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 - .