Village Squire, 1976-10, Page 17Money was scarce and aproblem to come
by. We remembered that Mother had left
twelve scrawny roosters in the box stall in the
stable after picking the others and dressing
them for market, earlier. She said we would
have them, divided among us to do our
Christmas shopping. The money from those
twelve roosters. seemed to be our, answer to
this problem. '
The next Saturday afternoon we planned to
drive to our local town to do our Christmas
shopping. My brothers crated the roosters
and we hitched old Billy to the cutter for our
two -and -a -half -mile trip to the local Farm
Co-op. The five of us and the crate of roosters
made a heavy load but old Billy trotted along
the well-worn snowy road as if he too was
anxious to do his bit for Christmas and the
Mucalysk family.,
We delivered our Toad to the Co-op and
then drove to the church shed, where Billy
was warmly covered with the robe and
securely tied beside another farm horse and
cutter. I returned to get the results of the
chicken grading and the money. Mother had
warned us that they were of a poor quality
and we wouldn't need to expect much.
However, the boys had taken pity on them
and had fed them generous troughs full of
chop and warm separator milk twice daily,
along with some household scraps. They had
responded very well to their extra care.
To my great surprise, they had graded A,
weighed well and as if "our cup hadn't
runneth over enough",•the price had gone
up. Prices just never ro4e during the
depression but they had this time. We were
wealthy.
Outside the office we held a family
conference, as I divided the money and we
decided which members of the Mucalysk
family, each of us would be responsible for.
We had decided that each child should have
something warm to wear (we already had
contributed that much), something education-
al and something that was pure fun.
Two hours later we met at the shed laden
with gifts. It had been one of our happiest
shopping expeditions. We seemed to have
purchased the kind of presents we liked
ourselves for my two younger brothers had
several little models of cars and tractors while
my little sister had a tiny doll in a miniature
bed, complete with wardrobe. •
As the shadows of the early winter evening
fell across the snow, Billy arrived home with
five happy children, a cutter full of gifts and
an empty chicken crate.
After supper, we finished packing our box
for Saskatchewan. The'boys had a good play
first with the little cars and my sister lovingly
tucked in the dolls, with the blankets very
neatly folded. We knew Mother and Dad were
very pleased with our purchases and wise
choice of gifts.
Monday, my Father took the box to the
station to be shipped. Lyon had reminded us
to enclose a stamped and addressed
envelope, so Mrs. Mucalysk could reply.
Following Christmas, winter passed along
with the usual fun of skating on the creek and
sleigh riding down the gravel pit hill. We had
forgotten about Christmas and the parcel we
had sent. Bringing in the mail, on my way
home from school one day, I noticed my own
hand writing on an envelope and then I
remembered the parcel we had sent the
Mucalysk family.
It had been a struggle with the English
language but Mrs. Mucalysk gave us her
warmest thanks as she told her story.
The day before Christmas in Saskatchewan
6xNeJoNeoNiteescreAt
J UNE's
Hobby 5
Shop
and
Craft Supplies
Gifts you can make'
Macrame -
Beads -
Kits -
JAPANESE EMBROIDERY
ICONAGE
CERAMICS
4 ABOVE MARY'S SEWING
CENTRE
VICTORIA ST
CLINTON
482-3011
For over forty years
Welcome Wagon hostesses
have been making calls
on newcomers - whether they
be within our own nation or
in a foreign country.
If you are a newcomer,
know of one, or are a businessman
desiring representation
in the newcomer's home, call
your local representative listed below
for WELCOME WAGON LIMITED.
LT
Call your Welcome
Wagon Hostess now.
WINGHAM 357-3275
EXETER *85-2870
MITCHELL 348-8925
GODERICH 524-6654
STRATFORD 271-5856
VILLAGE SQUIRE/OCTOBER 1976, 15