The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-25
YULE-TIDE IN THE SOUTH S
IN THE ANTE.BELLUM DAYS $
BY H. WHITAKER. s.
By REV. II. II. WHITAKER.

goes into that room until at 6 o'clock
Christmas morning. when the doors
are thrown open. The children then
gather around the respondent trees
and sing Christmas carols: after which
their fathers tell them the story of the
Babe of Bethlehem.
In Norway and Sweden the children
select their own Christmas tree, going
cut into the pine forests on snow
shoes through deepest snow. Christ
mas eve is spent in dancing around the
tree singing songs and telling stories.
The tree is kept until New Year S
day when the gifts are distributed.
Each gift put on the tree must be
accompanied by a rhyme written by
the donor. which is to be read out
when the gift is taken from the tree.
/ don't think the children / know
would be willing for their gifts TO re-
main on the tree from Christmas to
New Years day.
In Belgium and Holland ST Nicho-
las brinpS the gifts to the children.
He rides a white pony, instead OF be-
ing drawn on a sleigh by reindeer.
as Santa Claus goes around In our
land. The children leave their wooden
shoes on the window Sills. instead or
hanging UP their stockings; so when
ST. Nicholas rides by he fills their
shoes. l expect the children nave
very big shoes made for the purpose.
In France old Father Christmas"
goes around to carry gifts to the
children mean the good children.
Rupert goes around with Father
Christmas, carrying a bundle OF
switches. to punish those children
who have been naughty during the
year If old Rupert were in this
country / am afraid that some little
children would get whipping instead
of a present to-day.
In England Christmas is kept about
as we keep it in America; or, rather,
should say. we pattern after the
mother country in this as in most
other matters.
In Russia a story corresponding to
that of our Santa Claus. is of "Old
Babousca." When the three wise
men started in search of the Christ
Child they stopped at Dame Babous-
cas- to enquire the way to Bethlehem.
She refused to tell them; but after
they had gone she was sorry for them.
and filing a basket with gifts she
followed them saving: II will find the
men and together we will search for
the child and lay these gifts at his
feet" So, when children find their
out: "Old Babousca has passed this
way!".
1t will never do to tell of Christi
mas in other lands. and not tell the
readers how we used to keep it be
fore de war" down here in Dixie
Land, out in the country where there
were but few presents. but a great
deal of good cheer. Only glimpse or
two must suffice ~
The old time Christmas in the coun-
try cannot be realized by this genera
ton, for circumstances are so changed
it would be impossible, if we were to
try. to describe it. / allude to the
days of slavery, when around each
farmers home there were lot OF
cabins inhabited by colored people,
the white children, and got their
share of the biscuits and cakes that
came from the masters table: those
days when everything to eat and to
wear grew on the plantations, and in
dependence was a reality, and not
name merely, among the farmers.
They were good times, long to be re-
membered.
Yes, we had Christmas and, if / am
not very much mistaken, everybody
enjoyed it. / know the negroes did,
for, by the time the day Dawn could
be seen in the east, they could be
heard, down in their cabins, and from
the oldest to the youngest they We're
yelling out christmas gift!' And
soon the great house would be be-
sieged, and every one from Uncle
HALL and Aunt Rose down to the
youngest, expected, and would re-
ceive. a gift of some kind. Ard on
that morning, the breakfast for all,
a n
great abundance.
OF course the white children had
their presents. but. few and simple
they were, as compared with those
which children receive noW-a- days.
We all had on our new clothes,
spun and woven at home, and our new
shoes made of leather tanned at home,
our new socks knit at home, our wool
hats made of wool grown on sheep
raised at home. and better still. we
had Il crib full of corn and a smoke
house full of meat, also grown at
home. The crop had been housed.
the wood and lightwood hauled up,
the walnuts had been hulled, the hick-
DRY nuts picked up, and a barrel of
persimmon beer had been made, while
not forgetting the Christmas huntings,
a good supply of shot and powder had
been secured. SO. when Christmas
'CdI1le we WIRE siedQy " tIlJOy III dIlIl
we did enjoy it.
After breakfast some of the neigh
bors, with their guns and dogs, would
come in, and soon we were off on d
Christmas hunt. We boys had cross
bows, or bows and arrows, and shot
at every sparrow or snow bird that
flew into our way: the men had guns
flint and steel-while two or three
boys carried axes to knock hollow
trees, which were supposed to have
squirrels in them; and. if need be cut
down the trees. Sometimes, instead
of squirrels, the tree would have o
whole family of raccoons. When il
fell and the coons scattered out there
was a first class row. Over there
some one would shoot coon; but out
there another coon and dog were
making the fur fly, while two or three
Young dogs. that We're afraid 10 en-
gage in the fight, would be barking,
and two or three fellows. standing at
a safe distance, would be encouraging
the dog. But, there comes Tige, a
great big cur; and paying no heed To
men on dogs, he leaps upon the coon,