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PORT PERRY STAR CHRISTMAS GREETINGS - Tuesday, December 18, 1990 - 7 by Betty Deeth, Port Perry When 1 was little, we would travel to the family farm on the day before Christmas. My Mom, my Dad and me. We piled into the Chevy coupe with the Christmas presents and headed out from Lindsay to the English Line near Campbellford. The visit of 1937, when I was six years old is etch- ed in my memory for many reasons. I remember that, for this little girl, the trip seemed s0-00 long. To help pass the time, my mother suggested to look at the stars in the sky and we might even see Santa Claus. When the blinking lights of an airplane appeared, Mom said "Do you suppose San- ta comes by airplane now?' 'No, no,"' I said with certainty, '"there's lots of snow and he's got his sleigh and reindeers."' 1 was so excited, I could hardly wait to get there! I fell asleep, and then we were there. We entered the warm Kit- chen of the big white farmhouse, and my Aunt Sophie, my cousins - Muriel, Marg, Helen and Dorothy and my Grandma were all talking at once. They were so glad to see us. The house had been built in the 1870's, and had a character all of its own. There was the front parlour with its glass case of stuffed birds, horsehair sofa and piano and at this time of year of course, a beautiful Christmas tree. Grandma's bedroom was on the main floor, just off the sitting room with the oak library table, leather couch and Morris chair. There were lots of bedrooms upstairs. The school teacher boarded with the family too. My Grandfather and Uncle Russel had passed away years before, and my mother always said how hard everyone in this family had to work to keep a roof over their iF THs SHIN 8a < i 8 --) a ', CoN 4 y,_ {Rs ~~ rae Co? Xr, R&S < RS N = 2 I) os ; by: AA | Y B ) y & Oe & J Za \ --- pS 1 . 2 ox { as uy Especially during the Holiday NZ Season our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have Sgt made our progress possible. We thank you for your support and extend our best wishes for a properous and bountiful New Year. 7) D.J. TAYLOR INSURANCE ®X BROKER LTD. and STAFF HONOURABLE MENTION PORT PERRY STAR CHRISTMAS STORY CONTEST heads and food on the table. I was not sure what she meant because the food, especially at Christmas, was wonderful. Anyway, I knew where I would sleep that Christmas Eve. I always slept snuggled up beside Grandma. The bedstead was made out of white metal with brass posts. There was a washs- tand with a little door and I could use the potty instead of going out into the snow to the "little house." On the wall, there was a big pic- ture of my Grandfather, who I had never known, and a picture of my Uncle Austie in his First World War army uniform. My Grandma was very old. She wore her white hair in a bun and before going to bed she would prush it and make it into one long raid. Because it was Christmas Eve, she helped me hang my stocking up. I took a long, brown ribbed cotton stocking out of my bag and Grandma sewed a ribbon on the top of it and helped me tie it to the bedpost. My Christmas stocking! In the morning, it would be bulging with an orange in the toe and all kinds of colourful can- dies. Santa would find his way here for sure! On the library table, I had left a plate of cookies that Aunt Sophie had made, and a glass of milk, from the cows in the barn. I left a note too, it read, "Dear Santa, hope you had a good trip. I have been a good girl. Please bring me an Eaton Beau- ty doll, and bring one for my cousin Dorothy too. Love, Betty." Grandma told me to stop wig- gling and to go to sleep or Santa would not come. I tried. I closed my eyes really tight and tried to imagine it was morning already, and I think I did doze off. Then I thought I heard voices outside in the sitting room. No, it must have been a dream! It sounded like my older cousins were trying to decide who should eat Santa's cookies and drink the milk. They were whispering and laughing. No, it was a dream, they were for Santa! And I heard someone say, "l didn't know she wanted an Eaton Beauty doll." And someone else said, 'They are very expensive, oh well--."' It was chilly in that house when I jumped out of bed on Christmas morning. 1 grabbed my clothes and got dressed under the covers. The others were up too, and my cousin Dorothy and I ran into the parlour to look under the tree to see what Santa had brought. There was a wooden sleigh for me and a new melton cloth snow suit. Dorothy only got a snow suit. Hers was dark blue and so was mine. No doll for either of us. Dorothy said it was because she was too old. Dorothy was eight. Dorothy said I could play with her dolls while I was visiting. She had one with real hair, and one little girl doll that had a hole at the side of her head that I could put a pretty ribbon in. I said she could ride on my sleigh. Aunt Sophie and the girls had worked for a week to prepare everything for the Christmas din- ner. I liked the butter tarts best. I also liked sliding down the hill Recipes From Page 12 spices together and set aside. Cream shortening and sugar together ° in large bowl at a medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating : well after each addition. Mix buttermilk or sour milk with = molasses. Add to creamed mixture ~ alternately with the dry ingredients, mixing well. Pour into prepared pan and bake 25- 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Frost with Apple Cream Cheese frosting (below). Yield: 24 bars hristmas 1937 with my little sleigh, with the dog barking at me, and biting at my heels. We had a wonderful time! When it was time to leave, we packed up the car with all our gifts, and drove off down the snowy lane. When we looked back, the whole family was stan- ding on the side porch, waving and waving until we were out of sight. Years later, after I had children of my own, I realized that I had never thanked my Aunt Sophie for all those wonderful Christmases. I signed her Christmas card and on it I wrote: "You will never know how much it meant to a lit- tle girl to have spent so many lovely Christmas times at your home. Thank you so much!" Aunt Sophie died that year. My cousin said she carried that Christmas card in her purse all the time. She appreciated it so much! "JASON TO YOU! ROGER B. MOASE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT JOY TO ALL On deposit this holiday, our thoughts of thanks to you for your patronage this past year. We wish all our customers great dividends in joy, compounded with success throughout the coming year! Management and Staff CIBC PRPS