The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-15

derfnIy important features by the way. that
took the place Of frantic fortnight OF christ
mas shopping. But the Yule and the mistletoe
came across the 10 the colonies came from
far back-from the groves of the hrr-Worshlp-
ping lruids whose priests held forth III Britalh
long before the coming of the SaNons and the
Romans
For months. Uncle Nardon had had the log
sclected-a firm piece of wood 1t was. lnst al
the edge of the clearing. not FAR from Inc nous
So with the meal over. the guests drtN "h lh'ii
vraDs hlIrrving into the cold air I" Watch
the first rites of the ceremony under hla/lhS
torches and swinging lanterns. WIN c"hNi"ei-
able. Domp. the huge log was cut. In star" IL
was dragged across the and placed upon
the manor hearth. And a. il passed, Betty DOW
ed while IN, lifted their hats. ~ was the
r.v,rcnt custom with tn" l"" that was T." borh
ONT old wrongs and cnmitic> Then with all III"
quests and family gathered round. Il piece "i
last wears log that had been SAVED care1uiN
WAS brought from its hiding place and used as
Il kinder. And now in the room rose a 10"
singing. a soft refrain. almost a chant tlli'
ended in sweet harmony of Voices" etcp"'
YnIct- On the hearth two servants STOOD llNt-
.,,iu,, ,heir faces rejecting the within them
listened until the last notes had dIcd away
Then at a signal the 10" WAS raised Across IN"
huge andiron~ it fell blazing into CHEEKY yellow
LIGHT under the repeated contact of the klndIer-
This piece, of the old years log 10y the way was
suppoSed 10 safeguard IN" house. and if lost
would bring dire luck.
EOILOWING the lighting of the lule log the
fun began. II always delighted Betty. that
spirit of Christmas Eve. w vain the hTNi pi"|'iS
from the hearth. ceremony ceased 10 'NlNt f"i the
ninh1 the indcfinable barriers OF SerNitud' We're
lifted. Near Uncle Nardon She saw his poor White
ltand~ the from the stables. All were SIT
tin" about in happy union. in compef" "InItN-
SnmeNy here. out in the night lay the SIaN" quar-
t.rS where the negroes. happy in the spirit that
had descended the manor were making
merry in their irrepre~sihe childish way.
Then the mistletoe hun" the white.
vaNv berries that had been cut from the top
Of the tallcst oak aud brought TO Uncle Nardon
that very morning. Betty watched them hang it
or the cen" with rising nervousness. Then
She stol, d quiet glance At the men in IN" room
and the nervousness grew. Most OF them were
good looking good looking Houn" \Ir-
sinians expert love makers VIII" loved ferccly
and proved their love lay marrying early. 10
them a pretty Girl the one amb.lon mar
riage the most important duty III life But
Betty knew. too that il was the Ir custom To tax
freely of such affairs {" their SERVANTS With
youn., Daccv over there. for instance. hr might
seize her under the miStlct"c and then ne
would. like not. home ami discuss her
charms with black Tom. Indeed he would prob
ably confidc the old negro iIat he had about
made up his mind go after Miss Ietty.
Decidedly not, ~ TN" custom flashed before
T;ctty She uncon>ciousIy made a grimacc al lHc'y
and stamped her foot But now a rommoti"n had
h,.sun far from her The ml~tl' toe had been
raised: a Of delightful evasion and >truS-
Cling had begun. Betty saw thu Younger women.
run laughing and Scrcamin" Z" IN" corners OF
tn. room. For them the mi~tIct"c brought little
nf the, SuIs.rStitioiIS generation that The custom
WAS supposed to create. l., sides lis observance
WIS ali the more delightful if said Observance
was attended with falls, Unwiliin"nc>> and sub
>,unent submission Smiling. she saw elderly
women led beneath the Dough and embraced by
elderly men with all grace and dcc0rum- Gig
Cling. she saw pretty Janice Willard. dragged
from behind Il curtain where she had taken
refuge and transported Scrcamin" across the
floor tn he kissed 10y Of the youn" Nirginians-