nearly midnight of Christmas Eve
It is well that time and its sweet symbol , the peace-loving river , should bury forever from sight all record of a family feud half forgotten . And yet , is it not meet that when the glorious tale of Farragut 's victory is told , the simple story of little Saint Idyl should sometimes follow , as the tender benediction follows the triumphant chant ? `` BLINK '' `` BLINK '' It was nearly midnight of Christmas Eve on Oakland Plantation . In the library of the great house a dim lamp burned , and here , in a big arm-chair before a waning fire , Evelyn Bruce , a fair young girl , sat earnestly talking to a withered old black woman , who sat on the rug at her feet . `` An ' yer say de plantatiom done sol ' , baby , an ' we boun ' ter move ? '' `` Yes , mammy , the old place must go . ''