"Now I think of it, the pictures of Santa Claus make him look like a fat and jolly old Dutchman," said Lucy.
"After their people were well settled, the children of Virginia enjoyed Christmas," Uncle Sam went on. "They lived on big plantations where their fathers raised tobacco. The houses were large and pleasant. Beautiful trees grew near and gave plenty of shade in the hot summer time.
"At Christmas, wild turkeys were roasted in the big fireplaces. The rooms were trimmed with holly and evergreens. There were dinner parties, and dances that lasted all night. The ladies wore flowered silk dresses with long trains. Their hair was powdered and 'done up' on the head so it looked like a tower. The men wore knee-breeches and shoes with bright buckles. Their coats were of silk or velvet and trimmed with much gold and silver lace.
"The white people in Virginia did not work hard. They made their black slaves care for the great fields of tobacco.
"'Where did the black men come from?' I see the question in Lucy's eyes."
Uncle Sam stopped for a moment to stroke his chin and slyly pull Joe's hair, for the boy had turned his head to look at his sister.
"Ouch! That isn't fair, Uncle Sam," cried Joe. "I will try to forgive you, though, if you don't do it again and go on with your story."
"The Dutch were the first ones to bring slaves to Virginia. They sailed to Africa and caught the poor savages in their homes. Then they carried them on board ship and afterwards sold them to the white planters in America. That is one way the Dutch became rich.
"You may praise the Dutch for giving you Santa Claus, Joe. You may blame them, however, for being the first to bring the dreadful curse of slavery to this beautiful land."
Uncle Sam was getting excited.