Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993, 1953-12-15
Christmas on the Prairie
By VERA LUND PRAAST

MAYBE BECAUSE trees of any kind out on the
prairie and precious it still hurts to
tree cut down damaged The most important ques-
ton to youngster used to be: Will we have a
real Christmas tree this year?
Yet two the christmas trees" we had stand in
my memory because they were not the real thing And
yet we loved them.
One large red geranium in full bloom Mother
placed tiny glass balls and nsel it, and it just
beautiful and every bit fragrant any fir To this
day any particularly large and flourshng red geraniu
recalls that christmas tree"
The other artificial Christmas tree with fold
ing branches for which had sent to cataog house.
1t stood in a small fowerpot. Its wire branches
wound with green tissue paper It could be kept from
year to year, the green tissue gradually fading On the
whole though it served its purpose it far less salts
factory than the living, fragrant geranium.
Real Trees
Some years, though. we had real Christmas tree.
The smell of fir tree still Christmas to Each
Christmas in addition to the glass balls and the tnse
there six angels with spun glass wings the
It lighted with the lovely, fragrant but Oh
dangerous candles We never had any trouble with
these candles but every year would read in the paper
how school or home Christmas tree caught fire.
Christmas Program
Unless school had closed in November there usually
Christmas program. Of course those years we
went to town school, there always Christmas
gram. Oranges sometimes given out and some
times Delicious apples and still connect those large
glossy, red Delicious apples with Christmas. Small gifts
given out also at the Christmas tree. They
well-earned too by the time bashful country kids
had gone through with the peces, the songs, and the
dialogues"
Christmas church services held the last time
the minister before the holidays. Our minister
a month He on the railroad then
met in town by of the members of his congregation
who would put him up. Services held at of the
homes at the schoohouse. And since church only
month"; the minister preached again in the after
How about that you youngsters who squirm when
you have to sit through just sermon Sunday.
There was break, however, between morning and
afternoon for "pcnc" lunch which, of course
was the high point of the day.
Everybody regardless of faith, attended any church
services that might be held in the community. 1t
not until pretty good-szed that realized that
there were several faiths among my schoolmates.
Trips TO Town
Going to town before Christmas the decorations
stores bright with silver and gold colored glass
balls tnse and other ornaments Red and green tissue
paper bells swayed from ceilings And the green of
Christmas trees and holly conrasted with the snow
bitter cold outside.
Such trips taken in the big farm Sleigh filled
with hay straw and with hot bricks fatrons at
the feet All the sheepskn fur and the blankets
Christmas Eve finally came. Mother would sing the
songs she sang child and the rest would join in
Then there would be the presents Believe me- during
the days before the order sent off, the sheepherder