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


for both old and young were not though
Of I'm my ohildhocd's days. Indeed, the
could not have been INDUCED IN AT an
cost, for they lad not been heard o
and were not to be found In the maj
ket. People were not grown as rich an
had little money to spend, and the chi
dren were not SO pampered as now
Their customs were more simple ant
and their habits palmer. Yet / think bot
people and children were happier an
more content than now with all thei
wealth, high living and extravaganza.
AMELIA BLOOMER.
His Fathers Xmas Present.
We were always accustomed to hang NJ
anxiously, as all children do, for the com
ing of Christmas morning / do not know
when the Santa Claus idea lost It's real
ity. There were a number Of children ir
the family, and We would save up ouI
| pennies TO buy presents for the others
and my only distinct recollection was the
| difficulty We found I'm buying anything
| appropriate for our parents. / remember
that father received toilet soap made "a
represent various kinds Of animals until
he, good-naturedly. inquired whether we
meant 10 suggest that he needed 10 use
| more soap.
| Christmas tree. and find a great deal Of
pleasure in watching the surprise and
| Joy Of the children. when they first behold
the tree lighted. and decorated with their
little presents.
W. J. BRYAN. NJ. c.
Chief of Kings daughters.
am taken back in memory 10 Brooklyn,
New York. very early Of a Christmas
morning, or really, just after midnight Of
a Christmas-Eve, and suddenly awaken
ing 10 hear a chorus OF voices and musical
instruments carrolling their Christmas
hymn. Among them. 1 hear very dis
tinctly, the rich baritone voice of my
dear father, leading off in the grand old
words:
While shepherds watched their flock by
night,
All seated on the ground;
The angel Of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
Presently, as the song was ended, I
watched the company, under the light Of
the clear. full moon, pass into the house,
and. attracted by their conversation,
stole down in my little night-dress and
bare feet, into the dining room, where
they were all feasting on mothers mince
pies and coffee Ny dear motherl / think
to the occasion-with what delight she
took me on her lap and after .he company
had gone, explained 10 me the story Of
the babe and the manger from cheap
print Of the scene which hung upon
the wall, and made the impression on
my mind that the animals about the
Manager, as well as the Mother and the
Child, were holy And somehow, / never
could think Of that group about the man
ger but as all partaking in the sacred
ness Of the whole. And no CHRISTMAS
celebration since has affected me as that
first time of heating the Christmas car
rolling before our own door. ! cannot
remember much about childhood gifts
excepting the Annual, a little illustrated
book, full Of choice selections and bits
of poetry. 10 which I looked forward with
great delight. But specially, l remember,
how proud l was of the new gown which
the day. and in which /
was 10 make my appearance on Ne"
Years
That first Christmas eve and morning! |
have always been glad that l could !
trace the thread Of destiny 10 the cradles !
foot: Jesus and my mother! The enid |
in the arms Of the Mother.
May all our young mothers bequeath |
to their children the inheritance OF mem
DRY my mother left TO me.
MARGARET BOTTOME.
4 story of the southland.
had the customary experience Of |
Virginia boys I'm the old homes Of by
gone days.
Stockings were hung mp in the bed
rooms Xmas Eve and filled with candies,
nuts. oranges. etc, by Santa Claus, who,
leaving his reindeer and sleigh outside,
came down the chimney while we We're
all asleep.
We somehow always walked up Xmas
morning at the first glimpse Of day. and
attacked the good things I'm
the stockings and then ran for the tables
In the room upon which had been Hastily
the presents. The remainder
)f the day was spent I'm showing these 10
everybody on the place-eating sweet
meats until we were sick. and blowing
horns until our breath was exhausted.
The bad boys never found the threatened
switches I'm their stockings, but enjoyed
he holiday just as much, and perhaps
more. than the good boys.
These merry markings were kept up a
week During the festivities the negroes
I'D no work Except the house servants)
md they only what was absolutely
Everybody for miles around seemed 10
pc sluEilE.
Let the Wide world wag az It viii,
Wen be gay and happy still.
FIIZHUGH LEE.
4 Famous Funny Fellow.
The first Christmas 1 can remember?
{ Is like remembering a dream the Wis
ons you dream get SO mixed up with
he thoughts you had when you awoke.
n the things you did before you fell
sleep; tradition and fact, experience
nd narrative. are so commingled in
mans recollections Of Christmas, that
Ometimes i have an idea that my first
christmas happened two or three hun
red years ago. But the first one OF
which l have a distinct. vivid remem-
rance was printed on heart and brain
nth a bitter disappointment. ] was
bout eight years old. My father was
book-keeper in the good old time when
day laborer worked twelve hours a
ay, a farmer sixteen. a merchant eigh-
zen or twenty, a salesman as long
S he could keep awake, and hook-keep-