Alma record., 1921-01-06
A HAPPY TIME
Residents of Masonic Home Enjoyed
Christmas.

Mrs. John A. Peck, aged "a years,
a resident Of the Michigan Masonic
Home here has written a sketch, that
will give the people of Alma very
good idea of how Christmas was
spent by the residents of the home.
1t is evident that it is a day of cheer
and JOY among the old people who
are living there, as is clearly indi-
Gated by the following article:
Masonic Home, Alma Mich.
Your uncle came to me and said he
had received a letter from you ask
ing him to write you all about our
Christmas dinner. He said he didn't
know what to write and asked me If
would do it for him. i am willing
to do what l can but anyone would
have to be here on the scene of action
to fully appreciate what Christmas
means to aged people. will be-
gin with our going into the dining
hall Christmas morning which was
flooded with the electric lights from
its sixteen chandeliers which were
reflected in the mirrors at each end
of the hall giving it the appearance
of a long illuminated avenue of light.
The tables were all covered with
fresh spotless linen. In the center of
each of the sixteen tables was a
basket of evergreens and from the
center of the arch was suspended a
Christmas bell of red, one of the
symbols of the day. The breakfast
consisted of eggs, buns, bread and
butter crullers cut in the shape OF
animals, cookies, coffee or tea for
those who prefer it, dish Of beauti-
full red apples as luscious as they
looked At each plate was placed q
paper bag containing pop corn balls
and confectionery. Talk about child
, rem being pleased with attention ano
gifts. can hardly think they car
appreciate such attention as can VIZ
of larger growth and added years
who have really taken our places II
the background where we un
doubtedly belong, but we will confess
that kind attention is yet very swee
to us. Dresmond is his beautiful
writings says, "The aged hunge
D more for LOVING kindness and tende
: words than they do for the brea'
they eat" II certainly was the hap
piest, most harmonious gathering o.
0 a Christmas morning that hav
q known since I've been a residen
I here.
AS matter Of course there ar
r many saddened hearts here for W
n cannot help but brush aside tn
n shadows and look back through tn
n mist land when life seemed a
S brightness before us. We littl
d thought then the time was sure
come when life would lose its charl
and even become a burden. But tax
us as a whole l think we are yer
" happy set of old folks. 1t SCENE
l. almost no time before dinner wa
:, called and such dinner. By til
is way we have some Of the best cook
n to be found. Our Christmas Dime
5. consisted of roast pork, mashed pc
# tatoes, squash, peas, relishes, brea
,e and butter. coffee and for deser
IS luscious cherry pies. And still II
J. gifts came. Miss Anna, the clerk
" the office who always has a kin
a word for everyone, presented each {
Z the ladies with a dainty handke
h chief, a remembrance from Mr.
" Montague who was and is still al
A. sent from the Home. At supper tin
Of we found d\old Santa Claus still loi
pr ering around as if 10th to leave sue
in happy crowd. Each lady receiv'
Mt box containing a handkerchief
a letter paper, both very usef
articles and each found silver ha
dollar by the side of their plates.
you see the day was full-not on