The news & observer., 1905-12-24
IN TIMES OF WAR
How the Christmas Spirit
Was Preserved With
Cheer in the Dark and
Gloomy Days.

1t was Christmas Eve i'm Chapel
Hill, in the winter of '63. Mother
and aunts were busy in the kitchen,
preparing for the festivities of the
morrow. dried apples were steaming
for the mock plum pudding, little
squares of sweet potatoes were being
parched fe- tho after dinner coffee,
peanuts were being roasted, mOlaSses
candy was being boiled ginger bread
being cut in marvellous shapes was be-
ing prepared for the little empty
gtockings hung in pathetic appeal
around the capacious fireplace. The
children had gone to bed at five in
order, as they said, ito make Christ
mas come quick but these loving
women worked on by the light of a
"tallow Dip no better light was
available, thinking perhaps of other
and more luxurious days, but determ-
med that the children should miss
none of the joys of Christmas, for
hearts were full of love and hands
full of ingenuity if purses were emp
ty So mother made a ball covered
with bright worsted scraps for her
boy, her darling and her pride. Aunt
Helen cut up one of her own bright
dresses that the little girls might
have something better than home
spun to wear on Christmas day, and
: Aunt Fan made dainty collars for
these same dresses out of scraps of
lace Mother and aCnts had already
ransacked closet and cupbard to find
some mementoes of their own hap
py child time to brighten the child
ren's Christmas After filing the
stockings, bidding each other sleepy
good night, and covering the fire.
tnL tn ha no6 M
fire was precious, the older people re-
tired for their traditional long VIM
ter nap"
Before the first streak of dawn three
little heads bobbed up from under the
cotton quilts, the blankets had been
sent to the soldiers, six bright eyes
binked at the silver moon shining
thro' the curtainless windows. The
curtains had gone the way of the
blankets and finally six little feet pat
tered across the carpetless floor, the
carpet mad followed the blankets and
curtains, three gay, young voices piped
Merry Christmas" and six eager lit
tie hands were busily exploring the
stockings full of peanuts and ginger
bread and molasseS candy, and three
earnest young voices were thanking
mother and the launts, for the lovely
collars, and the bright, new dresses
and the ball and last and most Won
derful of all for the old-fashioned
French china dolls tea-set, winch
one of the aunts had found among her
treasures. And then later on the
children and grown people all went
to the quaint little church on the h1ii-
side and there despite the wars and
horroWs of war they found the. ever
green's cleaning among the r2fters,
ioined in the beautiful Christmas SER
vice listened to the angels song OF
peace and. tho, many mothers heart
ached for the boy far away in camp
Cor PRISON., or yearned for sight OF
the dear face forever hidden away
i'm an unmarked grave vet was not
the Christmas peace in their hearts?
were not their husbands and sons
heroes. did not they themselves have
the memory of trials bravely borne
of everything sacrificed save life itseif
for their loved ones and their coun-
try?
Their souls were at rest because
their minds and hearts were ever ac-
tive IN a righteous cause, not the peace
of Nirvana not the peace born of in
crtia, but the peace which comes to
the soul that is strong to do and to
suffer.
And North Carolint today if she
desires to fully realize the peace and
joy of the angels song must remember
that her warfare is not accomplished
that her conflict is not over. for dis
aster which ignorance brings in It's
train threatens her on the one size
and the crimes which are fostered by
seIf-indulgence and luxury assail her
on the other. and she must ever re-
mind herself that she will find her
only peace in war against evil ana
her noblest conquest in self-mastery.
ELIZABETH HORNER HlI4LlARD'
December 24th, 1905.