The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-12-21
OBSERVING CHRISTMAS.
How One Family Made the Hellduy
PIaasani and Profitable.

with its old fashioned customs
and traditions. But IN Germany, the
historic home OF the Christmas tree
and the source OF many current Christ
mas customs and devices, In no home.
from palace 20 hovel. however old or
poor. are the members without their
Christmas tree at YVletide. Where
there are no children Il Is a beautiful
sight to see gray haired old men and
women, with perhaps their married
sons and daughters and grandchildren.
standing around. greeting with undis-
gulsed delight their well laden fr tree.
Il Is an essential part OF their Christ
mas and would not be Christmas with
out H.
In q refined American home In a
small city a few years ago much en-
ioyment was derived from a Christ
mas celebrated In childish style BY
family OF adults. During the proceed
ing year a s0n-in-laW and a daughter
in-law had been added 10 the family
group, and the other members were a
father, a mother. a dear old maiden
aunt the two married children, two
unmarried grownup sons and their
one sister. A real Christmas tree was
purchased. and the women folk trim
med II with popcorn. tinsel, candles
and all the rest OF the paraphernalia
required for a genuine old fashioned
Christmas tree-
On Christmas morning the house
hold assembled. and. catching the In
lection OF the occasion. all sat on the
floor around the tree to receive their
presents from a bona fde Santa Claus
Among the first packages distributed
were some made to recall funny hap
penings Of the year Just passed. which
had been selected In order to create
merriment. Screams OF laughter greet
ed the opening OF q package labeled
with the brides name. which was
found to contain a large leather medal
Inscribed with the following: For
patience in making apple jelly" As
q novice IN the culinary department.
she had struggled time and again with
the task Of making this delectable dish
To her husband went a small slide
trombone, because in his boyhood days
be had aspirations toward learning to
play that instrument. practicing on a
large one Of the ear splitting type
To the maiden aunt, an enthusiastic
admirer OF Shakespeare and a member
Of several clubs devoted to readings"
a plaster Of Paris bust Of Willie was
awarded One Of the boys had taken
a pleasure trip south a few months
before. accompanied by q valuable
camera. He had left It on the steam
boat dock when be embarked and new
er recovered It. To him was given 4
photograph Of a beautiful camera cut
from an advertisement page OF a pop
uIar magazine. To the father. q min
lister Of the gospel and high up in &c
clesiastical circles, a toy watch-just q
gentle reminder Of the length Of his
sermons. The mothers early days had
been spent on a farm Occasionally
she mad been known 70 grow bOmesick
for a familiar sight Of something re-
sembling farm life. and she had re-
Gently purchased a few chickens. which |
she housed in the extreme end Of the
back yard, much 10 the disgust OF the
daughter Of the house. To her was
given a toy rooster with a real GROW"
The s0n-in-law received a dime bank,
10 Indicate that his responsibilities nad
Increased. and the other and younger
brother rose colored glasses, to remind
him Of his visionary ideas. To the sin
gle sister who had been 'out several
seasons a ring with a solitaire stone Of
real glass was given. After these had
been distributed the handsome and real
gifts Of the day were exchanged, and
IT was jolly. happy crowd which nled
into the dining room to enjoy the feast
which had been in course Of prepare
ton.
During the following year the father
departed this life. followed within a
short space Of time by the married
son The surviving members have the
memory Of that delightful Christmas
when they were all together