Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-01-05
which would please the girls at home
and whom We bows remembered II

which would please the girls at home
and whom We boys remembered. II
is said that odors rema m nd
longer than any other physical sensa-
zion. As ! write can fact and
most wildly detect the odor OF that
Adams store, with its mixture Of ev-
cry variety OF Christmas CONNECTIONS.
With bundles that contained some
thing for everyone at home, and par
leu arly things for making noise, we
faced the long way home, not by au-
to, alas, but on horseback or in some
form of conveyance that made the
trip torture in the cold evening ar
/ Blu we were so full OF anticipation
OF the pleasure that we would get
and give at home, that We endured
what would not now go through
but to save life.
My little cousins Christmas tree,
that was purchased, of course, from
the shipments Of such trees from some
northern country, had its Joy to her !;
but when two boys, ak in hand, go
out into the woods charged with the
| duty OF selecting a tree that will be
the center Of all Christmas festivity,
| then you have real Christmas in the
/ bones.
How my little girl relative would
laugh to see such a tree as we had in
the country. 1t was usually so huge
that il reached the ceiling, and was
ladened not so much with things beau
tiful as things edible. The long
stick candy, Of much color, was sta
| pie that we could not do without.
Animal cakes and animal candy we're
much in evidence. Tin horns and
here and there delicate glass globe
constituted the jewels OF the tree.
! Oranges were always considered a
fruit that belonged to Christmas, and
had place on the tree. But the light
ing OF the tree was the thing which
tested the inventive genius OF people
in those days. The little wax tapers
OF various colors were used by the
most modern families Wien - -
was 10 be "shown off, to company
there was much lighting Of candles
and almost invariably a fire resulted
which burned some OF the precious
hangngs on the tree. Probably more
serious fires occurred in the country as
a result of lighting Christmas trees
than from any other cause.
Country boys and girls in those
days believed in the reality and validit,
OF Santa Claus, and arranged all sorts
OF receptacles accordingly. Though
we observed that candy and cakes anc
other things looked mighty much like
what we had seen prepared in oul
homes, we, in our faith in good St
Nicholas, were unmoved; we though
Of course that in passing through the
hnnco he haH II
the family good things. We did no
think worse Of Santa Claus for thi:
show of good taste.
But above all peculiar joys was tn,
one that we had when our names were
called in the church Christmas festival
and we walked up to get our "bag o.
candy and orange" as a gift from the
Sunday school, | wonder if children
today have half the Joy in that service
that country children of a generation
or two ago had.
Anyhow, while We did not hav,
autos, electric lights to beautfy ou
) trees, the wondrous decorations fo
home and tree-still the happines:
and the exultation OF soul were there
which made homemade things seen
very rare and precious. welcome
the delights that are mode
rejoice in being a man that has evel
kept in touch with modern growth; bu
Christmas mHkeS me -.
people and home joys in the country
when m IN" GaJrpo
what others of the family would do
walked Up to nv father and
EMMY said: "Sam, we are to have {
turkey at our house on next Thursda,
come down" That meant a famil,
lI|'tation to a family dinner, anc
which went the ro"Els during the hol
idays until every one Of trc '"r' -
nection had his day and had entertain
Cd tn. members Of the same name il
his nome. II boys ard girls of toda,
have their Christmas joys, do not fee
sorry for us of other days, for, to tel
the truth, | think we fee' sorry tina
folks have too much that is ready
made for children of today, and to,
lit' Of ''c home male, an The home
circle. and oldtime country Christ
mas cheer.