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I CHRISTMAS FORTY YEARS AGO. The Approaching Yulctide Brings to X Mind Old Times in Ijiuieaster. To the Editor of The News: Now that the Christmas season is X with us again, I thought it might be v > Interesting to the children of today X [>', to know something of the Christmas X fflof forty years ago. Lancaster was 44 j3r then a small town of perhaps five \' rj hundred people. It had few laws and ? I S they were not rigidly enforced, which ? Sf enabled the children, as well as \ | grown-ups, to do pretty much as they < pleased in the way of exploding fire- ? |' works arid even fire arms when and J' a where they willed. There were sev_ ? | eral "commons" in and around the i town where all kinds of games could he played. Some of these places X were the "Patty Hunt" lot, where Mr. T. Y. Williams now lives, the "Muster field," extending from the cotton oil mill property southward to the street leading to the cotton mill; the X old field between White, Market, 4? Arch streets and Chesterfield avenue, J * on which the Baptist and A. R. P. j churches stand, the old field comprls- 44 ing the territory south of Elm street J \ and extending to French, as well as o many other places within the present 4 * limits. \ J In those days we usually had < crisp, cold weather and frequently 4 * there was snow on the ground from ' 41 four to twelve Indies deep. On the I o night before Christmas there was) 4* usually a battle royal with fire works and fire balls on Main street, par-1 < tlcipated in by the boys and young X men of the town, the contending < forces arraying themselves to the 4 north and south of Gay street. Birds \ J were plentiful then and it was royal i < sport shooting the robins from the 4 4 Chinaberry trees in town. We \ J would set traps and dead falls in our j ? > front yards and gardens and catch 4 4 red birds, snow birds, eat birds and ! < * beyond the town limits in the nearby | < woods and fields, field larks, doves * * and partridges. I < > Then, as now, "stockings were * ? hung up by the chimney with care, in * J hopes that St. Nicholas would soon , , be there." But it seems to me the ? belief in him was stronger then than Y now. As a child, I believed in Santa 2 Claus and now that I am in the "sear and yellow leaf," I still believe in Y him, and to tell the truth I haven't 2 much respect for anybody, young or old, who doesn't believe in him. If \ J they have doubts about the matter it ? > Is because their hearts are not right. ?> After hanging up our stockings tor rather our mother's because hers <? were larger and longer than ours *' and would hold so much more, 2 the hardest thing was to get i to sleep because it had been Y Instilled into us that Santa Claus 2 would not come until we were sound 2 asleep. We were usually up next morning by 5 o'clock and after get- ? ting down our stockings and seeing ha jwhat we had, would then proceed to mj *rstch father and motrer "Christmas gift." From then on until mid-day fQ it was?a continual "Christmas gift," mj Christmas gift." The darkies on the $7 place, too, would slip into the house, ju crvinur "Fhristnuis Marster." Christmas gift, Missus." Although then free, the negroes of those days continued to use the old way of addressing their employers. $3 Before breakfast the old-fashioned ag egg-nog was prepared and the eh 11- aii dren had their little cups filled along with the grown-ups. This, too, was m the season for hog killng and our Bi hearts' desire was to got the blad- H< ders, blow them up, put cowpeas in ex them and make a noise. And what fun we used to have coasting down ? the snow covered hills in chairs with the hacks to the snow. What roar- | ing fires we used to have in those days. Biw hlekroy back logs and dogwood and white oak. In those days wood could be delivered to your m yard for a dollar a cord and such av things as coal and heaters were not in use. The different ministers were always remembered, not only by