Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-12-25
TELLS
GOOD STORY Of
EARLY XMAS DAYS.
By George f. C. Eggers,
Fort Collins

Fort Collins
When you live 55 miles from
railroad, 15 miles from the postoffic,
and general store, and your neares
neighbors are 5 miles away, 1t is vi
to your own resources to make. 6
happy Christmas
And that is what some of us die
years ago-we decided to have 9
Christmas party and invited everyone
for miles around to come, and spread
the news to everyone they saw tc
join us.
There was to be dinner and supper
for the crowd-no matter how large
and a Christmas tree and dance.
No part of a first-class Christmas
celebration was overlooked.
Father and my brothers and my
self sailed forth nto the winter for
est and cut the top out of a tall blue
or silver spruce. Mother and our sis
ter put the trimmings on it, some new,
some old, until it looked as fine as
any city tree you ever saw.
People began arriving about II
o'clock on a cold but clear, sunny De-
cember %, and as they mad driven a
long way in horse-drawn vehicles,
they were glad to get in where it was
warm. And everyone was soon busy.
from the men who helped put away
the horses to the boys who carried
in wood.
That dinner! Win anyone who was
there ever forget it Roast venison
Tin those days closed season didn't
cut much figure with us }, dressing,
brown gravy, sweet potatoes, lettuce
from the greenhouse, crisp celery,
plumb pudding, cranberries, pumpkin
pie, old style marble cake, preserved
cherries, candy, nuts apples, oranges,
figs and dates-and some things I've
forgotten.
Everyone took hand in getting the
table cleared and dishes done and the
program and the tree were as swell
as the dinner. The school 'marm"
put on home talent play.
The first to receive presents were
a poor family in whom all the Christ !
mas merrymakers had take an in
terest. Santa Claus gave each, one a
package marked with his name and
stipulated that each was to go to a |
room and put ON the things I
In the packages and come back to-
sether. When they returned, father
vas wearing kitchen apron and a
lust cap and carried handbag.
Mother was dolled up in new pair
If overalls, fur cap and big nit
ems. As ladies didn't wear overalls
much in those days, mother was a
'reat scream. Sister dashed in with
boys sweater and boots on and q
'opgun in her hand-a bad looking
lombre. Brother wore a new dress
nd carried fur muff and doll. The
aughs they got rocked the pictures
n the walls. The children didn't lose
1uch time changing but father and
lother carried out the joke.
In a corner back Of something that
,oked like piece of furniture there
'as a fish pond and everyone, as his
r her name was called had to snare
heir present. After the presents
ere all gone, it cost a quarter to
sh. Soon the pond was dry, the
,acher being the last to be caught. A
he asked for three or four ment :
nd got dozen before you could sayJt
ack Robinson. She was just fooling,
IT she wanted the fish pond turn t
! around-and when that was done, a
proved to be an organ for thel a
hool house. The receipts of the fish T
md made the first payment on the h
gan. -t--tsi. s.4.... ~
The fellow that caught the last G
larter's worth produced fiddle, a
i'd they sent me to the school house ST
r his music. Cor some reason, the e,
idler's music could always be found Il
the school house, Then the dance ca
rs on and after that we had supper ID
d most of the folks got home in c.