CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS 1936 (PART 2)

Shirley Jean hung up her stocking at the fireplace and Dad did too as he usually does when a grandchild is here. Ina to Vance, January 1937

Christmas Night, 1936

The fire was burning lower now and would soon go out unless Ina put another stick of wood on it, which she decided to do. She was enjoying a chance to be alone with her thoughts and wasn’t particularly sleepy yet. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to generate more heat for the house.

So, where were we? Oh yes. The tree was up and decorated, and Shirley also made and placed garlands over the doors. They hadn’t decorated so well since 1930 when Ethel and Shirley Jean, then just five years old, had last spent Christmas with them.

Christmas Eve Henry left to go “over home” and spend Christmas with his folks. Ina liked Henry well enough, but she was also glad to have “just her own children” with her. There were the six of them in all, and they were a merry group.

After an early supper of soup, biscuits, and apple salad, Ethel and Shirley hurried to finish the dishes while Ina set out ginger cookies, sliced pork cake, hard candy, etc. Tomorrow “the Junes” would come to share a big Christmas dinner, but for tonight it was just their family. They had decided that this year they would defer their “tree” (gift exchange) until after breakfast Christmas Day to prolong the celebration as long as possible.

 

So, after supper Ina, the mistress of the celebration, gathered the family for a special Christmas Eve “tree lighting” ceremony. They doused the lights (except that from the fireplace), and Ina lit the candles one by one as Ethel led them in a chorus of “Silent Night.” Ina allowed the candles to burn ten minutes or so. She was aware that Ernest had made sure the water bucket in the kitchen was full, and he also sat near the door so that he could dash for it if the tree caught fire. Ina thought him a bit paranoid, but she had to appreciate that he was only thinking of their safety.

Ina had never experienced a fire-related accident, but as her thoughts meandered through Christmas events, she remembered a conversation with her friend, Nina Portfors. Nina had related that when she and her husband, Charlie, lived on the farm near Weippe (pronounced wee-ipe), Charlie had arranged that “Santa” should pay a call on Christmas morning to give the children (Francis and Dorothy) their gifts. As Santa hove in sight, Charlie called, “Here he comes,” and Nina hastened to light the candles on the tree. Santa entered the house and approached the tree to begin his work, when suddenly, Charlie (and Charlie was a rather small man), grabbed Santa and whirled him out the door into the snow. Santa was unaware that his beard had caught fire. Charlie’s quick action had averted what might have been a tragedy. Yes, you had to be careful with fire, Ina nodded to herself, but one also heard that those big electric Christmas bulbs could cause fires in dry trees.

After some munching of holiday goodies and general Christmas fun, Shirley Jean had hung up her sock. Playing along, Jack hung his, too. Ina was ready to help Santa with Shirley Jean’s sock, but fortunately, she remembered a package of nuts daughter Myrtle had sent, and those went into Jack’s sock. KW

[This photograph of the Christmas tree in the living room of the Julian and Ina Dobson home was taken in 1921. Given that the camera wasn't very sophisticated, I think the picture turned out fairly well. If you look closely, you can see gifts or cards tied onto the branches.]