The record-union., 1894-12-19
CHRISTMAS BACK EAST"

Here, In the land of the vine and the
hg tree, under the very shadow of the
orange and palm, and surrounded by
beautiful flowers, tits hard to believe the
happy Christmas tide is so nearly upon
us.
Especially, so is it to one born in the
States" for dating back to their very
''trundle-bed" days snow and Christmas
went hand in hand, and the jingling of
the sleigh bells made many a heart beat
faster as they rang out their merry
chimes. Besides. if there was no snow
how could old Santa Claus go with mis-
famous reindeers and sled.
fancy III this sunny cline they must
have different sort of Santa Claus who
knows nothing of a red nose or tingling
ears. and probably delivers his goods
with coach and four. Nevertheless
would like to take some of these native
daughters" born in this land of flowers.
back with me TO the Estates" to enjoy an
oId-fashioned Christmas. Not to the city
homes, however, would | take them, bu t
10 the dear old farmhouse where, fifty
years ago, the now ola gray-haired father,
brought his young bride TO the home he
had prepared for her. The home he still
owns and OF which he is the honored
head, and his bride, now passed into the
aged mother, still its shining light. Here,
when the home-nest was new, came the
patter of little feet, and the sound OF
childish voices, which, as the years rolled
on, heightened into the trmer tread of
sturdy sons grown to manhood, or the
lighter steps and wlnsome sounds OF girl
lsh voices.
Here they all lived in the sacredness of
home, sheltered from all sorrows and
sin, with the best precepts and example
always before them. In this pure atmos-
phere they grew into noble minded men
and women till one by one, as they
woOed or were won, passed out from un-
der the old roof tree, till the father and
mother were left as they began alone.
ct not alone, tor most OF their children
had settled on farms adjoining, or near
10 the old home place, and the days were
lew when some OF the sons or daughters
did not go over to see father aud mother,
and the old folks had the childhood OF
their children renewed in the merry pratt
tie Of their grandchildren. who liked
nothing better than TO spend week at
grandma's. This is the nome l would
take you to spend a Merry Christ
mas"
We would leave the city Of at 3
O'Clock in the afternoon, and alter seeing
You all tucked in the sleigh, with warm
robes wrapped all about you, even TO
your very chm, take the blankets from
the Steaming, restless horses, whose
every impatient movement set the sleigh
bells iingling, and every breath looks
like so much steam as it cuts the frosty
air. linen the driver, Stalwart, ruddy-
laced farmers son, comes to the sleigh,
stamps the snow from his boots, pulls up
his coat collar little higher, and his fur
cap down little lower about those ting
ling ears, steps in, tucks the blankets
about him and takes the reinS with a
firm hon a FnG lnGS YINrQ or a
bound, which sends out merry Ginning
OF the bells, the sleigh gives dangerous
1urch, which you answer with little
smothered shrek and away we go.
We soon leave the city behind US and
get into the country roads where It's one
pure, glistening, eNpanse OF snow.
Snow everywhere. ON the fences, on
the strawstacl1s, on the roofs of the
houses and the wood piles, and all formed
into such fantastic shapes that Califor-
MIA girl could never guess what it COW
cred, and especially would this come
home to them, il, in trying to pass flying
team. the horses would swerve a little too
far TO one side, IN what would look 10 the
inexperienced like a smooth, glSteniug
level, but which would prove TO be q
ditch" by the road side, perhaps two or
three feet deep, III which you might be
unceremoniously landed. But tits just
such ride as this that means true lnlOX-
ication, not as the wine of the grape in
toXicates, but the very essence OF living.
New blood seems TO course through your
veins. The heart thrObs, the pulses beat,
andaIhe rich blood stains cheek and lip.
But as the sleigh fairly flies over the
gliSLening snow, and the miles stretch
out behind, there is a feeling not quite
comfortable comes stealing over you; at
1irst you hardly realize what the trouble
may be Till it comes on you suddenly
and overwhelmingly; you are hungry,
spelt with capital. In fact, you are
awful hungry, not tor chicken wing,
nor yet piece of cake and a pickle, but
for whole plates full and dishes heaped
high.
But that will soon be made right, for
the willing horses, with their heads
turned homeward, are even now in sight
of the Snow-coyered roof of the old farm
house surrounded by tall evergreens
whose branches droop low with their
heavy burden of snow, and the great,
wide chimney sends up its blue curling
smoke with little showers of sparks
which you can plainly see as the short
winters day is almost ended, and so is
your ride; tor the horses enter the
gateway, whose snow-coYered posts look
like pure, white domeS, with little
extra guiding of the horses to avoid a
sleigh here and a sled there that have
brought the children and grandchildren
back 10 the old roof tree.
have already heraldcd your approach.
the horses are pulled up and you are
helped to alight. and you need the help
Tor YOU are cold and stiff when you come
10 move, although you had not realized it
before, and you Will soon forget 1t, for
The old house door Is thrown wide open
and the father and mother stand, out
lined by the freight behind them, to
greet you.
The dear old mother was raised a
Qualleres and she will take you by the
hand and say: "Thee is very welcome;
come to the fire and get thyselves good and
warm, and shall soon have thy suppers.
These are our sons and daughters, and
we hope to make thy stay pleasant to
1hee.''
You look in the kindly old face and
intuitively feel that she means 1t, and
you are strangers no longer.
You are ushered into the great living
room, and step, not on a soft rich carpet
the thousands OF footsteps Of the chill
dren, and white as soap and sand could
make il in fifty years OF scouriDgs.
You would not be taken to a cold
room to remove your wraps, but loving
hands would help you divest yourselves
OF them while you stood on the OLD stone
hearth OF the great, big fireplace, where
a blazing fire of hickory wood leaped
and roared up the broad throat OF the
chimney, and whose bright light would
make your very shadows dance with
glee behind you.
You would soon find yourself seated,
not in q soft upholstered rocking chair
but little stiff, spindle-legged chairs
which were part of the furnishing when
the bride came home.
There is soon sense of comfort and