in- ce dividual gifts, but were "pounded" 7E almost beyond recognition. Then . the county paper was "The Lancaster Ledger." It was delivered to the , patrons in town by a little boy known ~ as the "devil" or "carrier." No 9 paper was published Christmas week, I but instead a "Carrier's Address." I usually written for him by the late Dr. R. R. Wylie, your great grandfather. It was taken to the homes of the subscribers of the paper and Jibe devil was rewarded with a small Stipend or from five to twenty-five cents and occasionally more, which put life Into his heels for many days thereafter. Rut I am trespassing too much on your space. Miss Editor, and will close with Tiny Tim's prayer, "God bless us everv one." SANTA CLAIT8' PARTNER. RAPT r? A GREAT PEOPLE. | Home of the Things Done at the Convention Held Last Week in lien ncttsville. The State Convention of the Baptists was held In Bennettsville last week. The various boards made excellent reports, Indicating the substantial growth of the denomination in this state. The secretary's statistical report showed that there are nearly one hundred and fifty thousand white Baptist church members In South Carolina. | During the year, the Baptists contributed |50,000 to foreign missions; $40,000 to home missions; $42,000 to state missions; $30,000 to orphan- ' age work; $9,000 for aged ministers; besides the cost of maintaining the 1,000 local churches, a vast amount for building new houses of worship, and the like. Fifty-live thousand dollars was given to Qreenville Female College; j^40,000 to Anderson College; $15,^^00 to Furman University; $66,000 to Coker College; and smaller amounts to Orangeburg College, and the five high spools of the convention during 1913. The convention heartily re-endorsed the proposed Baptist hospital, which Is to be located In Columbia, and authorized the trustees to go ahead and establish the Institution. Thirty thousand dollars Is already in i! i i nnr THE w* >*> w-;-< 'Twas the Night Befoi Published by Request of S. J 'Twas the night before Christmas when Not a creature was stirring, not even a The stockings were hung by the chimi In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would t The children were nestled all snug in While visions of sugar plums danced in And mamma in her kerchief, and I in i Had llist settled r?n r lirytnu '"> ? I"??? ? ? ?v. ?VI U. IWUfi " When out on the lawn there arose sucl I sprang from my bed to see what was Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up t The moon on the breast of the new-falh Gave a luster of midday to objects belo> When what to my wondering eyes shoi Hut a miniature sleigh and eigiit tiny r With a little old driver, so lively and qi jl nuvn an cV UlUIUVlll 11 II1USI DO f)l. INlCl More rapid than eagles his coursers the And he whistled and-shouted, and calle "Now, Dasher! uow, Dancer! now Pran On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder, an To the tpo of the porch, to top of the Now dash away, dash away, dash awaj As dry leaves that before the wild liui When they meet with an obstacle, niou So up to the housetop the coursers the; With the sleigh full of toys?and St. M And then in a twinkling I heard on th The prancing and pawing of each litt As I drew in my head and was turnini Down the chimney St. Nciholas came I7e was dressed all in fur from his hea And his clothes were all tarnished wit' A bundle of toys ho had flung on his bf And he looked like a peddler just ope His cheeks were like roses, his nose li llis eyes how they twinkled, his dimpl His droll little mouth was drawn up like And the beard on his chin was as whi The stump of a pipe he held tight in h And the smoke it encircled his head 1 Te had a broad face and a little round That shook, when he laughed, like a b He was chubby and plump?a right jo And I laughed when I saw him in spit A wink of his eye and a twist of his In Soon gave me to know I had nothing t He spoke not a word but went straight And filled all the