The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-12-14

ter, it shall be attended to in time"
The truth was on that anxious occa-
sion the log was for weeks living in
soak in an old goose pond. That was
the longest holiday the faithful Eph-
rain ever enjoyed il his life of seryi-
tude or freedom. The masters anx-
ietIes changed to wonder at the du-
rability of the back log.
Some years ago upon examining the
records of the county, l saw "a deed
Of manumission for Ephraim already
| mentioned by Jesse Tomlison in 1880,
just one year before the death of the
liherator. In disposing of his large
estate he liberated all his slaves. A
few years later an act was passed by
our Legislature, prohibiting slave
owners from setting them free.
Ia these times with their far back
numbers, we did not hear of that
mystical parsonage known as Santa
| Claus, but he or she was sure to visit
households where young children
were, on Christmas eve. But there
was more reality about him than Of
late. He was called Kriskingle,
Beltzsicle and some times the Christ
mas woman. Children tn n, not ouly
saw the mysterious visitor, but felt
him, rather his straps upon their
backs, made by witch hazel switch.
The annual visitor would make his
or her appearance some hours after
dark thoroughly Disguised especially
the face, which would some times he
covered with hideous ugly phiz-
generally wore female garb-heuce
the name-Christmas woman. Some
times veritable woman but with
masculine force and action. He or she
would be equipped with an ample
! sack about the shoulders, filed with
cakes, nuts and fruits, which would
be scattered upon the floors without
carpets. and then scramble by the
delighted children for the goodies, who
did not care for the effects of the ac-
companying switch, but had the same
come as parental discipline there
would have been screams, TO be heard
at a long distance.
The writer in the long past had
his experiences in these mirthful old
occasions. is remembered once the
old BeItzsicle was unusually severe.
The ewtch was longer, more severe
and repeative than on former like
occasions. Still he got his share Of
the scattered good things. Later, he
learned the disguised visitor was none
other than the best of mothers.
The chief scenes of these happen
ings and doings were along the old
national pike correctly speaking,
Cumberland road between Frostburg
ana the Pennsylvania line. Its line
is still local highway, but its nation
al grandeur and importance dsap-
peared many years ago. Its present
condition can be compared to very
aged man, who often compares or
contrasts his present condition to
what it was in his early manhood.
1t is hardly to be expected that this
paper or statement will strike all the
readers alike. The young of the day
may consider it unreal, and not of
much use. However, there is another
class of readers who want to know
the customs and conditions of our
people in the generations past as well
as the one of which they are observ-
ers. The few who have mingled with
three generation or more, have ad-
vantages or belongings, not of realiza-
ito II of those Ct less time experience.
A full understanding of the present
times can not be had without some
information of the past-the two to
be compared and associated.
J. b.
cumberland, Md, Dec. II.