The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-12-20

: but Christmas
tide, coming, as It does, in the winter
season. invites to indoor cheer and
cozy hospitalities. Besides, it is pre-
eminently the children's celebration
and their glad vacation from the rou-
tine Of school. They say, with our
Hoosier poet:
UT to almost cry Ter Christmas, like youngster
will. ~, es' 4
Fourth O. July's nothin to 1t. New Year's amt
mell. ssls's as n.
Easter Sunday and circus day-ies' ill dead in the
shell. lN
It is also the tenderest, holiest holi-
day because Of the religious observance
of the birth Of Him who brought us
the new teaching Of peace and good
will to all men.
If the farm is the ideal home, then
we should endeayor to observe this
home festival IN the ideal manner. Our
great farmhouses must not be cheerless
barracks. They must become the CEN
ters of old fashioned merriment, visit
ing, feasting and hospitality. They
must cling closely to the ancient tradi-
tons Of the day and follow the same
spirit of geniality, Of present giving,
minstrelsy, harmless revelry, and,
shove all, of kindly beneYolence and
thought of others.
An ideal Christmas requires thought
long beforehand unless the purse is
unlimited. Costly gifts are not neces-
sary for a joyous day, but loving kind
ness must illuminate each little remem-
brance, or the candles on the tree will
be but dim tapers. The glad day
comes. The usual church or Sabbath
school celebration has been enjoyed
the evening before by all the children,
but it Is in the home festivities we are
interested. For an ideal day we shall
have the wee ones trooping down In
the early morning, waking every one
with their Merry Christmasp' to see
what Santa has put in their stock
ings. A mouth harp, a jackknife or a
doll, some joke and a bit Of candy they
find and seamper back to bed happy as
need be. After breakfast the good
cheer Of the morning is In the arrival
Of the married children or other rela-
tiyes and friends with the greetings
and Joy Of reunion. Now the gifts are
interchanged Perhaps q. real Christ
mas tree, with its queer fruit from all
lands and its gaudy trappings, glad
dens the heart Of all, but the chief glo-
ry Of the day Is the family dinner
When the gray haired father sees round his board
The old, broken links Of affection restored;
When the care wearied man seeks his mother once
And the worn matron smiles where the girl Brniled
before. a@
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye,
What calls back the past, like the rich pumpkin
pief
Preceded by the typical feast OF the
day, from yearling gobbler to plum
pudding, none can resist the influence.
With hearts mellowed and appetites
,appeased the whole company Is ready
for the laughter and fun to follow. The
"help" are all asked to join, ones
neighbors drop in, and there Is soon a
round Of games and gayeties entered
into by old and young. "Blind mans
buff," "hot cockles," ''bob apple, !"
"hunt the slipper" follow each other,
and the evening closes with the old
fashioned Virginia reel and Tucker, or
there may be charades and tableaux,
with some recitations by the children,
or the young people and children may
black up and give theirelders minstrel
show, sing "suwanee River" Down
the Ohio" Honey, You's My Lady
Love-" recite Riley's mighty Lone
some Waitin When the Folks Is Gone"
or Little Johns Christmas" one of
Uncle Remus' stories Of his lizard
Road to Trabble." A single person may
give an evenings delight for the whole
party in reading aloud Birds Christ
mas CAROL by Miss Wiggin. After all
is over the young people, disguised as
wandering troubadours, may serenade
their neighbors with Christmas carols.
Who would run away from life on the
farm because of its dreariness If the
homes were thus made attractive?-
Breeders Gazette. -..: