HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-12-16, Page 25HOURS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Dec. 24 - 7 a.m. to a p.m.
Dec. 25 - Cloitad
Dec. 2a - a cm. to 12 p.m.
Dec, 27 - 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Dec, 2E - 7 a.m. to 11 p.in.
Dec. 29 - 7a.M. toll p.m.
Dec. 30 - 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Dec. 31 - 7 a.m. to to p.m.
Jan. 1 -8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
4ao. 2 - gam. to 12 p.m.
alminsle 711 Usual
at Van Egmond Nous
imqgine what it was like in 1860
by Elaine Townshend from the December
1980 Village Squire
On Christmas Day 1860. the Van
Egmond house was alto with music and'
Antighter. The home was always the
centre a social activities in the village of
Eginendville, and the Christmas season
will; no exception.
Mrs. Van Egmont!. Ann Johnson. as
she was known, made a perfect hostess.
and Constant Van Egmond, founder of
the village, was well respected. in the
comma y. His mother, who was called
Madam by family and neighbours alike.
was still a driving force behind the
household and the community even
though she had taken to her bed a year
ago.
On Christmas morning, the six Van
Egmond children tripped down the stairs.
Their eyes grew wide when their mother
opened the living room door to show them
the tree. It didn't look at all like the
n ine-foot fir that father had chopped
from -the edge of the clearing the day
before. Under Mother's artistic, eye, it
had beeti magically transposed.
The foot of the tree was draped with
green cloth, but it was barely visible
behind the mound of presents. Little
,...touis Edward was soon bouncing on a
' wooden' rocking horse and rubbing his
chubby hands in glee. Also for him was a
miniature violin, made of tin and brightly
painted. Although it had no strings, in his
imagination it made sweet music. Con-
stant Richard paid proper attention to the
practical gifts of mittens, scarves and
collars, but his eye was captured by a
brand new wooden sleigh.
For the two youngest girls, Mary
Elizabeth and Margaret Ann. were dolls
of wax, the most coveted of all dolls-Each
wore a dress, bonnet and shawl that the
.older girls, Susabriah Mary and Louisa
Martha, had helped their mother make.
The four girls each received a new
dress and soon scurried upstairs to try
them on. They would wear them to
--church later in the day. For Louisa and
Susannah also, there were books and
pocket work-cases of cloth lined with
silk to hold cotton, needles. thimbles and
scissors. Susannah especially loved fancy
work.
Constant Richard had made a card for
mother at school; it showed a simple
Christmas tree and wished Mother a
Merry Christmas. Cards were just be-
coming accepted as a part of the festive
seasons Also for Mother were white linen
handkerchiefs 'edged with lace, a large
pinepshion with hunches•of ribbons at the
corners for her dresser and a glove box of
cardhoard.......paintesj and 'bound with
ribbon. From Father was a silk dress of
dark blue and a cameo.
For Father, there were sleeve links and
studs and scarf pin as well as knitted
glove-mittens. A fretwork writing case for
his table had been carefully mounted on
leather.
MADAM WAS WISTFUL
The family took Madam's gifts into her
room across the hall. She was pleased
with the warm quilted cape of silk and the,
bright quilt Ann Johnson and the girls
had node. Even at Christmas time, she
seemed wistful. Perhaps she was
remembering her husband, Colonel An-
thony Van Egmond, who died in the
Rebellion. The children often wondered
what Chrisimas was like when their
grandfather and their father opened the
Huron Track in the late 1820's, esta-
blished hotels in the wilderness and
brought in settlers with their four-horse
wagon teams.
The domestic help was not forgotten on
Christmas Day, receiving gay boxes of
candies- butterscotch wafers. rum tof-
fees, marzipan fruits and sweet choco-
lates silver-wrapped and tied with bright
ribbons.
Next to the presents, dinner was the
most exciting part of the day. The red
wooden table was stretched in front of the
huge fireplace in the kitchen to accommo-
date the Van Egmond family and aunts,
uncles and cousins. The table was
covered with a damask cloth and decora-
ted with ferns and cranberries. It almost
sagged under the weight of enormous
platters of food.
SOUP FIRST
First_came the soup - a choice of two
kinds, mock turtle and mutton broth.
Next was boiled turkey with cele.ry,sauce.
followed by a variety of roasts • beef,
mutton, goose and venison. Mountains of
steaming sweet potatoes. carrots, turnips
and onions, completed the main course.
F,or dessert, there was plum pudding
flaming • in brandy, mince pies and
raspberry trifle..
Father brought his finest claret aad
sherry from the wine cedar. The children
drank lemon satice. Later in the afternoon
of course, there would be eggnog. After
dinner, everyone nibbled- raisins, al-
monds and walnuts. Oranges. tanger-
ines, apples, grapes and red and black
raspberries were brought from the fruit
cellar.
The fun part of the- feast took place
before the turkey was carved, when the
crackers were passed around. They were
wrapped in colourful crepe paper. Some
of the packages had gilt or silver trim:
others were decorated with flowers or
tinsel butterflies frist the ladies to wear in
their hair. What a delight to pull the
cracker with your neighbour, placing your
. fingers firmly on the snapper and making
a terrific bang. Opt flew prizes - caps.
charms, fake jewelry. jokes and
epigrams.
When the children were excused from
the table, they rushed outside to play
with their new sleds a,Int, to- build
snowmen and, orts. Later they went into
the study to play Blind Man's Buff and
Post Office. The grown ups gathered'
round the living room fireplace for
recitations: charades and a gatbe of
Character, sometitnes r called Twenty
questions.
In the evening, the children craw led
into their beds and listened to the strains
of a violin that someone was playing
downstairs. The company. led by Ann
Johnson. sang popular songs of the day
Here We Come a Wassailing (a -
Caroling), The First Noel, While
Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, Deck
The Halls and a fairly new one. Hark The
Herald Angels Sing.
As the Van Egmond children drifted off
to sleep. they thought Chrisdnas 1860
had surely been the best Christmas ever.
No restored to its former glory. the Van Egmond
seehe,,of a finally Christmas 120 yettrsasago.
house south of Seajarth was the
Archie's Sunf)c4)
esiforth l $2/4$111
Pear Sa$a Clans.
We tried to be good girls.
Thank you for the toys you
brought us last year. My
name is Pare. I have two
Oaten, Their now* are
Cindy and yipk.lAtin 7 yenta
dd. cod), ist yeas oht
VI* is 2 years old. I would
kke kissing Barbie 0114 two
mosielliehrs. C1-110 would
like Pretty Cat'uw and Grow
ara Love'n* Tout* by,
Vicki would like Tippee Tees
Lave; Pam, OnflY 4114
Came,
Clilit04.1,
;at
•
Saluting all our grand patrons and
hoping an endless stream of good 'things
comes your way. We appreciate your kindness.
1 26 oz. bottles of Kist Ginger Ale,
Schweppes Ginger Ale, Schweppes Tonic
Water & Club Soda, Sprite, Hires Root Beer.
3/.99 + Deposit
26 oz. bottles of Mountain Dew ArDr, Pepper
41.99 +
26 oz. bottles of Canada Dry Tonic Water,
Canada Dry Club Soda, Coke, T Up.
et
4ZI + dep.
Ail brands of canned pop,-case of 24
Only 6 49 bix.
•
WEDDING INVITATIONS
THE HURON EXF,PAITO11
PHONE 527-0246 SEAPORTS
HOLIDAY HOLIDAY
DEADLINES
for
VISSER—KENNES
-Peter Viscer and- Saline Rennes were married Oct. 2 at
Sacred Heart Church in Parkhill. with Father Charrette
officiating. The bride is the datighter of Mrs. Maria Kennes
and the late Frans Kennes of R.R. 5, Parkhill. The groom is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. TedNisser of R.R. 1, Dublin. The
sister of the bride. Mrs. Elizabeth Donkersof R,R. 6, Forest
was matron of honor. Best man was Harry Visser of R.R. 5.
Stratford, and Cindy Visser of R.R. 1 Dublin was flower girl.
The soloist for the occasion was Mary Vatitlenboogaard.
The Vissers took a wedding trip to northern Ontario and
Michigan, and now reside at R.R. 1. Dublin. (Photo by
Peake),
RONALD G. CARTER ENTERIPRISES
Box 255, Blyth,.Ont. NOM 1118
SPECIALIST IN
GRADE 5 & GRADES BOLTS
Tel. 519-523-4552
Allow 2 weeks for delivery.
4140 the (`o -o
Pour am* Ovals yOuts
BRUCE SMITH
Sales Representative
j, Mitchell Co-op Store
130 Georgina Street
Mitchell, Ont, NOK INO
Bus: 348-9976
Rest 3484975
dit, the co-operate w vtosinisitossor
Classified
Ads
Because our Christmas
issue will be printed a
day early
Classifi‘d
Ad.
Deadlines
S win "be
moved
ahead
to
4 p.m.
Friday,
December 18
s.
THE HURON PAP ITOR, DEPEIVIEER 18, 1