Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 29, Number 42, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 16 December 1908 — Page 8

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Wlnil. ABd,Aho chtl(lniinT<i rig)it roi. after all, is it.not, a festival that we growriutps participate in wftn tne e"fithusiasm of the little folks? Long since the shops have been stocked to their capatoys and the'myriad of gewgaws that go to attract the attention of the millions of shoppers who" throng the streets, all bent upon one common mission —the ready for Christmas. A visit to the large cities,‘small towns, as well as to the little country stores, all bespeak the ease with which preparations for Christmas can be accomplished nowadays, as compared with those of 50 years ago. It might be well to pause awhile in this money-mad age of commercialism, when the pursuit of the- dollar js 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 /airlv breathed the spirit of “Peace-on earth, good will to men." “Christmas gift, mistiss! 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'Jiearts to-day as the holly and mistletoe we are engaged in twining into wreaths for the Christmas of to-day. “Christmas Before the War" had the same significance for the children south as it has for . those of today, 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 an* there purchase whatever their fancy might dictate. To-day it is little else than'one-of many shopping toms, so dear to the hearts of all womankind.

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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 generally began early in September, when milady paid her semi-annual visit 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 delicacies 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 purchase of cloths, cottons, flannels and silks by the bolts. Os course, materials for fancy work were purchased in large quantities, for 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 worrien arid gitls afttong the slaves, who designated themselyes by the proud titles of “seamsters.” Each day the “seamsters” would come to the room set apart in the manor house for sewing 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 w.ell as those for the little pickaninnies, half-grown girls, young and old women alike, were made and laid away for Christmas. Bright prints, gayiy checkered calicoes and domestics were the materials generally employed, 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 irionths, but the workwas invariably gotten oat 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.

The succeeding days were ones of never ceasing delight to the housewife and her corps of welT-trained cooks and helpers. Cakes by the dozen were mixed, bakfcd and set away; cakes the recipes for which are priceless to-day; pastry of every description, and invariably these were made in sufficient quantities to carry the family and their score of guests through the holiday season, for Christmas always extended over the New Year's day. With preparations 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- • bets; blazing -logs- eraokle • upon. the. hearth; windows are festooned with

ropes of Christmas greens, and everywhere the Christmas spirit prevails. In the great open halls, some so he-. roic in proportion as to permit Sot a four-in-hand being is set the huge Christmas tree, fairly grosufml beneath its burden of presents, for here displayed are gifts for each member of the household, guests -and house servants alike. The trees of .those days, however, 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 wonderful old prophetess. Mother Shipton. Promptly af 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 log, in reality the massive trunk ofa well-seasoned hickory. This was set upon the carefully polished andirons and served -aa a “hack log" for the cheerful fire of Christmas eve and Christmas day. Supper over, members of the household gathered around. Chestnuts and popcorn were brought forth; the evening was spent in roasting chestnuts, popping corn and spinning Christmas yarns o 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 ipvited into the kitchen, where liberal potations of “a little ,drap to Varm them up" was served, and each was asked to drink to the health qf ole mistiss, ole mars, little folks and the household guests. This closed the ceremonies for. Christmas eve. Candles were passed around and warm beds sought, there to dream of Santa Claus and the. morrow and what w;as to be found in the score of stockings left hanging about the great- open fireplace. Christmas morning breaks clear and cold. The household bestirs itself early, awakened by the entrance of the house -servants, who rush from room to room calling

master's plate, was placed the piece de resistance, a suckling pig, roasted whole, a glowing re# 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 platters of Christmas cakes of every description; riot forgetting the ynle dough, those plain but well spiced, thin cookies, made as were the ancient cakes in the form of a human body, with slits for the nose and mouth and currants 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 firepiafee, 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 cidep. , ■ „ A* custom of heauty was one rarely revived nowadays. While the afternoon festivities were at their, height and: as the hot-mulled beverages were passed around;, toasts "wire freely given* Tlieguest"offidbop; With %‘ass aloft,r would open the front hall door and from the shelter of the ..piazza he toasted the fields and orchards, that the host might be assuredVof a.successful summer and a richi 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 fjhrist, 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 I The huge hallway was cleared of its furniture and the glistening floor waxed until its surface shone like a mlrfor. The fiddlers took up their position in the comer of the room as carriages-began to drive up laden with the yoring folk from the countryside for miles around. • 1 Round dances and square dances, feels 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 into 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 geigeral observance 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 delivery of gifts of more’or less cost, good feeling prevails because of thesq, gifts .and as a consequence enemies -are often made friends. Not only is this true in America, but it is true in every country where celebrations of the sort are held. Even police annals point to that fact, for then Crimea are at n minimum. . . ... . 1