Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-12-17

nclent amity with them for such conferences.
In Virginia, where the Church Of England was
strong and its adherents steadfastly observed the
holidays as in the home country, there was al
ways more of the Christmas spirit and abundant
cheer and m~errymaking than elsewhere at this
season. Here the Yule log held its place and
here were the games and the ~feasting that made
IL indeed the merry season of the year. Later
when New Amsterdam became New York and
the English came into power the character of the
Christmas holiday was changed again somewhat,
although the Dutch influence continued dominant
for many years.
Owing to the large number of Germans in Penn
sylvania Christmas there partook largely Of the
nature of the festival in the fatherland. It was
largely a family affair. The children for months
before the day Of the Nativity saved their pennies
and bought material from which they fashioned
their gifts for their parents and for one another.
These were presented on Christmas eve, and the
next day the parents In turn spread out their pres
ents for the children on a large table In the best
room. Stockings were hung, too, and the good
children had them filed with sweetmeats, pepper
cakes and other goodies, but those who had been
bad sometimes found a birch rod as a Christmas
gift. There was one custom that was fraught
with great terror to children. One Knecht Rupert
went from house to house ~inquiring about the
children on Christmas eve and recommending re-
wards or punishments according to the reports
that he received of their conduct during the year.
The Pennsylvania Santa Claus was popularity
known as Kriss Kringle, a corruption of Christ
kindlein, the little Christ.
Throughout the colonies in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries toys were an almost I'M
known factor, but wherever Christmas observ-
ances were not frowned upon by religion feasting
and good cheer were abundant, and bond and free,
rich and poor, old and young shared in the games,
abundant food and genial atmosphere. Not only
did the munifcence Of those who were well sup
piled with worldly goods extend to their depend
ents and to all within reach of their charity, but
in some places even the animals had an extra
allowance of food to let them know that Christ
mas had come again.
In the eighteenth century toys began to make
their appearance in the colonies. Some of them
were brought from overseas and had the enchant-
ing quality of novelty. Little girls who had helped
to mother their younger brothers and sisters were
delighted with dolls that were all their own to
and reward. Simple and quaint were those early
dolls, like the children they belonged to. One
can fancy the surprise and terror Of the timid
when they first beheld a Jack jump into the air
when an innocent looking box was opened. A toy
was a thing to be cherished in those days. 1t
was indeed a w~ondrous saint who could bring
such things In his pack. Some of the gifts were
of real intrinsic value, for the shipping and trad
ing we're growing to be important factors in the
colonies, and men brought treasures OF all kinds
from the Far East to the ~seaports, whence they
were distributed to other parts Of the colonies.
The war for Independence interrupted this and
the children shared In the self-sacrifces and de-