Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-23
CHRISTMAS ON THE OLD pLANTA
TION. II

1t is Christmas Eve and the snow
Is steadily falling.
In every room of the old Virginia
mansion. all is hustle and confusion.
In the kitchen, Aunt Malindy issues
her decree. mo chillunsi lowed" Three
or four small negro urchins arc busy
doing odd tasks such as picking the
pin feathers from tho turkeys. which
have been fattcning for weeks; aeed-
ing rsislns and cutting cltron.
In the nursery, tho three little chill
drcn. Tom. Mary or little missy. as the
servants call her and tho baby. little
Jane. are wistfully longing for the
long. long day to end. Aunt Dipah.
their old nurse. when they begin 20
fret and whine. warns them that,
Santa Claus don't come TO bad chill
luns." This has the desired effect.
Down in the parlor. Miss Elsie, tho
golden haired eldest daughter, just
homo from boarding school. for the
holidays. is busy experimenting the
decorating of tho parlor and dining
room. Her brother Robert. with Bill
and Joe, two colorcd youths. bring the
beautiful holly and mistletoe. and
other cvergrecns. from the woods.
Miss Betty as the negroes call her.
the sweet and stately mistress of tho
house. is now in one room. now in
another. warning. admonishing, pet
ting and encouraging.
"Massa" is hunting, with friend
and the baying OF the hounds rings
through the cold air.
In the afternoon, Miss Louisa and
her brothers.. from the neighboring
farm, come and all are merry. The
young men Of the neighborhood come
in after niGhtfall, and the old Christ
mas carols and bright music ard
laughter fills the air.
Tom, Mary and Jane seem anxious
to go to bed. pleading great sleepiness.
but Aunt Dinah says. Them pesti-
ferrous yunguns jest want to fool with
the stockings are hung; the Lay me
down." said, but sleep comes slowly.
and even Aunt Dinah's threats of a
does not avail much. Finally the
sandman comes and quiet settles over
all.
At last, the sleepy cocks announce
kissed away the darkness. the cries
Of "Chrismus gif. massa;" 'Chrismus
gif missus" arc heard, and happy the
''massa'' or ''missus'' for he knows
some shining corn, sweet cake. is sure
to be his.
soon, All the nOuScnOlu, llItjc Cnll-
dren, slaves, company and all, gather
In tho great room Of tho house where
every ono Is remembered and the glad
surprises give much Joy. The chill
dren eat candy cakes and oranges. al
though Aunt Dinah warns that Mis-
tab Doctah sho got some big pills fer
yer"
After breakfast, every cabin on the
plantation is visited and Christians
cheer given.
Then comes the feast. Little Tom.
Mary and Jane. anNiously wait until
ner begins. The table is loaded with
goodies of every description. but they
SEQ little else than the turkey and
After dinner. the sleighs are brought
and with the merry Jingle of bells,
the happy party of young people arc
When twilight gives place to star
light. al gather In the bright parlor
around the open fire: the lights are
and chestnuts roasted, while rosy
checked apples tempt them from the
basket. and fortunes are told by, the
two / love; three j love. I say; four
love with all my heart. and five cast
away. Six she loves; seven he loves;
eight they both love; nine he comes:
ten he tarries; eleven, he courts and
twelve. he marries.
The day is ended; good nights are
Said; tho household is wrapped III
slumbcr. perhaps disturbed by bad
dreams. caused by too much plum pud-
ding. Thus ends the beautiful Christ
mas as. Day. Of tho year 1s47.
The massa and missus have long ago
passed away; the slaves are gone; the
plantation mansion is burned down,
the children have grandchildren of
their own. but they still tell, to the
delight OF all their hearers, the story
OF the old Christmas in their fathers
home.
tOrieinal)