The Citizen, 1989-12-22, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1989.
Old fashioned Christmas has a special appeal
An old-fashioned Christmas!
What wonderful memories and
images that expression evokes!
In the days before Christmas,
Mother would be busy at the old
wood stove, baking special breads,
pies, cakes and sugar cookies, or
making maple sugar candy. Sister
would be helping mother in the
kitchen, while brother kept the
wood box filled with wood.
Dad would go into the woods and
chop down the Christmas tree,
bringing it home triumphantly on a
sled. The tree was placed in the
parlor, with real candles decorating
it, as well as strings of popcorn and
cranberries that had been strung
by the children. Popcorn balls
wrapped in tinfoil, and paper cones
filled with homemade candy also
decorated the tree.
Alcott’s ‘Christmas at Orchard
House’ tells of old Christmas
Jo was the first to wake in the
gray dawn of Christmas morning.
No stockings hung at the fireplace,
and for a moment she felt as much
disappointed as she did long ago,
when her little sock fell down
because it was so crammed with
goodies. Then she remembered her
mother’s promise, and slipping her
hand under her pillow, drew out a
little crimson-covered book. She
knew it very well, for it was that
beautiful old story of the best life
ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a
true guidebook for any pilgrim
going the long journey.
She woke Meg with a “Merry
Christmas,’’ and bade her see what
was under her pillow. A green-
covered book appeared, with the
same picture inside, and a few
words written by ther mother,
which made their one present very
precious in their eyes. Presently
Beth and Amy woke, to rummage
and find their little books also - one
dove-colored, the other blue; and
all sat looking at and talking about
them, while the east grew rosy with
the coming day. In spite of her
small vanities, Margaret had a
sweet and pious nature, which
unconsciously influenced her sis
ters, especially Jo, who loved her
very tenderly, and obeyed her
because her advice was so gently
given.
“Girls,’’ said Meg seriously,
looking from the tumbled head
beside her to the two little night
capped ones in the room beyond,
“mother wants us to read and love
and mind these books, and we must
begin at once. We used to be
faithful about it; but since father
went away, and all this war trouble
unsettled us, we have neglected
many things. You can do as you
please; but I shall keep my book on
the table near, and read a little
every morning as soon as I wake,
for I know it will do me good, and
help me through the day.”
May you r holiday reflect all the joy you've qiven us.
POPLAR LANE
ANTENNA SERVICE
197 Hamilton St.
Blyth 523-9685
The Christmas season actually
began much earlier in the old days,
for most gifts were handmade and
so had to be worked on months in
advance. The boys often made
wooden objects, while the girls
might embroider handkerchiefs or
aprons. Mother, of course, kept her
needles busy as she knit or
crocheted garments for the whole
family. Dad would whittle whistles
or animals, or make a hobby horse
or wooden doll.
On Christmas Eve, at the old
country church, the tree was the
biggest you’d ever seen, ablaze
with candles. Nearby someone held
a ten-foot pole that had a wet
sponge tied on the end, should a
fire start.
The bells would ring out over the
countryside, bringing families in
their sleighs or bobsleds, eager to
worship the new-born King. What
a delightful, jingling sound the
Then she opened her new book
and began to read. Jo put her arm
round her, and, leaning cheek to
cheek, read also, with the quiet
expressions so seldom seen on her
restless face.
“How good Meg is! Come, Amy,
let’s do as they do. I’ll help you
with the hard words, and they’ll
explain things if we don’t under
stand,” whispered Beth, very
much impressed by the pretty
books and her sisters’ example.
“I’m glad mine is blue,” said
Amy; and then the rooms were very
still while the pages were softly
turned, and the winter sunshine
crept in to touch the bright heads
and serious faces with a Chrismtas
greeting.
“How nice my handkerchiefs
look, don’t they? Hannah washed
and ironed them for me, and I
marked them all myself,” said
Beth, looking proudly at the some
what uneven letters which had cost
her such labor.
“Bless the child! she’s gone and
put ‘Mother’ on them instead of
‘M. March.’ How funny!” cried Jo,
taking up one.
“Isn’t it right? I thought it was
better to do it so, because Meg’s
initials are ‘M.M.,’ and I don’t
want anyone to use these but
bells on the horses would make, as
they trotted through the snowy
countryside. The bobsled or sleigh
would be filled with hay, and the
youngsters would snuggle under
lap robes and gaze at the stars
above, or hop on one of the heavy
runners for an exciting ride.
A Christmas play would be
performed at the church by the
children, and afterwards Santa
would make an appearance, re
warding the youngsters with good
ies.
After hanging their stockings
over the fireplace on Christmas
Eve, the children would go to bed,
happy with anticipation. They slept
in big, fluffy beds, with feather
ticks and feather comforters. If it
was an especially cold night,
mother would wrap a hot iron in
flannel to warm their feet.
On Christmas morning, the
youngsters would dash downstairs
Marmee,” said Beth, looking trou
bled.
“It’s all right, dear and a very
pretty idea - quite sensible, too, for
no one can ever mistake now. It will
please her very much, I know,”
said Meg, with a frown for Jo and a
smile for Beth.
Not a very splendid show, but
there was a great deal of love done
up in the few little bundles; and the
tall vase of red roses, white
chrysanthemums, and trailing
vines, which stood in the middle,
gave quite an elegant air to the
table.
“She’s coming! Strike up, Beth!
Open the door, Amy! Three cheers
for Marmee!” cried Jo, prancing
about, while Meg went to conduct
mother to the seat of honor.
Beth played her gayest march r
Amy threw open the door, and Meg
enacted escort with great dignity.
Mrs. March was both surprised
and touched; and smiled with her
eyes full as she examined her
presents, and read the little notes
which accompanied them. The
slippers went on at once, a new
handkerchief was slipped into her
pocket, well scented with Amy’s
cologne, the rose was fastened in
her bosom, and the nice gloves
were pronounced a “perfect fit”.
to find their stockings filled with
nuts, apples, peppermint canes,
hard ribbon candy, tin horns and a
real orange in the toe of each
stocking!
After Christmas dinner, the
youngsters would go sledding or
Santa Will Be
JIM & THELMA
Right Down!
With special thanks for your
patronage and good will, we
' X 1 y°u a verV happy holiday.
WILSON'S
Blyth
HEALTH & GIFT CENTRE
523-4440
skating. Later, by the lamplight,
the family might gather around the
organ and sing carols, or perhaps
dad would read a favorite scripture
passage or a poem.
Christmas of long ago was a
simple, unhurried, and happy time.
May Christmas be
your time of
dreams come true!
Fred & Betty
Tilley
& Staff
Blyth
Mini
Mart523-4486
BLYTH