Show christinia CHRIST IvIA IN I 1 m COLONIAL DAYS DAY P interesting account of an old time celebia celebration tion men wore their hairan curie curl and such games as green grow the rushes 0 11 furnished amusement GLIMPSE of an old celebration eb of the christmas season Is preserved in a diary of a guest of maj gen william lloyd one of the signers of the declaration of independence who recounts the good cheer of his household in the old h homestead 0 in e s t e a d fit ut Wester riville Is Y tho the house Is standing and is still occupied during a part of the summer by some of his descendants in those early dais da a of the republic the journey from new york by sleigh took ten days in preparation for the coming fes tivi ties the diarist notes that the keeping room as the main room nus iben then called which today would be called the parlor or drawing room tras kan trimmed with spruce and cedar branches there being no bolly growing in that region roses made of tissue paper in red pink and white were plentifully distributed through the evergreen decorations the roses acre made by two young women guests miss catherine floyd and miss aliss mary alary floyd who were ere en to be married to jann madison and thomas jefferson afterwards presidents of the united states they were assisted in entertaining guests during the day by the misses aliases wiggins neighbors of the general among other guest bishop whipple and a fellow clergyman were present ae an well as the fiance 0 of tho the diarist tho the festivities began christmas eve and all the family hung up their stock ings in front of the huge kitchen fire place the illumination was vas that of balow candles in silver and brass can dle sticks miss catherine floyd flod had expected her flance james madison as was jotted down don in the diary and was greatly disappointed at hie his not coming he lie sent by way of a christmas gift a full length likeness of gen george washington framed which was nas brought by a neighbor returning home from new york the merrymaking was aas at its height christmas eve all sorts of lf then fash conable and popular games such aa as hunt the slipper blind mana buff and green grow the rushes 0 being indulged in by the young people until 10 at asich hour sharply general floyd closed the house that in keeping early hours he wae was not altogether arbitrary appears when we learn that the breakfast christmas morning was nas at early candle light the diary says it was so early and I 1 had to take my curl papers out so I 1 am sure my hair will ill not curl at all the gay young people gathered in the immense kitchen after breakfast was wais served to examine the stockings that santa clans claus was expected to hac hae left in prosperous condition of her gifts tho the diarist remarks such beautiful gifts I 1 havo have never received away from my ahme some beautiful mink skins sufficient to make makri my winter fur and muff from dear general flo flod d taken from animals caught in a trap bear the milk house baxters Dax tera saints kest rest and a nice volume ot watts hymns from mrs fluda white bite velvet pincushion painted with roses and leaves from catherine and a pretty collar of lace footing from mary alary my aly dearly beloved gave me a ruby ring the emblem of eternal fidelity and love the dearly beloved became her husband a few months later christmas day was indeed a joyful one after we had seen all our gifts all the young people went to the hill back of the house and coasted for twe two hour hours on the hard crust of ice and snow the distance from the top of the hill bill to tho the bulf ravine was nearly ft a mile he ile who nho can suppress a IL mo mente in anger may prevent a day of 0 borrow |