Evening journal., 1901-12-24

busy with pots and kettles. and savory
odors were waited forth on the crisp
morning air when a door was opened.
She was assisted by two graddaughters
and the commands hurled at dem dar
wenches." whom she averred had
Christmas in der bones" were bv no
means gentle.
The farmer and his wife had left
early for town, for shopping always
was done on this day, and shortly be-
fore noon the jingle of sleigh bells
gave warning of their return. The
sleigh was run into the shed and after
seeing that a number of bulky bundles
were safe. the door was locked as
safeguard against possible prying
eyes.
With the approach of night the stir
and hustle abated not in the least. and
the excitement of the children rose
with each succeeding hour. Walls and
ceiling had been festooned with ever
green ard in the diningroom where a
roaring fire in the fireplace was throw
ing fantastic shadows upon the walls.
they were busy popping corn. the
watch dog and house cat intently
watching proceedings from their cor
ners. There was a mysterious whis-
pering and many gestures between
father and mother and the former Of
ten pointed to the clock on the mantel.
This was lost upon the happy children.
however, who. busy with their cares,
were oblivious to the mysterious airs
Of their parents
AT last the bedtime hour approached.
and the fire was covered. Stockings
were hung about the fireplace with
much painstaking. and after no little
persuasion Aunt Susan and the hired
man condescended to hang theirs up
also. 1t was then that the children
crept out into the hall with delightful
shudders of fear and thence into the
open air where they gazed long and
earnestly across the glimmering white
landscape dotted with the twinkling
lights from farmhOuses and ending in
a dark mass where the forest stretched,
listening with strained ears for the
fantastic jingle of the bells of Santa
Claus. There was only the far away
growing of a cock, however and the
dismal hoOting of an owl down in the
swamp, and with many good-nights
they went to their beds to dream of
the coming of Saint Nicholas.
We will pass the happy awakening
on Christmas morning, for in this re-
spect the modern Christmas is but a
repetition of those of by-gone days,
and turn to the observance of the day
1t was the custom of the neighbors to
call on one another in the early morn
ing, and the efforts of one farmer
to catch a neighboring household in
christmas gift" Oftentimes resulted
in the jolly farmer being Unexpectedly
trapped by the other.
Prior to the Civil strife, when we'll
to-do farmers kept more or less slaves,
the happy negroes would march from
their quarters to what they called "de
gret house" singing plantation airs, to
receive their gifts. and there was not
one among them who was not remem-
bered Throughout Sussex this custom
Us kept up to this day, and bands OF
negroes may be seen going from house
to house in search of some gifts, no
matter how small.
The Christmas dinner was always
an important feature of the day, and
friends and relatives from afar were
invited II there was a son who dur
ing the year had left to seek fame and
fortune in town or city every effort
was made to be home on that day, and
the homecoming only served to add
to the gladness of the occasion. In
the afternoon there was a gathering
of the old heads about the log fire in
the quaint old sitting room, while the
younger generation went TO skate on
a neignDoring lake or to engage in the
more exciting pastime of tracking rab-
bits in the snow
Then. one day was not considered
enough in which to celebrate the birth
of our Saviour. but the entire week
was devoted to merry-making. Quilt
ing and skating parties. in which the
old as well as the young participated
spelling bees and taffy pulling occur
red nightlyand the air resOunded with
the merry jingle of sleigh bells.
The week of merry-making ended
with the advent of the New Year. on
the eve of which families gathered to
watch the old one depart. There was
dancing during the early part of the
night. but as the mystic hour of mid
night drew nigh. all sat silent with
bowed heads as thoughts turned to the
events of the year departing and per-
haps there was one in the group who
had the loss of a friend or relative to
mourn. Suddenly there pealed forth
the ringing of bells and with many
happy wishes relative to health and
prosperity the assemblage broke up to
assume the cares and duties Of the
newborn year.
Agricultural Editor.
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