1510 
‘Iht RURAL NEW-YORKER 
the fact that we are right here in 
living-room before the brick fireplace. 
"Oh! shining Star of Bethlehem. 
Our hearts lift up to thee!” 
MRS. F. H. UNGER 
the 
in the staircase I find those two excited 
youngsters peeping through the balusters 
at the tree in the fire-lit living-room. IIow 
the new floor shines! The fire snaps and 
there is the scent of evergreen, the spirit 
of Christmas permeating everything. I 
have come to think that the odor of 
spicy evergreen will spread the Christmas 
spirit faster than anything else I know 
of. I am grateful to the Man from 
Florida for this fire, and to Daisy for the 
fact that supper is on the stove waiting. 
Not altogether just that either. I would 
add (hat their friendly solicitous faces 
as the children and I push open the 
swing door fill my heart with gladness. 
At the table Daddy makes a little 
speech. “This is our first Christmas Eve 
in the new house,” says he. “There never 
will be another first. How about asking 
a blessing on the Christmas Eves to fol¬ 
low? Will you do us this favor. Per¬ 
kins?” And so this religious old colored 
man gets down upon his knees and pours 
out a desire that all our lives shall be 
long and well spent, and that all the 
From New Jersey to Florida by Auto 
| We are permitted to print the follow¬ 
ing extracts from the diary of two young 
men who traveled from Newark, N. ,T., to 
Miami, Fla., in a Ford. We have the 
records of several other similar trips, and 
may be able later to tell something about 
them.] 
Monday. September 26. 1021.—Leaving 
Newark at S a. m.. stopped at West Eliz¬ 
abeth for gas. The next stop was at 
Trenton, where we had a puncture. 
Stopped at Philadelphia for lunch, and 
then continued to Rockland, Del., arriv¬ 
ing there at 2:30. At 8:30 p. m. left to 
find a camping spot. Located at Mont- 
chaniu. Del. Turned in at 9:30, tired 
from traveling rough detours between 
Trenton and Philadelphia. Drove 130 
miles for the first day. 
Tuesday. September 27.—Left Mont- 
ohanin at 6 a. m. and drove to Ivennett 
Square for breakfast. Stopped at Belair, 
Md., for eats. etc. Had dinner after leav- 
Waiting for 
A snowstorm, a bough of evergreen, a 
bright fire and little children. Put these 
together and you have an ideal New Eng¬ 
land Christmas. Here is the snow, com¬ 
ing down through the gray light in danc¬ 
ing, whirling flakes, and getting deeper 
every hour. On the north side of the 
house .Tack Frost has done our windows 
in frieze, which seems to represent some 
great tropical vegetation, and when they 
are not watching the flakes it pleases 
Elsie, who is eight, and little Jane, the 
redhead of two, to pretend that they are 
adventuring in a strange country where 
plants grow just like those Jack Frost 
has made. He is most versatile, is Jack; 
our house seems like a fairy castle in 
snow-capped roof and gables. Last week 
he used icicles and hung them on the 
shingles. When the sun came out it 
struck a rainbow among those glittering 
points, but there began the fatal drip, 
drip, which was the forerunner of another 
transformation. “Don't you suppose 
.Tack Frost is a genie in disguise?” asks 
Elsie, the romantic. 
Daddy and the Man from Florida have 
brought a tree from the woods, that one 
sees by looking out through the kitchen 
windows. It. is standing in the living- 
room in the corner by the staircase, so 
that one can look right down on top of 
it. though of course it is just out of reach. 
No one who knows how hard Daddy is 
working to lay the oak floors would ever 
think that he would throw down hi.s ham¬ 
mer and take time to get a tree, but it is 
so. And would you think that he would 
find time to string popcorn and pul) 
candy? The Man from Florida is always 
smiling now, too, but that is because his 
young wife, Daisy, is back from the hos¬ 
pital. We like to have her here, too. be¬ 
cause she sings and laughs so much. 
