Graham guardian., 1907-01-11
Christmas in the Sunny South

EDITOR GUARDIAN:
Thinking that some of our
friends at home would be inter-
ested in knowing of our where
abouts on this day, we have de-
cided to give you a brief account
of the way in which we spent our
Christmas.
Ourselves with six other elders
met at Empire, Ga., where we en-
joyed the gayeties of this day with
several families whom we knew.
They had been preparing for some
time for the expected elders who
were to spend Christmas with
them and the way the pantry was
filled with pies and cakes was
nothing shabby. The program of
the day had also been carefully
planned by them and after break
fast it was carried out as follows:
The greater part of the forenoon
was spent eating the contents of
the "Christmas box" which con-
sisted of case of oranges, several
pounds of different kinds of nuts,
also apples, bananas aud other
things, all of which are products of
the soil here in the south. When
we all come to "unity of faith" 4"
deciding we had eaten enough for
the time being, we went out on
the lawn in the warm sunshine
and "frolicked" until we had ere
ated an appetite for the Xmas
dinner which was in store for us
and which we had been looking
forward TO for some time Final
ly the plantation bell rung, the
signal being for dinner. We soon
found ourselves very comfortably
seated at the long table and ready
to partake of the bounteous spread
which bad been so carefully pre-
pared. For once the corn bread
stood neutral, not being accom-
panied by dish of bacon, as the
lifeless body of the "fatted COB
bier" lay stretched across the
table in its stead, but seemed to
be out of its natural order. The
bowl of grease and the jug of
syrup stood side by side, while the
the rarest thing of all was a dish
of sliced pineapples and oranges
covered with pulverized sugar and
shredded cocoanut. While eating,
each took his turn telling of his
most important missionary expert.
ences causing all to enjoy them
selves more than they would have
done otherwise.
After dinner we all walked near
ly two miles to the home of a
friend, where we spent the after
noon chewing sugar cane and pull.
ing sorgum candy, which we
cooked outside of the house in a
large iron kettle. When all seemed
to have bad enjoyment enough we
went to the house where we sang
some of our mcst beautiful hymns
and talked of the pleasures we bad
enjoyed so much during the cele-
bration of this eventful day.
There was one feature of the day
| have neglected to mention al
though It impressed all of us very
much. This was the use of fire
works which has been a custom
among the people here in the
south for a great many years,
About day break we were awak
ened by the salute of several guns
and the firing continued until sun
rise. During the whole day fire
crackers, canon crackers, and
many other fire works were used
to create excitement and noise for
the young element, In the eve.
ming there was almost an entire
change in fire works aud sky.
rockets, roman candles and balloon
ascensions seemed to create more
enjoyment for both the old and the
young. Although we were a great
distance away from home we were
quite well satisfied with the treat.
ment we received
Hoping you have all enjoyed
merry Christmas aud wishing you
prosperous New Year, we remain
Respectfully yours,
ELDERS DAVID FELsHAw
AND JAS. NJ. MOODY.