Milford chronicle., 1931-12-25

fOuuu OIL mousse pdTLleSJ DdllSI udu-
ces, dinners, and hunting, which
would have taxed the energy of any
modern debutante. The young peo-
pie went into the woods for holly
and greens which, fashioned i'll
wreaths and garlands, adorned the
stately drawing-roOms of the manor
houses of the Potomac. Fowls We're
fattended for the table. Forest, field
and stream contributed their sue
culent share to tempt the appetite
of host and guests.
The United States George Wash
ington Bicentennial Commission in
forms us that for days the frosty
winter air rang with the glad
shouts of welcome as each newly
arrived coach emptied its load of
happy visitors. The clatter of hoofs
on the hard highway announced the
coming of nearby neighbors who
would dismOunt, come in for hot
toddy and a chat with the members
of the household before mounting
and Gathering away again, to repeat
the jolly encounter at the next es-
tate.
We have no records of how Christ
mas was spent at Mount Vernon but
we know that it was not always fes-
tive. There were long years when
the master was absent for this hol-
iday, gone to the wars to endure the
ligors and dangers of winter cam
paigns. Perhaps one Of Washing
tens happiest ChIistmases was in
tie year 1888. On December % Con-
g, ess assembled in the State House
at Annapolis where Washington ar
rived four days before and was met
by Mrs. Washington. Congress was
to receive the Generals resignation
as Commander-in-C of the Con-
tinental Army.
He left Annapolis the day follow
ing the short ceremony which mark
ed the close of the last act of the
great drama of the Revolution, Ge-
parting as a private citizen for
Mount Vernon, where he arrived on
Christmas Eve. He approached the
home he loved over roads lined with
cheering friends and retainers. The
hospitable doors of his stately house
were flung open wide. Bright fires
burned on the hearths. The air was
filled with the songs of joy because
the master had come home. He had
left Mount Vernon a year before
merely a man, a strong man in
whom the people had faith and con-
fidence, a strong man but untried.
He returned the victorious general,
savior of the country.
The peace and comfort of Mount
Vernon which he dearly loved, sur
rounded by his family, mis- friends
and his faithful servants, must have
seemed a paradise to him. Did he
.hink of that other Christmas when
with his little band he crossed the
Ice-filled Delaware in the dead of
night, or that terrible Christmas at
Valley Forge? From his writings we
will never know, for his dairies
we're neglected at that time; and,
besides, he never gave details of
any days happnings, and made no
descriptive or superfluous comments
On anything that went on. In the
letters of a young girl present at
Mount Vernon on that Christmas in
1888, we find the following COM
nents: "The servants were in great |
glee. They came from all quarters
o get a glimpse of their idol. The
General much affected, received |
hem from the front veranda. Some,
he old ones, were in tears, others
we're in lapturous mirth."
There ere not many December 25 |
entries IN the Washington diaries.
The first is December 25, 1851 and
vas written on his voyage return
ng from the Barbados: Christmas
Day fine and clear and pleasant !
With moderate sea, the continuance
If the trade (winds) which by OBJ
had set us in the latitude !
80 81. We dined ON. Irish
loose which had been. for the
purpose some weeks beef, etc. etc.
md drank toast to our absent
riends."
December 25, 1868. "At home all
ay."
December 25, 1863. "Dined and
pent the afternoon at Colonel
4ewis'." The occasion at Colonel
.ewis' may have been an event, and
was, but We must rely on
ur imaginations to fill in the de-
ails.
December 25, 1872. "Went to Po-
ick Church and returned to dinner.
'ound Mr.. Tilghman here" II
December "a, 1774. cat home all
ay. Mr.. Richard Washington came
D dinner as did Mrs. Newman"
he dinner guests evidently remain
d the night, as frequently happen
d, and there were possibly other
uests to make merry at Mount Ver-
on.
December 25, 1774. "At home all
ay with the above"
From July 1773 to April 80, 1881,
o diary was kept. The events of
lie intervening Christmases we
lust CLEAN from other pages in his
Try.
The notes made on preparations
)r Christmas were meager:
December 20, 1885. Brought some
arts and Cutters from my Planta- !
ons to assist in laying in 4 Stock
Fire wood for Christmas" Z
On December 81, 1885, he went
uniting with the men who were his
ouse guests, namely: Mr.. Daniel
ulany, Mr.. Benjamin Dulany,
essrs. Samuel and Thomas Hand ]
IN, Mr.. Phillip Alexander, Mr..