The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-07-28

y ~ lOllo"iiS, sStoA VI LliC oiIsoiA
Of the Yule log in Virginia is
told in the Pictorial lts,icw by
In Salc Corbcll Pickett in an
article dealing with Christmas In the
south in wartime:
One time an old black man was sit
ting in his little cabin on Il mountain
side on Christmas eve listening to the
cold wind howl over Il world of snow
and wishing that he had n tire to warm
him when he heard the cry of n little
child away out in the cold. The Old
man hobbled to the door and looked
out across the snow. ana the wind
came rushing in and made him shiver
so that his contest two teef' chattcred
with cold. Again the cry came across
the snow, and he wished With all his
power of longing that he could go out
and find the unfortunate little one. for
the plaintive cry of Il little child always
goes straight to the heart. A third
time the cry came. and a miraculous
power seemed to fill the old mans
veins. His muscles became tense and
strong. and he stepped from the thrcsh-
old into the snow, the crutch falling
back in the cabin.
In an instant he was w1lkin. over
the cXpanse OF frozen snow with an
activity he had not possessed since he
used TO Ego to camp meetin'." BY and
by he came to Il little child caught in Il
snow bank. He lifted the child, and ~
its little form touched him Il new
strength came into him, and the small
burden seemed to give him wings to
speed back to the little cabin. Ee put
the child on the bed drew the ragged
quilt around 1t and looked about to see
IL there might he piece of furniture
OF which lie could make Il fire to warm
his small guest
At that instant he saw a great log
roll across the threshold and into tile
fireplace. The little child was looking
at it with eyes like stars. and they
sent CLEANS of light that kindled the
log with the most brilliant fire the Old
man had ever seen. and the Gingy
little room was filled with radiance
and warmth that brought Il glow to
the soul rs well as TO the body and
seemed to food the world with light.
AS the light wrapped the child in 4
shining glory he laughed-a laugh that
was like Il song OF the heart and float
ed up and away. The old man turned
his eyes to where the fire burned and
watched the flames leap in opalescent
tints over the log forming the shape
of Il cross in fire.
At this point in the narrative Br'er
Simon usually became greatly excit-
ed, and his eyes kindleu as he went
on in his rich dialect:
de flames er de cross spread en-
chase after one crnudder. n-crawlin
en- u-crcepin' in en- ont en- around en-
about, a-skadlin hyer ell a-skudlin'
dar; a-lippin' up higher and higher;
frs lii blue blaze would come, den
yaller one. den a bright red one
would flare up. Ell den de blazes would
all minSuatc darsefs tergedder-ied
Ell blue en- yallcr en- white would all
mix wild dc kindleation colors err dc
rainbow, en- crucklc en- crackle en- lip
higher en- bigger en- bigger, de crackles
a-getten' louder en- louder, en- de bazcs
gittin' bigger en- bigger.
AS the old man watched all this dis
play suddenly and magically appeared
q table covered with Christmas feast
such as had never been spread before
his eyes, and never again was he hun
cry or cold, and never was there
Christmas in old Virginia after that
without the YUle log and the Christ
mas child to give it light and warmth.
Mrs. Nora CayctI left for Des Moines
Friday evening for q six weeks visit
with relatives Mr.. Cavctt is remod-
cling their liousc, making extensive
improvements and additions and when
completed the now home will be mod
crn in every detail.