Huron Expositor, 2002-12-18, Page 23My best Christmas memories
Max Jansen, Grade 4, St. James School
A horse and cutter Christmas
Growing up, my family
didn't have much. But every
year on Christmas, Mama
and Papa tried their best to
make it perfect. Papa took his
ax and cut down one of the
pine trees in the bush behind
our house.
Of course, the tree wasn't a
huge tree, just a little one, but
with the homemade
decorations and the plastic
angel on the top, it couldn't
have been better.
On Christmas Eve, Mama
made a Christmas dinner,
roast beef, mashed potatoes,
homemade gravy and a
special treat, cookies. We
always left two cookies for
Santa Claus, and a carrot for
the reindeer. Then Papa
hooked the horses to the
sleigh and we went on a
Christmas sleigh ride singing
Christmas carols. .
We fell asleep around nine
o'clock, only to wake at
eleven -thirty to go to
midnight Christmas Mass.
Again we bundled up for yet
another sleigh ride, this time
not as long, for we were only
going to town and back.
The next morning I woke
up extra early to find what
Santa Claus had brought us.
When I crept downstairs, the
smell of Christmas breakfast
was in the air. Mama and
Papa were already up. The
chores were done before any
presents were opened. But as
soon as we came back, Papa
and I, the fun would begin.
Santa had filled my little
stocking with goodies, a
coloring book, crayons, and
the most wonderful thing of
all, a piece of chocolate. It
was the first time I had ever
held a piece of chocolate. I
remember being in town
watching all of the wealthy
children eat all sorts of
candy, but never a piece of
chocolate.
I felt special. Mama had a
smirk on her face, as if she
knew how happy I was. Papa
just looked with his pipe in
the corner of his mouth, his
face lit up from the open fire
at his side. I looked at Mama,
before I could ask she
nodded, telling me to go
ahead and eat it.
It wasn't a big piece, but
the sweet taste of the sugar
filled my mouth. I chewed
slowly, wanting it to last
forever. But after a few
chews, it was gone.
Next, we opened our little
presents we had gotten each
other. Mama and Papa had
gotten me a new dolly. She
had a beautiful blue silk bow
in her hair. Her eyes as blue
as the sky. I was in love with
the doll.
Compared to the present I
had gotten, the presents I
gave seemed worthless. For
Mama, I made a little Santa, I
carved the head from a piece
of wood, with Papa's help of
course, then took some
stuffing from my pillow, and
made a beard. I drew the
mouth with ink I borrowed
from the General Store. Mr.
Clancy, the owner, said it was
his pleasure to lend it to me.
For Papa, Mama and I
made a hat with the leftover
coon skin from his last catch.
When he opened it, his eyes
shone with pride to know that
his little girl had made a hat.
From Mama and Papa I got
a new dress. It was beautiful,
as blue as the 'sky, the dress
matched my dolls. It was the
prettiest dress that I had ever
seen.
After Mama and Papa had
gotten dressed and I had my
new blue dress on, we
hitched the horse to the cutter
and went to Grandma and
Grandpa's house for a
Christmas lunch. We didn't
cat right away because we
were all still full from
breakfast.
When we arrived at their
house, and the horses were
fed and put in the barn,
Christmas began at
Grandma's. I couldn't wait to
show them my new dress and
doll, and Papa couldn't wait
to show them his new hat.
When the door opened and
the smell of evergreen and
cookies spread through our
nostrils, the feel of Christmas
wasn't hard to find.
To begin our Christmas
morning at grandma's house
we opened a few more
presents. Mama and Papa
brought Grandma and
Grandpa an axe and a
Christmas cloth to put on the
table for decoration. This
year' Mama wanted it to be
the best, so she saved all of
the money Papa brought
home from hunting coons
and fox. We could tell by the
twinkle in both of their eyes
that they were happy.
For me, Grandma bought
me anew bow for my hair. It
was blue to match my dress. I
was thrilled. With the dress
and bow, I couldn't wait to
go to school to show off all
of my new things.
Mama and Papa got a large
chunk of the cattle beast that
Grandpa just butchered. Papa
was pretty happy with that.
He wouldn't have to butcher
ours until this chunk was
finished.
After we had opened our
presents, put our wrapping
paper away for next year, and
washed up, Christmas lunch
was going to be ready.
The table was covered with
all sorts of good food to cat,
mashed potatoes, peas and
ham. Of course, the portions
weren't as big as they were at
breakfast, we had our fill.
When thc lunch plates were
washed and put away, Papa
The night the star glowed
over the handcarved manger
As the noise of thc carollers rings
through my ears, the thought of
Christmas and all of my relatives brings a
feeling of joy to me.
It all began on Christmas Eve when all
of the guests began to arrive, thcn my
grandma entered. Whenever my grandma
entered a room she would bring joy with
her.
I was proud to have a grandma like her
because she knew so much about the
past. When Christmas time approached
the whole family would look forward to
her stories of Christmas long ago.
As we all sat down in the living room
she began.
"Years ago whcn I was a little girl
Christmas was much different, we would
be thankful for everything that we
received even if it was just a little
orange. When I was about 7 years old I
couldn't go to sleep on Christmas Eve so
I lit my lantern and went to the kitchen to
get a bedtime snack. The light of thc
candles on the Christmas tree lit up the
room, then I heard a noise so I followed
the noise and it led me to thc dining
room. •
"Now in my family, the dining room
was a place where we only went to
celebrate special occasions and eat. But
this year we set up the manger scene with
Jesus and the angel Gabriele that my
father had carved by hand out of wood
whcn I was just a baby."
"It looked different this time. This time
the star above the manger was glowing,
thc star wasn't suppose to glow but
indeed it was glowing."
"I never really understood that night
why the star was glowing so bright and
why it lit up our dark old house. My
theory is God wanted to remind me of the
real meaning of Christmas. That was one
of the Christmases I will never forget."
That story will stay in my mind for the
rest of my life and I can tell my children
and grandchildren the Story of my
Christmas way back then. Merry
Christmas!
Sarah Johnston
Grade 7
got the horse back out and
hitched him to the cutter. Off
we were again, singing
Christmas carols softly to
ourselves. When Mama and
Papa and I arrived home,
Mama started supper. It
wouldn't be ready for a
while, but it had to be well
cooked. I got to play with my
new doll.
Later on in the afternoon,
Papa had gotten the old
toboggan out of the shed. He
pulled me around until his
arms got tired, then he
pushed me down the little hill
in our backyard.
That night we ate our
Christmas dinner, and had
leftovers for two days
afterwards. When Mama
tucked me in that night, I
could tell she was satisfied
with what she had done.'
That was the best Christmas
I had ever had. So far, no
other Christmas has beaten it.
Those were the good old
days, when horses and cutters
were the only means of
transportation around. But
the people back then,
wouldn't have had it any
other way.
Lindsay Nash
Grade 8
St. James School
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 1B, 2002-511
FROM OUR HOUSE
To all our
customers.
May the season's
celebrations bring
warmth into your home
and fill your hearts with
the spirit of Christmas.
Mike's
Carpentry
Mike Boven
527-1538
Ho...Ho...Ho...
Holiday Greetings
Wishing you and
your family health,
prosperity and joy.
Thanks for your kind
patronage.
WINTHROP
GENERAL
STORE
527-1247
HILDEBRAND
PAINT & PAPER
Interior & Exterior Decorators
19 MAIN STREET, SEAFORTH
Thank you for putting your trust in us.
london agricultural commodities, inc.
13 Crombie St. 527-1241
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from our
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!7i4ernj Christmas
from the residents and staff
Maplewood Manor
13 Church St., Seaforth
527-1440
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