Sometimes she sings just for little folks 
about Johnny Pool, in the tune of Yan¬ 
kee Doodle. It is funny about Johnny 
Pool. He went to school when he was 
six or seven ; he learned to read and write 
and spell like most boys of eleven. Elsie 
sighs as she thinks of her own struggle 
with the multiplication tables. Then’ 
there is the song about the old gray 
goose that won’t bear repeating, because 
everybody knows that she died in the 
woodshed because she lost her head. But 
in the evening by the firelight the songs 
are different. Daisy’s voice has little 
fugitive undertones that remind us of the 
bobolink’s silvery notes, and we love to 
listen. The whole house lies in darkness 
with the exception of that little circle of 
firelight, and she sings without accom¬ 
paniment. while we sit and dream. “Come 
Unto Me” and “Holy Night. Silent Night” 
are favorites, but after that comes “ ’Way 
Down Upon the Swanee River.” which 
Northerners have never really learned to 
sing. We are apt to hurry along with it. 
I think. Perhaps that is not the reason, 
but at any rate T never really heard if 
sung until this Winter. One is trans¬ 
ported to the very banks of the old 
Swanee by this slow, dreamy Southern 
voice, which can become so dramatic. 
Night comes down suddenly these short 
afternoons. Despite the cold there are 
still fleets of crows flying to roost. Over 
against the horizon the distant city is 
outlined in lavender against a stormy 
cloud overhead, and the steam rises in 
white zigzag ribbons. This from my high 
casement. For services rendered I have 
been awarded a room of my very own. 
with a triple casement and the high view. 
How I wish that every house-mother 
might share this great pleasure of pos¬ 
sessing a room where she may for a little 
while each day lift herself out of the 
regular family routine. It means peace 
to tired faces, rest to tired nerves. Here 
is the case of encyclopedias that was 
grand-dad’s parting gift—how I treasure 
them—and the great leather-bound family 
Bible, printed in 1S50, that was great¬ 
grandmother’s. There is a painting over 
my desk of the house where I was born, 
done by a family artist when the great 
spruces were first planted. It was a 
mansion then, but now it is merely a large 
old-fashioned square-roofed house, that to 
strangers is a “gloomy old castle.” To 
me. it is the third dwelling which our 
ancestors have raised upon that particu¬ 
lar plot, beginning with the log cabin. 
There is a quaint old story of a certain 
strong-minded young woman named Mary, 
who walked 30 miles on the strength of 
a rumor that her betrothed had been call¬ 
ing on another damsel in his vicinity, and 
Jimmy Hall found himself up against it, 
if you can forgive the term. She came 
out in the field where Jimmy was cutting 
hay with a scythe, and confronted him 
with his duplicity. Later he explained 
to the boys in this way: “I set up a 
stick, and sez I. if the stick falls to the 
right, ’tis for Judith, but if falls to the 
left, ’tis for Mary. But the stick fell for 
Mary.” I often wonder that this ex¬ 
planation of Jimmy’s should become com¬ 
mon property for four generations. Per¬ 
haps because it is so characteristic of 
human frailty. At any rate, Jimmy built 
the log cabin, took Mary to wife, and 
begat sons and daughters. 
There is a clatter of footsteps on the 
stairs. Can mother have forgotten it is 
Christmas Eve? I open the door and 
the faint stir and tinkle of downstairs 
life is about my ears. Round the bend 
little birds shall fly home for Christmas 
Eve after their wings have feathered out. 
Daddy’s eyes are shiny like mine when he 
finishes, for we can suddenly feel the 
passing of the years. Time flies softly 
but exceedingly swift, and we must treas¬ 
ure these precious hours with our fledg¬ 
lings. Little Jane breaks our tremulous 
silence by pleading “Pass the coffee.” 
Who taught this mischievous redhead that 
no one would refuse her coffee at this 
precise psychological moment? And thus 
we are brought back into the world of 
laughter. 
After the dishes are washed and wiped, 
Daddy brings in a mysterious box which 
proves to be full of tinsel, shining birds 
and red Santa Clauses. Everyone must 
take a hand in dressing the tree. Daddy 
holds little Jane over the balustrade that 
she may place a gleaming star at the tip 
of the highest twig. After it is all per¬ 
fect the Man from Florida comes out of 
his shell of reserve, beginning a tale as 
we sink into the armchairs. It is about 
a Christmas Eve that he once spent lost 
in a weird jungle-like place, called, as 
nearly as I ear judge, by the name Gee- 
Hammock. There were wildcats back in 
the Hammock, but “a wild cat ain’t goin’ 
to fight you unless he thinks lie’s got to. 
