The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-01
A PENNSYLVANIA NEW YEARS..
Quaint Customs During a Midnight Round
of Visits in tho

of Visits in tho Backwoods.
There arc two kinds Of New Years calling"
said the travelling man. "0ne is in the cities
the other in the backwoods. Last year 1 was
snowbound in the Pennsylvania Blue Noun
tains. and a country merchant OF mine pre-
| vailed upon me to be his New Years guest.
On New Years eve We played euchre for tur-
keys at the tavern until ready to start out.
Finally. the leader Of the party shouted times
up.' and the game closed. All then began
preparations for making the calls. Each man
| took a gun. Some had ancient pistols. others
double-barrelled guns. others single barrels.
The leader then advised that. to avoid acci-
dents, guns should not be loaded to the muz-
zle.' We went out into the night. and 1t was
still showing. It was intensely silent, as tho
world seemed asleep in that bleak. mountain
country. We first lined up before tn Q tavern:
the leader counted one. two. three-freP and
of went the first volley. Just at II o'clock"
Come In" said the landlord, as II he had
never before seen the party. and he opened a
door at the end OF the house leading into a big
kitchen. On the large table was spread u
bountiful luncheon. The landlords wife and
daughters. the maidssryant and hostler were
there. Then the leader Of our party assumed .
grave and digni1ed air. approached the good
wife, al in q sing-song voice proceeded with
the New Year wish. But Of that I will speak
later. We were very hungry. and 1 don't think
that cold pork pudding. bread and butter and
hot coffee ever tasted better than that night.
or course there were other cold meats on the
table. pies and cakes and apples. We loaded
up the guns again, went out. said good-by
and. firing a parting salute. We took up our
line of march through the snow to the
farmhouse of the leading man in the town
ship. o quarter of q mile of. Lining up in
front OF the frozen water trough, we blaZed
away, and the echoes reverberated In the hills.
was lit up. as II the lamps had been turned low
and then quickly raised. Inside we re-, found all
hearth. The sons stood next to the father and
the daughters at the mothers side; The hired
mlnisterial looking. and a comedian in his way.
c co1nsfih cat the an idfmbtl Began G10RR F:; T TisE IN t he
them nrennsae,f lIG g5od h s4oGs. R anew = y ear nth tt b hSe sndd
things. New Year In the German. 'Nsies JahT.'
pronounced .yore.' gave the wisher a chance
SAUSAGE SO lng@o fTom heres i To BBaaHitimlS0rre., p' q iosf q
bread as big as a barn door, and so ON for
funny. but were spoken gravely in a sepulchral
voice, which provoked smiles from many. The
1pnse tSs I an iEs trR Bsd T served g li't 4 hot sstt S1. ths oi
and very good butter, and most excellent coffee
and 1 enjoyed It,. My merchant friend limited
/ should not eat too much or l could not do JUS
tlce to the things that were to come. OF course.
the farmer had some appleJack to offer before
we lunehed. Good nights were said. and in
Tho next farmhouse WAS. nearly q half
mile away. but as we trudged through the
snow we frequently stopped to load and fire to
let the people know we were coming. At the
ordinary homes of the mountaineers we did
not stop. but gave them q salute as we passed.
At tho next, farmhouse we had a jolly recep-
ton. / was introduced always after the wish
had been extended. Invariably the farmer
would say You are welcome. Warm yourself
at the Are, don't think ! ever before had
had cold roast chicken among the things
set out Blood pudding was a side dish.
The farmer had, u troop, OF Jolly daughters
and they. made II. very pleasant. The snow
was ssiil falling; l. vas quite cold and dtreary
warm and happy. The refreshments. fluid and
solid, assimllated remarkably well In the frosty
air OF night, and, though We trampel Tor miles, |
] never gave that a thought. From farmhouse
to farmhouse we went, shooting sinRly and by
place we visited we went through the
same ceremony. One, 2. 3 o'clock passed
and the people were astir when we came. At
the majority OF places one, or two Of the family
remained UP and the others arose and came
down when they heard the racket of our gums.
farmers In the district and must have trudged
fifteen or twenty miles through the snow. 1t
was o'clock when we. reached the tavern. the
place OF starting. In this way dozens OF shoot
Ing parties II the mopntaln and back country
fast the INCEST. hot cakes, hot fried mush and
coffee. for which. strangeto say. We had plenty
OF appetite left"