Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1906-01-13

An Interesting Story of One Phase
Plantation Life.

FIRE upon the hearth was nearly out:
for IL was not the Old-,ime Christ
ms the darkeys had known "befo' de
vah- when their mistress and master
we're alve. All 0ay long the snow
had been falling. and now II lay white
and glistening under the shining heay-
ems as IL there was really nothing but
peace on earth and good will toward
men,"
Far over the white covered hills the
lights OF Christmastide blazed through
the trees from the old mansion that
had been many years dark and de-
serted. But its checriness brought no
comfort 20 the two darkcys shivoring
over the half dead Goals. for the PEG
PIE who had lately moved into their
old homes were strangers and knew
nothing about the little cabin nestled
among The ONES far away under the
hills. The tears stole down their black
faces as memories OF the Christmas
OF long ago rose before them. whcn
they had shared all the joys OK that old
home. Memories OF blazing hcarths
and bright lights. OF the happy voices
OF their own white people ringing
through those dear halls. and OF the
strum Of the banjo from the quarters
not far away.
Nanny does you reck'n ole marse
ar miss up in Heab'n knows how had
we Is OF. dis Chris mus cve2' 4 dar-
Key with a head as white as the hills
over which he had been gazing from
/ the cabin window. addressed his com
panion hudlled over the other side OF
the cAccrless hearth She had been
nanny in the ante bclium days.
and the appellation chung GO her.
Lortl dcy'd certny De hut u dey
/ does. she replied with groan-' FUR
! dcy knows what we b.n use ter in dem
ole Chris mus times " en- dey wuz live.
an aiut know de wauuu OF rufin 10
mo- an deyselvcs. Law. l Kin jcs shut
my eyes now She went on remiui-
eccnty AN see dat ole kitchen table
| pile up VII cakes and pies. an Aunt
Sarah an ole Minnie bakin' tell de
vo'y smell 90 EN- make me sick. Den
/ long bout dark i an Miss Alice 'meuce
1 TO set de table out dcre in De big
! hall. FUR ole marse 10 make he airg-
nogg Chris mus mornin'; an Kin heah
I Miss Alice now keep sayin put
plenty glasses. nanny. case I want
ev-body 90 drink marse an miss heaif
\ in the mOrnin'. An didn't sum OBJ
I dem niCgers drink ole marse an miss
hcalr'-here both old darkcys chucf led
I in spite OF themselyes-"teu dcyl haf-
ter be kerricd down 90 do quarters
bodily, An Oh. dat Chris mus din
ncri" she clasped her hands rapfur-
Ously over her tatforo1 breast "nat
turkey dress all IN holly. roas' brown
an stun VII nuts. An dat plum pud-
din sont ia de house I'm CT blaze ob
are! Den wen de white people eat
ten dey cudn't eat no LONGER. dere wuz
les rs much lei fur Dc dlrhles Lord
A mighty hcah / Is wishln' fur what
10 very dogs snin up ley nose at. dat
day. She stopped and wiped her eyes
with the corner OF her apron. there
We're q few minutes silence. and the
other old darkcy announced eolcmnly.
Use gwinc ter pray" Both knelt
down. and he began aloud
"Oh. Lord King ob Hcabn an err
Who sOnt de chile Jesus dat frs
Chris mus eve so menny thOusan yeah
ergo. look VIII pity erpon dis ole Lone
sum cabin settin' out heah IN de will
berness ter mite, whar dey amt So
much as or turkey feav'r 90 mine us
% lie blessed time. Dee knows key In
VIZ A ole time long ergo. wen
Chris mus W.. 10 happics' time Oh all
dc yeah. case Dec knows how much
sto' ole marse sot 20 his surhaats
an ncv'r stint We an no mo- an he
did hiss'ef Dee knows how De cider
an appul teddy fow q same as water
den. an chestnuts an apquls vuz Or
poppin' in de frcplaces. Ebhy sense
ole marse die IL git wo'se an wo'se vii
US. Pear like de fust blow cum Wen
de mansion WIZ sole. an den all our
people move way tell / an NANNY
Onlest ones lef; den times Kit So hard
we bleegd TO LEI too. an move down
heah in De mashos whar We D. ter
mite Las yeah our 'tatoes fr0s bife
an We wO'se an cbher Sum white
folks is moved mp into DE mansluu
lately. but dey Is cum frum whar dey
amt no cullud folks. rec u. an Amt
know our people gwine suffer lessen
dey hep us. so We Us lef lonesum dis
Chris mus wifOut emmy one ter look To-
scusin' Dee Frum Dee only. l.n We
spec he'p-oh. sen down er angul frum
on high"
"Sen down CT Chris'mus anrul
Lord broke in a quaveriuE voice from
the other side OF the fireplace SEN
IT angul 10 We pO' tr.miu uircers d"
the first voice went On-"an' let him
shine be bright beams ia dis darks,rl
cabin ter-nite. like deg shine ON dem
shepherds 90 ole. and dey fel down
on der faces an wuz too shterl o.
speak"
oh. SEN down or aneui Lord" thr
TWO voices struck in together on tle
same key, the other leading OF again.
Sen down er angul frum on hieh
an "
Outside a gentle voice broke uDo-
the PRAYER. ana like the shepherds o.
old. the two darkeys fell forward uD1.
/ their faces. and waited with bre4fh
suspended for another sound of tha
-ugelic response.
"Dory 10 Dord in de highest an Oh
erf peace dood will 10 meni' then
loi the door opened and ia -nme q
tiny child. She was all in VIII. and
she had great blue ewes and HAIR l...