The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-12-23

could account for the bird. SO far as
| can remember, this is the only in
stance of my having heard this night
song Of bird in the dead winter.
The view Of the stars, the song of
this strange bird of winter night in
a hemlock tree-the crystalline jewels
bedecking the trees of the forest-the
faint sound of running water under
ice and snow covering the brook that
flowed by the cabin-these sights and
sounds We're the background of a
blaze Of candles midst festoonery
adjoining the cabin windows. And
above the entrance to the cabin glowed
a red cross of red Dubbed electric
lights. The light from the cross and
the windows reflected on the chaste-
snow with a hue of pinks and yellows
| can never forget this midnight scene
in Yoghiogheny Forest.
A week before Christmas | had gone
to Baltimore. Remembering Aunt
Helen, who in my childhood would tell
Of her trips to Lexington market and
of all the dainty sweetmeats she
would find there, l thought it would be
a nice thing to bring some of these
things to the greedy young hands of
our children. | arrived in Oakland on
the National Limited on the 22nd. A
blizzard was on the warpath. 1t was
late and | wanted to be home. | called
Pastor Shilke Without complaint or
argument, but with generous willing
ness, he got out of bed, dressed and
brought me safely through snow
drifts to our cabin door. This was like
Dac+pp Cl,;llyas ha Of, l,r
to put himself out for others well
fare. Surely such people will receive
multiple rewards in heaven.
SO on Christmas Day, as family
and friends gathered around the board
there was spread before our eyes food
stutfs from every quarter of the
globe for Lexington market in those
| days was famous for its imported
foods, both vegetable, fruits, meats,
fish and cheese. The variety of the
foods, Hastily arranged on large plat
ters on a table lit with colored candles
at one end of the room and roaring
log-fire in the large fireplace at the
other end of the room while outside the
snow, ice, brook and bejeweled Christ
mas trees presented a scene that in
toXicated us with a sense of well-be-
ing that cannot be set down in mere
words.
Here in this sylvan setting in a
simple log-cabin was concentrated the
domestic and social joys of Christmas.
Then | realized for the first time that
the more abiding meanings of Christ
mas are associated with the primitive
and eternal things-that nature at
this season Of the year contributes
more to the atmosphere than mere
packages and parties.
1t we had these things all to our
selves it would not have been a real
Christmas. Again we were fortunate
in having many of our dear friends to
share this day with US. Among them
were my parents, Mr.. Paul limbaugh,
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bess, Mr.. David
Watson, Mr. Lee Miller, Mr.. William
Coffman, Mr.. Thomas Hood, Dr. and
Mrs. James Clinton and Mrs. Ned
Johnson.
Christmas week Marsh Shaffer took
US in a sled to Eglon. The sled was
drawn by a stout pair Of horses. We
bundled in wooden blankets, half-re-
clining in thick-strewn straw. We went
through drifts that were twenty feet
high in some places. Both going and
coming we enjoyed singing carols
to the accompaniment Of jingle bells.
Such a Christmas can come only
once in a lifetime, and that is enough!