Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1907-01-10
UNCLE GID'S LETTER.

e~\~~NrNNr~N~~Nr~Ns~~
Perhaps your Uncle Gid could not
write on subject more interesting
than of the old time Christmasses "be-
TO de war and the old time planta-
tion darkey. | remember the negro
quarters as if they were but yesterday.
l remember the pickannies, with their
black, kinky heads, as they uttered
the joyous sound, christmas comes
tomorrow. l almost imagine | now
see their little black faces shine with
anticipation of what they would get
from the big house on tomorrow.
Some how see grandma up at the
big house fixing things for her little
darkeys who have promised her to be
good or they wouldn't get anything at
all. / seem to see that fashioned
kitchen, with its big fire place, and
smell the turkey as it slowly browns
and sizzles in hot gravy, while the
pies-well, the side table is loaded.
Then my youngest aunt, she is here,
there and everywhere, while the little
niggers watch young missus and old
Nanny Caline thinks nobody Is like
Miss Liz. This is Christmas Eve and
the niggers' ball takes place tonight.
Grandpa gave them the big barn. Mig
gers are coming. The Bomar and
Shriver niggers will be there. The old
Virginia reel will be danced. Old Saul
is the master of ceremonies. Old Jack
draws the bow and gets plenty of mig
gers on their heels and toes. Old Saul
hollers, ''Pardners to your places.
Bow to your lady, gemmen, and then
a general sacheting takes place all
around that big barn.
Perhaps some of the young massrs
or missuses put in appearance. Then
the niggers do their best. Sometimes
the young white folks dance reel or
two, cheered on by the niggers. The
ball over the niggers retire to dream
of what old massa will do tomorrow.
They know there's been big hustle
up at the big house and Carline won t
tell neither will the house maids.
The niggers are up early and at the
big house door, waiting for old massa
to begin giving out the presents Well,
the pickaninnies get candy; the negro
gals blue and some times red calico
!: and red ribbons, and the men little
; money and eggnog and brandy to wash
it down.
But all that is gone now to return
no more, and what few of the old time
darkeys are left are working in me.
nial capacity for almost nothing. He
may have wandered to some cold,
i northern city but he, have no doubt,
} recalls the merry Christmas time away
} down South.
/ Gone is the good old ante bellum
Christmas; gone are the hunters that
: used to gather at the wayside anG
l drink their hot potations before un
leashing their dogs for the chase.
Christmas then was the dream of every
man and woman and the most humble
slave. The old South is no more IT.
now money making South Tht
, poor are getting angry with the ricl
! because they are rich. Our Christma
sweethearts have passed off the stage
The country is getting more stern ant
matter of fact. The Yule log is no
escorted to the wide open fire place b,
: the merry lads and lasses, yet tn
, children have been told the story ant
they will scamper over the cold foo
of Christmas morning to see what i
in their stockings. Such happiness
Well, in the long ago the grown up
p were Just as happy as the children r,
tell it all would fill page.
4 While 1 love the many new invent
Y ions and admire the progress made, We
give me the old time Christmas an,
p the old Yule log. The holidays laste
a month and the young people gather
g ed nightly Candy pullings and, i
plenty of room was to be had, the
would dance a break down. Town
o were few and far between but 10 meT
t rier people ever lived since the days O
the merry kind of En- gland.
$ | wish all our aged people would re
hearse the story as they know it .
9 great many yet live who are some old
er than l am and knowwhereof writ
V yet the half has not been told and ney
er will be. No longer do we drag tn
# Yule log to the salute of song an
l., cheer The wassal bowl has passe
with the hoop skirt. The punch bow
has given place to the more costly win
l. bottle There are no more hummer
e going from house to house 10 sing
. merry song or tell their love to SON
a winsome damsel Young folks, don
be too stern, too matter of fact, bU
remember our Christmas was MAD
possible by one who loved Read II
life and get rid of the old Puritan idC
of longfacedness, a. though yoJ
u grandmother was dead I'll continr
this some other time UNCLE GIL