The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-06

sweetness long drawn out" at our
house, for the boys have gathered
from the tour corners and brought
their love AMI their rations with them.
New York brought a huge box of de-
corations for the Christmas tree. 1t
was beautiful beyond description.
Dolls of silk and satin and paper, all
covered with glittering spangles-
angels with pearly wings suspended
by threads Of invisible rubber. golden
glass in rainbow colors-scores of lit
tie waXen candles to illuminate the
scene. Oh, it was like a fairy vision,
and every limb and twig of the stately
long leaf pine was burdened with
Christmas gifts for old and young.
There were Iwenty-four of the family
present, and it took half the night
to unite and unfold the surprises, for
all were remembered over and over
again by old Santa. Yes, all, even to
the venerable old patriarch-the Pa
terfamilias," the antique ancestor, for
he bought me a ball and a monkey
jack and some candy. because he had
HedTu tDdJ l was Jllt liAN 49,
boy-about the house. But later on
discovered silk cap and pair OF
slippers, some handkerchiefs and an
inkstand that the little grandchildren
can't spill the ink out of if they turn
it over. Little Mary Lou, who IS Jes-
sizes child, got so many dolls and pref
ty things that she looked tired and,
drawing a long breath. said: Gran
pa, it's too much. and | can't hardly
stand it." There were toys and BOOKS,
and vases and perfumes, and baskets
and gloves. and Jewels and other gifts
4 too numerous to mention. Mexico
brought IA beautiful hand-woyen Cas-
tilian shawl for my wife, and she
struts around as blithe and gay as
Eden's garden bird MY boy brought
it from Mexico" she says. forty times
a day. MY boy and my children are
always ON the tip of her tongue. Wen,
that's all right. They are her boys
sure enough. and she knows it. There
may be some doubt, sometimes, about
who is the father OF a child. but
everybody knows who is its mother.
Downstairs has all been clothed with
mistletoe and holly. Geraniums from
the pit are placed all around. and
some beautiful roses lift up their love-
IN IOEUlS from D6dutlIul IihiO
old Santa Claus brought. Bunches
of mistletoe hang from every chan
delier, and every time these merry,
mischievous girls find me standing I'M
der one, they slip up unawares and
claim kiss. Even Mrs. Arp lost her
dignity and. coming slyly behind me.
suddenly wrapped the drapery OF her
Castillan shawl around me and claim
ed a mistletoe kiss from my connubial
lips.
But the old marble clock that for
nearly fifty Years has stood upon the
mantel ticking the moments and re
cordine. the hours as they pass. did
stop on Christmas night and at mid
night the happy group retired to rest
and happy creams. Next day came
the feast-the Christmast dinner.
Every leaf was placed on the long eN-
tension table. At each end was a
large well-broWned, well-done turkey,
and all the intermediate space crowd
ed with luXuries for the inner man
and woman. Eighteen OF the family
were the welcome guests at the table,
while six of the infantiles surrounded
a smaller one nearby ] never asked
a blessing with more grateful heart.
for Providence has been kind, and
amitv has befallen us. Verify, the
lines have fallen to us in pleasant
places. Would that all our kindred in
the land-the rich and the poor
could have a like happy and unclouded
Christmas. AS | survey the happy
scene it is enough to look upon the
serenity of TIE maternal ancestor as
she gazes fondly upon her boys-yes,
her boys, who have come so far to
give her JOY and comfort. Oh, ye boys
we young men and middle aged,
whom fortune or fate has removed far
from old mothers tender care and so
licitutle, don't forget her warnings
and if YOU cannot go to her at least
once a year. write to her every month
and comfort her with your loving let
tiers. The papers are full of crimes of
all descriptions, but in my opinion,
there is none that will more surely
provoke the curse of God than for a
man to neglect or distress his mother.
Yesterday the boys with their moth
er and sisters visited the old home
stead-the farm in the country, where
our children grew up TO manhood and
Observation-Disclosures these scattered
bows worked and plowed and planted
and reaped, where they had sown;
Wlere In6A IdDOI6u Hdlt ~ udS "'ib
hunted coons and 'possuns by night;
where they went to the neighboring
mill and fshed in the pond While the
grist was grinding; where Carl and
Jessie went to school and crossed the
creek on Il slender footlog, and gath
cred haws and maypops and wild
straw berries on the way. These boys
and their sisters wanted to revisit the
old scenes and drink from the same
old gushing spring. These boys want
ed to see the old meadow where the
big trees stood in their maiesty-the
oak trees that we had named for Ros-
coe Conklng and Blaine, and the big
sycamore that was named for Noor-
bees, the tall sycamore of the Wa
bash.
They wanted to see the old barn
ward where they used to tease old
Pete. the Merino ram and incite him
to- rear on his hind legs and run TO
butt them as they presented their pos
teriors in a defiant and provoking
manner. Sometime they got out of his
way just in time, but ever and anon
they dident. and he sent them on
thoit. NHrindinO IlnO the