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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1985-12-23, Page 16We join with happy holiday voices to sine out our deepest wish... peace, harmony and joy. at Christ [BM and always. Management and Staff of VA L'S FASHION FARE B I yt h • P6' _i• reeT1t2s ...nere's wishing all of you a very special Merry Christmas! ..••.. . A m kr, !If g. • "To All Our Customers & Friends" MYTH PRINTING INC Doug, Lorna, Ken & Jane Whitmore PICNIC DOMINO Sugar 12 OZ. LIMIT 4 .79 2 KG. • 99 PEACE Voices ring out throughout the world heralding in the season of good cheer. May joy aboundfor you. From Management & Staff at Dickson's Auto Repair B I yt h Peace & Prosperity! Joyous wishes to you and yours, as we express our appreciation for your very special friendship. Season's Greetings from Gary, Bob & Donna Manning's Building Supply Stephenson's Grocery 887-9226-- Brussels Monday - Saturday 8-6; Fridays 8-9. SALTED Peanuts MIXED Nuts Licorice Allsorts DOLE ASSORTED Pineapple TIP TOP Mixed Nuts LAURENTIDE Chips 600 G. 300 G. 400 G. 19 OZ. CANS 200 G. 1.99 1.99 1.99 .99 1.89 .99 * PLUS IN STORE FEATURES Merry Christmas from Robert, Bill, Gertrude and Alice PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1985. Christmas -the way it used to be horses. Iwas told the reindeer were resting and feeding in a nearby church shed. What a swarm of kids! We all received our bag of candies and after grocery shopping we were ready for home. Iwas set on a chair at the back of a grocery store near an old pot bellied stove and warned not to An old time winter welcomed Christmas on its way. The snow banks were to the top of the old rail fences; the black ploughed fields were not in sight; the days were seemingly much shorter and the darkness settling in early made the nights much longer. Chores were being done by lantern light. The cozy warm kitchen wood stove felt good those wintery nights. Yes, it was really true, after weeks of recess practice it was the night of the Sunday school concert. The pupils at the little red school house were going to see Santa. • This also meant seeing many people with a bag of candy and nuts with a large orange, maybe a gift from our teacher and Sunday School teacher. We had exchanged names with a school friend and I was sure to get one, but from whom was still a mystery. Returning from school early it was a scurry and hurry getting ready. After an early supper was a hair cut, my light blonde hair being chopped from below my ear, straight around my head to the bottom of my other ear, my bangs cut over my forehead so it wouldn't get in my eyes. The large copper boiler at the end of the kitchen stove filled with warm water meant a good scrubbing with Baby's Own soap. Some smelly talcum powder was applied after my mother had rubbed me down with a large hand towel till my skin was shining. Now, for the long white-sleeved underwear and navy blue serge trousers with the flannel lining. The stockings were of brown wool high above my knees, held up with wide black elastic garters. My school shoes looked like new thanks to the old Black Cat shoe polish as it was called then. I had been waiting to put on my green dress trimmed with gold &raid and gold buttons which came half way over my skinny knees, made for this special occasion. My mittens, scarf and cap were warming on the back of the stove ready to put on in a minute's notice, my coat and overshoes being close by on a chair. Sootl the telephone rang out telling each of the neighbours, the team and sleigh was on its way. We were the last to be picked up. My mother and I were at the end of The Citizen was happy to sponsor a contest for the best story on "The Way Christmas Used to Be". Whmer of the contest is a Brussels writer who wishes to remain anonymous. Second prize goes to Wong Yee Fun of Grey Central School and his story of Christmas in his old homeland. the lane where a sleigh load of happy chatting people were seated on chicken crates covered with horse blankets, sitting back to back, their knees covered with a heavy robe to keep out the cold. The moon and stars were bright. They showed up the clear blue of the sky. The snow was glittering like diamonds and the air so frosty and clear it made our faces tingle. Soon we were seated and the horses trotted on their way, making the sleigh bells jingle and ring giving off such a happy sound. The two coal oil lanterns at the front of the sleigh flickering and dancing seemed to lead the way. It seemed only a short time, until the sleigh stopped, the horses coming to a halt. A friendly man helping the little ones and older ladies dismount. The others, not waiting, jumped from the sleigh and headed for the church door. People were coming from all directions. They were greeted by a large wreath of holly tied with a large bright red ribbon fastened to the church door. The church was lit up with gas lanterns and at the front was a wooden platform where a large Christmas tree was standing in the corner draped with red, green and white crepe tissue paper. I can remember the bags of candy and small parcels tied to the tree, with the larger parcels and a large doll which I was hoping Santa had brought for me sitting under the tree. The doll was not for me. The concert was soon to begin and after a grand march of students out on the platform, they sure gave old Jingle Bells a go of it. After about 10 recitations, a few dialogues the concert was nearly coming to a close. I heard the M.C. calling out, "Now the recital of The Three Little Pigs before.our last chorus then watch for Santa Claus." This was me, and I was so excited, having practiced my recitation dozens of times. I was the third little pig. The three of us came marching on to the platform like little tin soldiers. The first little pig spilled her sticks all over the platform but said her recitation fairly well. The second little pig with his straw looked down at the crowd and he began to cry. He had been so frightened he wet his pants. I was the third little pig and seeing the wet stream on the floor dropped my red brick (really a book wrapped in red paper, which was lucky or I would have broken my toe). I was, for once in my life, speechless and all I could hear was the teacher calling out, close the curtain, close the curtain. The last chorus, I could think about nothing but Santa Claus. The teacher was out front directing the choir with the school pointer (a stick about 12 inches long). She was waving it back and forth but seemed to be pointing it mostly at me. Thinking it meant I wasn't singing loud enough I almost came to a holler singing my little heart out. Only when my mother told me she was absolutely ashamed of me did I realize I was still at "Jingle Bells" and the rest were singing a different song. Ho! Ho! and there was Santa Claus. My eyes were almost popping out of my head. I had heard so much about this old fellow and now for the first time I was seeing him ringing a string of sleigh bells. The presents were all handed out, and now the round up for home. The church lobby was crowded with pushing, shoving people waiting for their sleigh or cutter. The teams were circling around and the single horses jumping and walking on their hind legs anxious to get home. I had never seen such a stampede or so many lantern lights. Our sleigh was ready and away we went. Behindus Icould hear a voice calling out "Stone school sleigh! Stone school sleigh". I thought whoever heard of a stone school house? Our school house was red brick. The prancing horses had sleigh bells sounding just like Santa's. This was Christ- mas concert night so long ago, the first one I can remember. I was tired but happy and after a sleigh ride home Iran up the lane hugging my gifts and candy. A lamp was burning in the window to show us the way and a warm wood stove pouring out the heat to warm us. The following day Old Santa was coming to town and after an early dinner we were on our way to see the busy old fellow. The world after afresh snowfall is a beautiful place and the weather was much milder. A perfect and exciting day for a cutter ride but the horse seemed so slow. Santa arrived in a double cutter pulled by a team of prancing bay move. My grandmother had pur- chased a box of groceries and I could see some oranges, each wrapped in orange tissue paper. The gallon can of coal oil had lost the cork from the spout and an onion had been stuck in its place. Iremember coming home this Continued on page 17