The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-22

noted for openhanded hospitality,
wealth. refinement and culture.
He owned a large number of negroes
and was an amiable easy-going master
much more interested in literature
than in rice planting, and preserving
in his daily life many OF the habits OF
his English ancestors.
The Christmas holidays on his plan
tation lasted from Christmas EVe-al-
ways half holiday, until the lule log
burnt in two after New Years DAY.
The first work done in the New year
was a selection by the negroes OF the
Yule log or, as they called 1T the
Christmas backlog" for the next
Christmas fire.
The driver. one o. the negroes who
was selected by the Oyerseer as SUI
perintendent of the working force or
field hands"-marshalled gang OF
the best axe hands and down they
went into the swamps to select the blg-
oest. knottiest, and most indestructl-
BILE cypress tree that could be found
which was felled with great ceremony
while the hands chanted part OF the
''Coonah" song:
christmas comes but once year,
Ho rang, du range!
Let everyb body have share,
Ho. rang du rango!
When the tree was cut down the
butt end of the stock WAS measured
the length of the hall fireplace up to
the great house, and cut, or sawed OFT,
then hauled down TO the canal and
anchored where it would get thorough
IN water-logged during the ensuing
twelve months.
The object of this was to keep 1t
from. being burnt out too soon, for as
long as the Yule log burned the whole
plantation force had holiday.
4 day or two before Christmas the
backlog was hauled TO the house. and
given bed in the sand SO that the
surface water could drain off. Christ
mas morning the moment the hrst
misguided fowl "crowed for day" the
backlog was carried into the great
holly wreathed hall, the massive brass
andirons were dragged forward on the
wide ample hearth, a bed of wet ashes
was carefully prepared, and the huge
log laid on it, and then an artistic hre
of fragrant, resinous lightwood and
seasoned oak was built up against it.,
and the revels had begun.
The week before Christmas-Oh.
wha4 ieliciously busy, eNneetant sea-
son it was!
The farmers farmers were large.
square. split baskets holding about two
and-a-half bushels, and were used Tor
carving rough rice from the pans TO
the mortars-fuil of eggs that were
carried into the store-room gave prom
Use of endless buildings, pies. and cakes,
while sundry tantalizing whlffs that
were borne TO MS whenever we ranged
near the door-and who could keep a
way ?-made us all long with childish
eagerness to shorten the days.
Busy days they were indeed. Holly
and mistletoe had to be wreathed for
the hall, dining room, library, ana
ballroom. Candle papers were to be
eul tad dipped in melted spermacetI.
Cake papers, of most elaborate design,
were to be originated by Aunt's artistic
fingers All of the china, silver and
glass had to be washed and polished;
all Of the finest, oldest, oldest things
in the house furnishings were brought
out to do honor to the great festival.
The linen closets were ransacked,
and dozens of the finest damask cloths
and napkins sent down 70 the hall
closet Relays of sheets and pillow
cases, blankets and counterpanes We're
put in readiness for the impromptu
beds that were going to be made up
wherever there was room for man
to stretch himself
Christmas Eve came at last, and
found the house filled with guests. We
children were scrubbed within an inch
of our lives SO as to be clean for Christ
mas, nanny well knowing the mutt
ny that would take place the next
morning against the daily kst1 en-
there was great fitting al &c
hang up stockings, and nanny must
take notice just whose stocking ii VIas
that hung at the foot of the bed, anI
whose on either side of the Fireplace,
and on the bereau knob, while mann
my's own stocking by universal con-
sent was given the best place in the
room, and hung on a chair right be-
fore the fireplace. Then we We're
tucked into bed, quite sure we would
lie awake to see Santa Claus, but only
rousing when at four O'Clock, the horn
at the quarters blew long clear blast;
and we felt the floor shake as the men
staggered through the hall with the
great backlog.
bN the time our STOCKINGS were
emptied and examined grandpa, fully
dressed, had come out Of his room into
the hall where the servants had set out
all of the materials for making egg
nog on a gigantic scale-a farmer
of fresh eggs. great bowls of
sugar and the cellaret of liquors. When
the eggs were beaten to the required
degree. viz: until the yelks were the
color of rich cream. and the whites adj
hered steadily to the dish when it was
turned up side down, the whole was
put together in the grand old China
punch-bowl, relic OF ancestral Hastings
across seas in 'Ye old Countrie"
would not dare to say how many eggs,
or how much brandy and rum went in
to the concoction of that bowl of egg
nog.
When il was pronounced right, a
waiter Of glasses was filed and hand
er, lurking somewhere in the shadows,
and then the stand'-a great circular
claw-foOted mahogany table was lift