12 fjfiow BOKOPMN CHILDREN cW/ TZEPLAND sled. And the children are right. For, after all, is it not a festival that we grown-ups participate in with the en thusiasm of the little folks? Long since the shops have been stocked to their capa city with toys and the myriad of gewgaws that goto attract the attention of the millions of shoppers wno throng the streets, all bent upon one common mission —the making ready f«r Christmas. A visit to the cities, small towns, as well as to the little country stores, all bespeak the ease with which preparations for Christ mas can be accomplished nowadays, as compared with these of 50 years ago. It might he well to pause awhile in this money-mad age of commercialism, when the pursuit of the dollar is paramount to all else, and go back half a century or so and recall Christmas as it was celebrated in the fair Southland before the war. To those who knew the south before its broad green fields were crimsoned with the life blood of invader and defender, a Christmas then was a festival long to be remembered; the climax of patient and arduous preparation, the culmination of months of painstaking care, yet withal a labor of love. Those were days of never-ceasing joy, which fairly breathed the spirit of "Peace on earth, good will to men." "Christmas giff, misliss! Christmas giff, marster!" as the wards of the slave-holding planters gathered about the "great house" front porch on Christmas morning, was a greeting none could forget who beheld the upturned and eager black faces of the plantation help as they came forward to receive the traditional gift. Good old days, we say? Days that are gone, but. the memories of which are as green and fresh in our hearts to-day as the holly and mistletoe we are engaged in twin ing into wreaths for the Christmas of to-day. "Christmas Before the War" had the same significance for the children of the south as it has for those of to day, but how much more it meant to the mistresses of those plantations where a hundred or more slaves had to be remembered than it does to the grand dames of to-day, who have but to enter their carriages, visit the nearest shop and there purchase whatever their fancy might dictate. To-day it is little else than one of many shopping tours, so dear to the hearts of all womankind. HUISTMAS is near. Its approach Is heralded by the thou sand and one symbols that from babyhood wo have learned to lovo and associate wif;, (h e festival of the nativity of Christ. This festival | s joyously celebrated in every country on "vc- globe' where the enlightening rays of Chrip""»>''y and civilization have penetrated. CljjV en it'll us that Christmas is in the air—that it d~ not require a glance at the almanac hanging' upon 'he wall to apprise them of the near approach of a sea son which to them is synonymous with feasting, merry making, 'Tie exchanging of little gifts with loved ones, and last but not annual visit of fat and Jolly old Kris Kringle and his reindeer Then it meant endless work; for months the needles flashed in the busy housewives' hands, as a gift then was almost invariably handmade. Preparations for Christmas in antebellum days gener ally began early in September, when milady paid her semi-annual \isit to the nearest city or town and there laid in her supplies. Groceries were purchased by the wholesale, staples for the field hands, and all the deli cacies the market afforded for the "great house"and the horde of guests who were to invade it. A visit to the dry goods stores resulted in the pur chase of cloths, cottons, flannels and silks by the bolts. Of course, materials for fancy work were purchased in large quantities, t'oj every southern-born woman spent her spare moments at work of this sort. Arriving home the fall campaign was mapped out. Every plantation boasted of half a dozen or more women and girls among the slaves, who designated themselves by the proud titles of "seamsters." Each day the "*eamsters" would come to the room set apart in the manor house for sew ing and, under the watchful eye of the mistress of the house, sew up the seams of the garments she herself had cut out. Dresses for the smallest baby on the plantation, as well as those for the little pickaninnies, half-grown girls, young and old women alike, were made and laid away for Christmas. Bright prints, gayly checkered cali coes and domestics were the materials generally em ployed, as the negro ever had an eye for color. Garments for the women complete, those for men and boys were next taken up, so that on Christmas morning each negro who came to the house could be assured of returning to his quarter with arms laden with good warm clothing, including everything from a pair of shoes that "cried" to his heart s delight to a warm new cap, or hat, as his fancy elected. This sewing circle generally extended its operations over a period of two months, but the work was invariably gotten out of the way before December 1, for the three weeks just prior to Christmas were busy ones and had to do with the mysteries of the well-stocked pantry. CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 1908. The succeeding days were ones of never ceasing delight to the housewife and her corps of well-trained cooks and helpers. Cakes by the dozen were mixed, baked and set away; cakes the recipes for "Which are priceless to-day; pastry of every description, and invari ably these were made in sufficient quan tities to carry the family and their score of guests through the holiday season, for Christmas always extended over the New Year's day. With prep arations for Christmas complete, the house is set in order for its influx of guests. The choicest linen, spiced and snowy in its cleanliness, is brought forth from the great linen presses, and all the spare beds in the house made up. Then follows the decoration. In each room, living-rooms as well as bed cham bers, blazing logs crackle upon the hearth; windows are festooned with ropes of Christmas greens, and everywhere the Christ mas spirit prevails. In the great open halls, some so he roic in proportion as to permit of a four-in-hand being therein turned, is set the huge Christmas tree, fairly groaning beneath its burden of presents, for here dis played