He just sits mi in a tree and growls when 
you pass undah. like he was daring yu’ 
to come up.” But a panther—“Well! a 
man that’s got a panthah on his trail is 
in trouble, for he slips up from behind 
while you are listening for a lost woman. 
He is a hunter.” And bear, “Yes, there 
are a great many black bears, but they 
carry off yo' pigs.” 
It is a breathless story, and our ac¬ 
quaintance with wildcats is limited, so 
we put more wood to -blaze to emphasize 
the Postman 
ing Baltimore, and at Laurel had a blow¬ 
out in same tire. Next, saw Washington, 
D. C., and at Alexandria, Va., bought sup¬ 
plies. Ten miles out stopped at a school- 
house for the night. Had supper and 
greased the car. Drove 134 miles of good 
roads and a pretty country. Turned in at 
9 p. m., tired. 
Wednesday, September 28.—Hit the 
road at 8:30 a. m., well rested, although 
it rained all night. Drove to Fredericks¬ 
burg, Va., and five miles out had lunch 
near a stream. Shaved and took a bath 
while here. Near Richmond, Va.. had a 
blowout in the same tire, so purchased a 
tire and tube; also supper. Had a hard 
time to locate water, but at last a school- 
house for us. Muddy roads to Freder¬ 
icksburg. and there to Richmond very 
dusty. Drove 100 miles out of 140. the 
day’s run. on dirt roads. Poor country, 
though lots of cotton and tobacco. Re¬ 
tired at 0:30, tired, as usual. 
Thursday. September 20.—Up at 5 :30 
a. m. and drove 31 miles before breakfast. 
Mounted the new tire and on the road 
again. Stopped at LaCrosse for food, 
etc., and at South Hill. Va., for lunch. 
Stopped at Kittrell, N. C., schoolhouse 
for the night. Kittrell is about 10 miles 
south of Henderson, N. C. Had supper, 
greased the car. and a general inspection 
of the car. Drove 139 miles, of which 
nine were due to losing our canvas and 
goiug back for it. Roads deep sand and 
very poor. The country was dry and 
wooded. Turned in at 8:30. very tired. 
Friday, September 30.—Left Kittrell 
school at 8 a. m. after a good rest. At 
Raleigh did some buying, principally 
food. At Sanford had lunch and washed 
and shaved: also washed some towels. 
Then to Piuehurst, and between West 
December 31, 1921 
End and Jackson Springs put up in a 
pine grove for the night. Drove 12s 
miles, all of rough and sandy roads. 
Country about the same, except near 
Pinehurst, which was very pretty. Hit 
the bunk at 8 p. m. 
Saturday, September 31.—Up at 0 a. 
m., and. due to rain all night, had a time 
to get breakfast. On the road at 8:15. 
and at Cheraw, S. C.. stopped for sup¬ 
plies. At McBee stopped for lunch. 
Drove into Camden. S. C.. at 4:30 and 
got meat for supper and Sunday. Left 
there at 5 p. m. and drove 25 miles be¬ 
fore we found a stream. Put up in a 
pine grove at. 7 p. m. Had supper. Roads 
very bad all day, over the tires in sand 
in most places, and many up to the axle. 
Drove 135 miles and had no trouble. Hit 
the hay at 9 :30, and my arms were very- 
tired from driving in the sand. Country 
practically the same, except more sand 
and dryness. 
Sunday, October 1.—Pulled out at 7 a. 
m. and had breakfast. Hit the road at 
0:15 and drove to Columbus, S. C. Drove 
50 miles for a place to get water. Lo¬ 
cated in a fine place and settled for the 
day. Went all over the car and then had 
dinner, after which we got chased. Then 
drove 10 miles beyond Augusta. Ga.. and 
put up in a pine grove, but no water 
near. Had supper and hit the bunk at 
7 :30, tired and disappointed in the day’s 
run, due to weather and getting chased. 
Drove 02 miles of fair roads. The coun¬ 
try was thickly covered with pine forests, 
and. in between, large patches of cotton. 
Monday, October 2.—Up at 6:30. after 
a fair rest of a rainy night. Drove to 
Darring, Ga.. and got gas and breakfast. 
Then to Sparta. Ga.. and got supplies. 
