upon our various possessions. no king wa
happier than we. Costly gifts and useless
presents were unknown. And with ou
stocking full of candy, few toys and somt
more subs tantial gifts we were as happy
yes, happier than many children to-day
who have already had so much lavishei
upon them that the puzzling question nov
is what is there left that they have no
hads How times. have changed sinct
then.
While we were diving deep into thu
goodies, the older members of the family
were busy getting ready for church, fol
there was an early morning service or
Christmas day, in those Golden times" and
our folks always attended it. The family
carriage or the sleigh as The case might,be
was always ready in time, and while thu
cocks were Growing the worshippers wer,
fastening over quiet country roads to the
meeting house in the village. The grey
dawn had scarcely broken when their re
turn was announced by the we'll knowr
whinny Of old Pilgrim the family driver
He was such knowing .'critter," 1t wa
generally believed that he knew it wa
0l.ristmas, he had such an air importanc,
aIHays And then too, be had bis extrs