The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-12-24
Raleigh, N. c., December %, 1901


was one job that we did not like, but
it must be done, for it's neglect
would mar the Looks of everything,
and that was to sweep the yard. So
we hurried IF to the woods and
gathered some limbs from the low
dog wood trees 30 make brooms. The
old oak and hickory trees just seemed
TO ns as if they wanted to scatter
more leaves, acorna, hickory nuts
and shells over the yard at this par
ticular time than ever before. Be-
fore night the leaves and other trash
were not to be seen in that yard.
Tnis was the last night before we
would hang our stocking to receive
the blessed gifts. We went to sleep
thinking of Santa Claus. EArly next
morning we were told that there
we're many things to be done, The
turkey and chickens must be kille /
and large lot Of wood must be Car
ried TO the house. We must not
have any work to do on Christmas
day.
All Of these jobs we're finished by
night and we we're very tired. But
look, yonder toward the store !
There was a huge ball of fire thrown
this way and that way, some times
high up in the air. The BOYS had
gone ID an old turpentine still and
wet a ball of cotton with spirits of
turuentine and had set it afire and
we're throwing it around just like
boys throw baseball. We were
too small, or at least too scared, 81
mel in this sport. 81 after they had
burnt two balls of cotton we went
home.
CHRISTMAS NIGHT.
It was about six O'Clock when we
entered the hous7. Father Vas in
one conner reading. Mother had
one sf the youngest child en- IL her
lap getting him TO sleep NoV we
had some contention about which
nail each one of US should have. At
last we agreed and hung up our
stoc kings and went to bed, but not
TO sleep, for we lay there listening
for old Santa Claus. Bus at last tirt d
nature could hold out no longer, 80
we we're soon n the land of dreams
About half past three O'Clock we
walked up and lay there while roll
ing on first one side then on the
other. 1t WAS not long before we
discovered that we were not the
pnly one awake, for one of our
brothers asked US if it were not time
to get up. We talked in whisper
at frat, then out loud the next thing
Was to jump out of bed and run into
the sitting room and make light,
which Was easily done by putting
piece of pitch pine on the bed of oak
@ 'alI. Yes, there were the marks
in the back of the CHIMNEY. Now
the fire light showed lot of little
stookiogs full away above the heels
We hesitated a minute, then took
h Did and telt to see if there really
was anything in them. At last we
ran eur hand down and dre out
Moe red apple, then some rai-ins,
nuts of different kinds, suoh as Eng
lish wAlnuts, almonds, filberts and
Braz nuts which we called "pig
tOes," and several large sticks of
oan1v, red and white striped G uld
we ever eat all of them? The raisins
were something new to US, bat we
tasted one to see if thay were good
and found that they we're one of the
0e.t things that we had ever eaten
Then we had TO try some nuts. We
Ate On4 and counted to see how many
we had. After eating awhile we
got tired. and went back to bed and
1lept u short nap. Listen, what was
that noise? It was the firing of guns.
D 4 you ever hear so many in your
life? Then daylight came, then
breakfast.
Now we must run over to our
and tell the n the wonder
ful things that good old Santa Claus
rad brought us One little b y
showed US some fire crackers. H.
sold up to get some fire and touch
that little string, that it would shoot
'Bang!' And the little red stick
va4 torn all TO pieces We would !
have willingly given all that we got
a our stocking for just one little
pack of fire crackers.
We played around awhile and |
vent TO our traps, for we had caught
! few birds before. Then we ate |
Inner The afternoon seemed very |
ong and soon after sunaet we went |