The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-01-07
MARSE ARTHUR

u \ ierE 1 Il II | IL
1t was the first Christmas after the
war. AppomattoX had not been for
gotten, and desolation still hung over
the South like great black shadow
The plenty Of the past. the poverty
o. the present. the dark uncertainty
Of the future, haunted memories, and
IGaTtchGS and tears were in the
Pace of joyous feeling and gladful
smiles. The terrors of yesterday, the
suffering Of the to-day. and the fore
jodings of the morrow would form no
laca ground for a Christmas like those
Ct the uSed-to-be.
The James flowed on to the sea.
vdshins its muddy waters against the
i.e-bordered banks y light snow on
he hard. unfolding earth only added
10 the gloom The wind mOaned
through the wiutoT-swept pines.
Fences strewed the dirt roads still
marked by the heavy rrts OF artillery.
l.ere and there were the charrcd and
E,achened wreck of some barn or
canary: here the whitened bones of
Sone faithful horse whose rider lay.
. ernanS. beneath an unmarked mound
IN the little burying ground about the
1e:i-DatteIed church. the spire of
vhilll Just rose above the hills in the
distance. What picture Of despair.
and it was Christmas morning
Christmas morning. And TIE great
world was echoins with the angelic
melody, Peace on earth, good will to
Hen"
with unbending figure he stood
lea1-ing against one Of the heavy pill
lars that supported the portico to one
OF the historic mansions. \ black
siouch hat vas pulled down over the
long gray hair. The suit he wore was
Cliy partly civilian. The coat was
gray and tightly buttoned about the
y aist-the one relic. besides the
sabre, Of the gallant cavalry that was
Il more Was be thinking Of the last
{ arIstmas in camp. of a forage before
sunrise, roasted pig held over the
lu-s with bayonets. an interrupted
ea%t, and Charge Oh Christmas
oy7uia- that had written the names
O heroes or the page of history: Was
il that?
Across the field the smoke foated
reward from the mudsneared chin
rer Of a hut-seyeral huts. Ii was
Y lare the negroes lived Two totter-
il, cd men. Two boys, big enough to
work in the field. and one old woman
hat was all The rest had gone
Cue Of the boys was bringing the
horse from water. ~ it followed its
+ g"c;i groom along tie road it made
: 50 2nge contrast with the surround
-: for, fat and sleek it seemed as
there must he plenty everywhere
Jet ne barn, like everything else, was
q most depleted. How closely he
watched the animal: From the call to
ms until the bugle sounded for the
iirai taps it had been his constant
companion. And then, after all was
over, they had come back through
I.icImond and then to the old home
Il smiled when he remembered how
h and the hoy had hooked up the
Cd charger and Il solitary mule TO a
pow and worked until the faithful
1Ile had died. There was not enough
il the field or the stable for two.
The Old men and the boys had
Joined each other and We're coming
across to the house. In the kitchen
"Auntie' was making corn bread and
firing bacon Christmas morning in
mansion on the James and corn
bread and bacon for breakfast. In
the dining room she--she who had
be two plaiesl How she thought of
the faces that had gathered three
years ago: some that were no more
sac finished. and going up stairs
brought down a Bingham apron. She
made it herseif-made it over from
al old one she had worn. With eyes
full Of tears she handed it to the
dear old ''Auntie'' and whispered
Merry Christmas" She could say
10 more. Memory was bringing up
visions Of the old days The Christ
mas days in the servants quarters
a apron for each woman, a dress for
e2ch child, with a coin in each
pocket But those days were gone
ard the slaves had vanished.
The four colored men had stopped
in the road and were talking He
came in from the porch and said a
word to her, and they sat down by
the window. He gaZed over the riy-
er, and she laid her head on his arm
and cried softly to herself. Both were
looking into the past, and both SAW
tie same pictures. 1t was Christmas
morning on the plantation The house
vas full of young people In the par
lor log fire cracked on the hearth,
aid there were laughter and shouts
o. merriment And such breakfa St!
What stores were brought from the