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

| making The haring lights could be seen
| for miles. Then there was old Guiles.
| like 10 think Of old Guiles, whenever I re-
call the Christmases Of my boyhood. II
ever there was a better fiddler than this
old darby, 1 never heard him I'm all my
life. Guiles used TO disappear sometimes
but ne always came back IN time for the
CHRISTMAS FUN at the negro quarters.
where, seating himself on the platform
ne would fiddle away. all night long: and
the longer he fiddled the faster he would
hddle; and the faster he nddled. the bet
ter he seemed 70 like Il: and the better he
lked It, the louder he would yodle: and
the louder he would yodle, the more fun
we would haye I think the picfure Of
old Guiles. the darby fiddler at the Man
taton Christmas merry-making, sitting
there' hddling away, with his head thrown
Ddck' whist the negroes on the floor are
cultlhg pigeon wings, is one Of the plea
SAINT pictures In my memory: dim though II
be, II can never fade away for with the
advent Of each Christmas. back II comes.
10 tell me OF my happy boyhood. down on
the oid plantation, long before the war"
AS the man said this. he seemed TO throw
on the cares Of state, and, leaning back
in MS chair smoked away I'm pensive sill
ence' the light blue smoke curling aloft I'm
pretty heecy clouds. care flew away
the empty mOckery Of politics was no
more, the ghOst-dance Of greedy office
seekers, the bane Of lie I'm Washington
disappeared before the rising memories of
those early Christmases, and for once. at
least in this busy, care-pressed mans
life, / am sure that he was-happv.
The Christmas 1 had when a boy"
he went on, slowly. after a time. ARE
haloes in an atmosphere that no longer
exists, IN which, clear and distinct.
though dimming fast appear the slaves.
Ihey were without any responsibility.
whatsoever, and so entered with incred-
IDLE spirit and abandon into the Christ
mas sports, which actually lasted a !
week, and were taken part in bv the 4
whole town. Each slave. on Christmas |
morning, would come to the master and /
ask for his present which would prove |
10 be anything from a jewsharp to n |
SUIT or clothes. But, certain il is. IL
would az least be glass Of egg-nogg.
a drink peculiar to Christmas in Alabama
at that time which the master had to
drlnk with his slaves. 1 remember that
frequently mixed the egg-nogg but
90 not know that had any other duties.
AS Tor early gifts, / recall a gun and
some books. Those were the great davs
and, as / think back at such times as
these. / can truly say that then 1 really
lived" ''
The ceaseless march Of ofice-seekers
Tesounded again, once more did the
secretary turn to his endless tasks; the
visions of Christmas were-fed.
Secretary Morton's Buck Saw.
J. Sterling Morton. Secretary Of Ag-
riculture, passed his boyhood's DAYS
in Monroe, Michigan. He was born in
Jefferson county, New York. April q.
1892, and was one of a small family AS
a youth, he was noted for his Jolly
spirits. and you may rest assured that
his Christmases were merry ones. When
he was still o lad, he was sent to Albion |
College.
1--WE had the usual old-time Christ
mas" said Mr.. Morton 10 me. at seven
% clock, one morning at his ofice-for he
Is very early riser. and hard worker
lin which there is a. memory Of good
dinners, the Christmas tree. the stock
ngs. and fun for the children"
do you recall any boyhood presents?"
Let me see; yes. 1 do" said the sec
'etary, with a smile. Il remember one
christmas that my father came to me ,
md handed me a buck-saw."
"A buck-saw?"
Eyes. a buck-saw he said, Sterling.
his means a dollar cord for you As
he epeated these telling words, he looked
gnihcantly towards the pile Of cord
wood in the backyard. That Christmas
s made memorable TO me, you may
est assured"
What sort Of town was Albion at
hat timer"
1T was a great milling place: the old
tone mill stands yet; but l never spent
ny Christmases there; 1 went to my
ather's home in Monroe. Monroe is an =
Ia French settlement on the Raisin River.
he people We're a frugal thrifty class.
nd like most French enjoyed a froic
realty. The Catholics, l recall. made
luch Of Christmas. The French people
{ my boyhood used 10 have fun on the
'e at Christmas. They had small
,unted Canadian ponies something like q I
iustang, and, sitting behind those. would
ash mp and down the grand marshes in ]
Ugh glee shouting. yelling. and urging on q
leir rat-lile horses. whilst al the popula- 7
on looked on ia wonder. Another 7
lemory Of my boyhood Christmases Is J.
he turkey hunts I'm the woods. Alchi-
an was famous I'm those DAYS for the ex-
'aordinary number Of her Wild turkeys i,
nd her wild pigeons: but IL was the tur-
eys that we generally went after on the y
'osty holiday mornings. That was great =
port, J assure you. ] was at Albion four y
nd the Michigan University three years. ;
re-; but / shall always recall as q green
Dot in my memory. my early Christ e
Eases" q
Were there any favorite bOyhood dishes N
hich you had then. hut miss now" II
Were there?-lot me see" unused the
'cretary well. YES, we generally had q
me fine vcnisonw p
Bissell is Reticent. A.
Wilson Shannon Bisscll, Postmaster n
neral, was born in Oneida county. and
ssed his bOyhood in Buffalo. whittier AT d.
p age OF six years. he removed with his is
theirs family. I called on Mr. Bissell
II dozen times before I could get an b,
dience, such was the stress of his ex-
ordinary business affairs in connection "'
m the Post-ofice portfolio. IA
There Is really little 10 say about my /
WOODS Christmas" said Mr. Bisseu ga
en-, finally, the matter was brought be-
e him. II was boy in Buffalo. and. IS c.
OF good-sIzed family, entered hearth al
into the joys and delights OF the holi-
Y season. l remember that we used to III
up Christmas morning, TO find our So
SCENTS on the table; recall that once J WI
eiVed flute; our presents were usually co