Had lunch between Sparta and Milledgc- 
ville. Had a very heavy shower at noon, 
so sat in the car arid shaved. We at¬ 
tempted to put up at 3 p. m.. due to very- 
bad roads and heavy rain, but got chased. 
Stopped tor the night six miles from Ma¬ 
con, Ga.. in a pine grove. Had supper 
and everything was wet. as it rained all 
day. Drove 120 mil es on very slipperv 
and muddy roads. A good bit’ of cotton 
and sweet potatoes through the country. 
Turned in at 6:30. wet, muddy and tired. 
The worst* day of the trip so far. 
Tuesday, October 3.—Out at 6 a. m.. 
rested and fresh again. Drove through 
Macon, and at Perry got gas and oil. 
Stopped at ITawkinsville and got smokes, 
etc. Ate dinner outside of Fitzgerald. 
Drove 108 miles before dinner trying to 
locate a stream, but in vain. Within 20 
miles of Waycross. Ga., put up in a pine 
grove, but no water. Cool all day. and 
rode with coat and sweater on. Greased 
the car, and general inspection again. 
Roads were fair, except 15 miles, which 
were being worked. Countrv about the 
same. Hit the bunk at 7 :30. after driv¬ 
ing 160 miles. 
Wednesday, October 4.—Up at 6 a. tn. 
and on the road at 7. Stopped at Way- 
cross and had breakfast in a restaurant. 
At Waycross, got a noise in the rear end. 
which disappeared as suddenly as it came. 
About 10 miles out of Waycross bad to 
detour ^through sand and swamp again. 
Had 35 miles through swamp and sand, 
with lots of stumps to help out; 12 miles 
of this was made in low speed, taking us 
four hours to make 35 miles. Hit a good 
road outside of Jacksonville. Ten miles 
out of Jacksonville put up in a palm 
grove for the night. No water all day ex¬ 
cept a little to drink. Pulled in at 4 :30 
and had supper and at 7 :30 were in the 
bunk. Drove 115 miles and not so tired. 
Country rough, unsettled and very dry. 
Thursday, October 5.—Out at 6 a! m. 
and stopped at St. Augustine. Fla., to 
have grease put in rear end. Drove to 
Daytona and lunch in a palm grove. 
Spent one hour in Daytona, and 10 miles 
out of Titusville, Fla., stopped for the 
night. Water near, but could not use it. 
Roads fair all day. and drove 160 miles. 
Had our first wash and shave since Mon¬ 
day. and used salt water. Supper and 
greased the car and at 7 :30 settled down. 
Friday. October 6.—Pulled out at 5:30 
after a poor night’s rest. Mosquitoes 
very bad. and at 1 a. m. was disturbed by 
a wild pig which would not be scared 
away until we discharged our gun. Set¬ 
tled at 2. but no sleep. Hit the road at 
7 a. m., and at Eocoa had breakfast in a 
restaurant. Stopped at Fort Pierce for 
supplies, etc. Ate dinner 10 miles out. 
Had a cloudburst at 1:30 and heavy 
rains since. Made Palm Beach, and 10 
miles out ran out of gas while looking for 
a place to put up. Very heavy storm 
drove us to a farmhouse and put up there 
for the night. Turned in at 0 after a wild 
day. D rove 175 miles, all of good roads. 
Country swampy and wild. 
Saturday, October 7.—Up at 7 and had 
breakfast. Rested, after a real night’s 
sleep. Still raining. Got into our Sun¬ 
day clothes and drove to Miami, about 35 
miles. Arrived at 10:30 and located a 
room and garage with little difficulty. 
Saw some of the city and a good movie, 
and at 0 :30 turned in. Drove 30 miles, 
and good roads, though slippery and wet. 
Very pretty city and country. Thus end¬ 
ed the trip in 12 1 /; days and all of good 
luck ; 1.652 miles. 
Expenses for trip from Newark. N. J.. 
to Miami. Fla., for two and a Ford. Sep¬ 
tember 26 to October 7, inclusive: 
Gasoline. 7S gals.; oil. 2 gals.$20.10 
Eats, etc. 23.16 
Tire and tube. 12.00 
Total .$55.35 
Total mileage. 1.652. 
Average miles per day, 127. 
Average miles per gal. of gas, 21 7/30. 