stockings; then with And laying his finger aside of his nosi And giving a nod, up the chimney he He sprang to his sleigh, to his team ga And away they all Hew like the down But I heard him exclaim ere he drove "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a t ,nd for the purprse, and there is resting uch more promised. there. The convention asked the churches The ] r $25,000 cash for Greenville Fe- : neurly ] ale College by January 1st; for ) women, 5,000 for Furman University by more tlv ily 31st; for $2,000 for the theo- 900 pre gical seminary during next year; The c 5,000 for the education board; in Char 0,000 for ministerial education in irman; $150,000 for missions; C ;0,000 for orphanage; $10,000 for "Oh, ;ed ministers and appropriate mas pre nounts for other religious objects. "No," A gift of a $10,000 house for aged give yov blisters was received from C. C. "This rown, the house being located in ing rooi >aufort, overlooking the sea. It is "It's pocted that ministers temporarily much dl Cabbage J You can't buy better cabbage plants. T1 uch care, and I don't know of any which wl rerage. All varieties- Tho nri/<o ?c ? lallty. Price 75 cents for 300; $1.00 per nta per 1.000. Jouannet's Early Giant Ar >c per 100; $4.00 per 1,000. Satisfaction g J,FRKI) JOUANNET. Box 1! Old Santa ?IS ATJ. B. MACKOI Again in all His Toys, Dolls and then some toys a We can suit your taste, pocketboc Xmas presents we have anything t Come and see and dnn'f waif fru thing that you might want will b larger than ever before and I can s don't wait, we will run out of some wife a present of a FIRELESS < STOVE, or a set of Aluminum War but once a year, why should yoi Glass and Silver Ware of all kin How about a boys or girls' bicycle, Come in and let old Santy fix you J. B. Mac! , LANCASTER NEWS, DE< ; | vi re Christmas. | m Harnett. 6 j oil *?./% v Smr*? "?? VIII vuftu V uv: ^ mouse, 4 ley with care * I 3?f 10 there, \ *t S%sj| their beds, 4 their heads; <? ny cap, ; \ inter nap? Y i a clatter, <w the matter. <l ? he sash. <? sn snow ' > ar; ?> nld appear ?? eindeer, * ? lick, ** k, : y came, X u luem oy name; X cer ana Vixen! d Dlltzen! X wall! X -ricane fly, H nt to the sky, X y flew' % I cholas, too. Y e roof X le hoof, Y I S around, y with a hound. X d to his foot, Y li ashes and soot; y i ??? ick, X ning Ills pacK. Y I ke a cherry; ^ j ^ les how merry; X i a bow, X te as the snow. ^ is teeth I ike a wreath. I belly ' | owl full of jelly. X m lly old elf; X e of myself. Y JL J ead X o dread. X to his work, Y a jerk, X | VP V ill rose; Y whistle, X of a thistle; X | I I out of sight, Y ;ood-night!" Y I ^ will also make their home ^ Baptist convention employs L5U missionaries, men and in South Carolina; theie are an 1,000 churches, and about ZHZ achers, onvention next year will meet leston. the Particulars gH 1 have you seen your Christ sent to me, dear?" Rll he answered, "what did I I wM IV beautiful cabinet for the din beautiful, isn't It? How JL W l Id I pay for it?" Plii kits tiere are none raised with so ill head as well on the easonable considering the 1,000; 6,000 and over 86 genteuil Asparagus Roots uaranteed. Mt.Pleasant, S. C. jq n I,. uaus r RELL'S P i Glory. Als .... , ?,. tim nd dolls of all kinds. ?k and quality. For I z=zz= nat you mignt want. he rush as the very V e gone. My line is upply everybody, but I _______ s things. Make your COOKER, or an OIL e. Xmas don't come ^ u care. China, Cut ds. Come and look. rifle or shotgun? I up. korell ... ?^ " I i iMfc HEMBEK 10, 1913. r0RSi Aiir /iUL Ihoice 20 Acres of 1 ' which is he ive Miles W< leath Spr nown us the W. K ION. J DEC. a .OA J I .JU V tiutli :ert by Brass Band REE no 9 Extra Fine Mil ie ; Farming Tools t ALU ABLE mthern Rea Com L ANDREWS, Mgr. G-r / ' yvMXM _____________ 9 TON Farms Li and, 650 Acres avily timbered, est of ines. S. C? ^j-7 ? 7 . WILLIAMS LAND. DINNER les will be Sold at same oo numerous to mention. Prizes FREE Jty & Auction ipany eensboro5 N. C. ?>.( * M fAh - .