are gifts for each member of the household, guests and house servants alike. The trees of those days, how ever, were illuminated by myriads of vari-colored tallow dips, since electric lights were as far in the dim, dim future as many of the other predictions of that wonder ful old prophetess, Mother Shipton. Promptly at six o'clock on Christmas eve the peace and quiet of the great hall was disturbed by the men servants of the house as they staggered in beneath the burden of the yule los, in reality tlvi massive trunk of a well-seasoned hickory. This was set upon the carefully polished andirons and served as a "back log" for the cheerful fire of Christmas eve and Christmas day. Sup per over, members of the household gathered around. Chestnuts and popcorn were brought forth; the evening was spent in roasting chestnuts, popping corn and spin ning Christmas yarns for the little folks, who hovered near. As the grandfather clock chimed out the hour of nine a hush would fall upon the family group and every ear was strained to catch the plaintive melody that floated in from without. The Christmas serenaders had arrived. The servants of the plantation, grouped about the front porch, to the accompaniment of a banjo, would sing the old plantation melodies until invited into the kitchen, where liberal potations of "a little drap to warm them up" was served, and each was asked to drink to the health of ole mistiss, ole mars, the little folks and the household guests. This closed thu ceremonies for Christmas eve. Candles were passed around and warm beds sought, there to dream of Santa Claus and the morrow and what was to be found in the score of stock ings left hanging about the great open fireplace. Christmas morning breaks clear and cold. The house hold bestirs itself early, awakened by the entrance of the Louse servants, who rush from room to room calling HOLLAND "Christmas Riff!" to all within as they bear to each the family loving cup containing the morning grog, a sip from which each is supposed to take. Gathering in a great dining-room, a huge punch bowl, filled to the brim with the snow-capped Christmas egg-nog, greets them. This is the beginning of the day's good cheer. Hreakfast over, the gift-giving begins among the servants, for those within the house had all descended in the wee sraa' hours to scan the contents of their stockings, there to find that which was most ardently desired. When the army of slaves arrived on the front lawn gifts over which the mistress and her helpers had labored so arduously were brought forth and bestowed, while groceries, extra allowances of provisions, sweetmeats and flasks of egg-nog or spirits were passed around. Then the household made ready for church, which was followed by the midday Christmas feast, capped by the blazing plum pudding, prepared months ago. And what feasts they were, to be sure! Roasted turkeys, roasted' geese, roasted capons, huge sirloins of beef, home-cured hams and a myr iad of good things that only a housewife of long ago could conceive l , were heaped upon the snowy table, while at the end, in front of the master's plate, was placed the piece de resistance, a suck ling pig, roasted whole, a glowing red apple gripped tightly between its glistening teeth. In the center of the table burned the stately candles, surrounded by a bank, of holly, gleaming with its scarlet berries. On the side tables stood the bowl of wassail, the big pitchers of port and cider, plates of nuts and fruits and sweets and plat ters of Christmas cakes of every description; not forget ting the yule dough, those plain but well spiced, thin cook ies, made as were the ancient cakes in the form of e human body, with slits for the nose and mouth and cur rants for the eyes. Other evidences that the feasting was to be continued throughout the day were contained in the two large baskets on either side of the open fire place, one filled with chestnuts, the other with apples, these to be roasted at will on the glowing coals, while in the corner were the irons with which to mull the port and cider. A custom of beauty was one rarely revived nowadays. While the afternoon festivities were at their height and as the hot-mulled beverages were passed around, toasts were freely given. The guest of honor, with glass aloft, would open the front hall door and from shelter of the piazza he toasted the fields and orchards, that the host might be assured of a successful summer and a rich harvest. Returning to the hall, a well-pitched voice would burst forth into that delightful old carol: God rest you, merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay; For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Was born upon this day. This carol usually closed the afternoon's diversions. Chambers were sought and siestas snatched that eyes might be bright for the crowning event of the day, the Christmas ball! The huge hallway was cleared of its furniture and the glistening floor waxed until its surface shone like a mir ror. The fiddlers took up their position in the corner of the room as carriages began to drive up laden with the young folk from the countryside for miles around. Round dances and square dances, reels and quadrilles followed in quick order until the faint streaks of dawn lined the horizon; then came the Virginia reel, in which old and young participated, and the Christmas day had faded into the past. A round of gayeties are crowded in to the week, each a replica of the one that went before. Feasting and merry-making goes on unabated until New Year's day has been ushered in; then guests depart and once more the household takes up its routine. Where there is a general obser\«nce of the Christmas holiday, there you are sure to find Christmas spirit and as a consequence general good-fellowship. For while the day has developed into purely an occasion for the deliv ery of gifts of more or less cost, good feeling prevails because of these gifts and as a consequence enemies are often made friends. Not only is this true in America, but R is true in every country where celebrations of the sort are held. Even police annals point to that fact, for then crimes are at 4 minimum.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers