Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-12-24
CHRISTMAS.
But o. there's love for everything
That ioor are took Wing"

StNnAS tuftSo
But o. ths-ss love for everything
That isas are took vipa"
The old-tims CHRISTMAS is worth re-
telling. IL only that those whose mem-
ory runs back to the old days "befo de
wsh" may make the pleasant retro
speet. For "A Old Virginia Christmas
vas the holiday Of the year. and IL not
celebrated according TO modern notions
Of deeerum. was hearty and honest.
Old folks looked forward to it; children
lay awake ut night snd talked OF il
weeks beforehand; servants sat up o.
nights and rpoainsted over II, and all
ever the neighborhood people who met
each other on the road, or at the post
'aics. talked about Christmas that was
coming. Thos ehiidren who had mar
risd and kcne away 70 other States, they
were writing and saying that they
vould surely eouae u coming were pos
siole; and Of all tho days of the good
yesx. 10. nearly ended. Christmas was
che day az reunion and joyful merry
making.
Is outSI the lawn, In front Of the quar-
ts<s" the darkies gathered. 1t was
Christmas Kvs. snd Tom. the fiddler,
pad brought bis Instrument with him,
and . Gre was kindied. The night was
~arn for the season. each foot was
atuns for . dance. and such merry-mak-
ing there was to be sure. The prob
len Of life-''whst shall we eat, what
shall We drink. wherewithsl shall we
Be elothedf" had no place In their
thought It wss literally come day,
90 day" with these children of the
onent And they danced, laughed.
ehattered nearly Through the night.
In the house IL was q busy time.
Stockings to ill. presents to be gotten
N place. little remsmbrances to be
sont away to such m could not be at
aone: children in thsir rooms, snugly
tucked away In their feather beds. they
teo naeh excited to sleep. The FIRE
was never out In the old house, ut
least in winter. Big baek-logs Of
hesst-hiekory were piled high. and II
the eurfew was done, il was only heaps
Of ashes piled on tho glowing Goals. to
10 raked oat In the early morning and
tresh wood added. Hickory, maple,
snd such vas In stock k-it took an OK
cart load Of wood each day to keep up
the eres- And that fireplace! It was
vide and deep. 30 vide that IL took in
. eord-stiek, and room then la the cor
ssr for . little darkey to roast his
shina.
Tho scene shifts to the morning.
Just Why joyfulness expresses Itself In
sss Juvenile breast with noise is hard
70 cay. bat the boys made such racket!
Guns were fred. pig-blsdders, that had
seea bIswn up at hcg.killina time. were
sErlodedI down at the blacksnith-shop
the anvil was uptuynsd and the deep
hello u tho bottom was partly filled
ritA powder. . plug driven IN and
tAressh hole In tho plug I slow-mateh
inserted. and this was set of, making
. noise like . eaHnoa. As Tor the stock
iaxs. they were flied Of course, and
little Jack did not get ths switch that
sss thrsAteasd to be put in for him,
bat did get . tin horn with which he
aade oil ths noise possible for q small
ooy to make.
Out in the kitchen great doings were
going on. Old Sally WAS psrspiring
ever the Ore; not your modern cook
steve. but q great. vide open hearth
''haath" shs called it-with q huge
crane swung from the side. and more
pots. kettles. PANS. ovens and trays
than were ever seen outside Of that par.
ticuiar kitchen. Swung on 9 string in
front Of the Gre was the turkey, bast-
ing before the blaze ani a dripping
pan set undsr caught the drippings,
with which she from time to time
anointed the roasting fowl. fthe chill
d,en rushed In with the old-time
Christmas gift, aunt Sally. she
brusquely ordered them out. "Gi,
out'n dis kitchen. you-alls: how gwins
cock al dis diAnsr vid you in de way!'
But she dived into the closet and fishsc
cut apples. valnua and good thing,
abs had stored. with Now took des,
On git out'n hayar On dosn bother me-
I'ss busy. and the children seamperes
of.
In the great house the scene was M
lees Interesting. The judge. the docto
and the major had ridden over early
Zach was . character. The Judge
small lean. with grest bro ss that 8,
ovetshadowed his eyes that It looked a