DAY 4 -- ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS WITH INA

 There were children to the right of me and children to the left of me, north, south, east and west, and though they didn’t “bay and thunder,” they charged the lonely Christmas idea with such skill and loyalty that it was dispelled as a mist before the sun. We had a lovely time, not only that day but beforehand. -- Ina

Ethel insisted upon walking Sadie at least partway to and from school every day. Ina thought that a bit silly, but Ethel wanted the exercise, she said, and she also thought it wise to give Ina some time to herself and a break from the chatter.

Yesterday afternoon, Sadie delivered a note to Ethel from Miss Johnson, her teacher. “Please see me after school tomorrow,” the teacher wrote, “to discuss the Christmas pageant.”

As Jack had predicted, it had turned cold, and the temperature wasn’t much above freezing. Mid-afternoon, Ethel bundled up and headed for the schoolhouse, walking briskly. Miss Johnson greeted her cordially and invited her to sit in one of the front desks, evoking memories of her student days.

A picture of the Dickson School, Gilbert, Idaho

“Mrs. Robinson,” Miss Johnson began, “last year I had an idea that our Christmas play could be a “gingerbread pageant,” and I would like to develop this idea further this year. I wonder if you would help.”

“Why, yes” Ethel responded hesitantly. “And if need be, I’m sure my mother and Aunt Bertha would be happy to help as well. But Miss Johnson, exactly what is a ‘gingerbread pageant.’”

Dickson School, 1912

“That’s just it,” said Miss Johnson. “I don’t really know myself. In my imagination, I see the children dressed as gingerbread boys and girls, and I think refreshments might include gingerbread cookies and cakes. Beyond that, I’m not sure. Do you think you could help me?”

Ethel felt it was a daunting task to take on someone else's imaginary world, but on the other hand, surely they could work up some sort of program. Yes! They could – and they would. And Ethel volunteered to come to the schoolhouse to help with rehearsals. She had a good alto voice and loved to sing.

“I’ll get started right away,” Ethel agreed. And then they excitedly discussed ideas for the play, the costumes, and the refreshments. Miss Johnson agreed to find recitations and songs. Ethel said she would make costumes for the students and organize the refreshments. KW

 [In the second picture of the Dickson School, 1912, Vance Dobson (my dad) is fourth from the left in the front row. Ethel Dobson stands in the second row directly behind the 6th child in the front row.]

Day 3 -- ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS WITH INA

I forgot to tell anyone it would be a “skimpy Christmas.” I’m expecting a good time. I wish you’d come over. – Ina

“But, to come back to Christmas again,” read Ina to Ethel and Sadie the next evening, as once again they snuggled together before the blazing fire. “I think the best time I ever had working for that especial time was that very first Christmas at Gilbert when those little evergreens inspired me to attempt another something out of nothing. I enlisted little sister Mabel’s interests, and we put in all those long, long afternoons and evenings that otherwise would have hung heavy on our hands doing things for the little folks. Remember how it surprised you and Bertha and how after we had come and gone, tramping through the snow, Jack had you light the lamp again and together you inspected our handiwork. I think there were some funny-shaped eats in there, too, weren’t there? Well, anyway, it pleased all the biddies, and the way you four Dobsons looked when we presented our trees was pay in plenty.

 

“And last but not least,” Ida concluded, “you kept all those old Christmas things from the ‘gulch’ for some time. I want to see them.”

“And that’s all Aunt Ida writes about Christmas,” said Ina.

“That’s a terrific letter, isn’t it, Gram,” asked little Sadie. “Tell me about the first Christmas here at the farm? Did it happen just the way Aunt Ida said?”

“Yes, indeed it did,” said Ina. “Grandpa Jack and I and Uncle June and Aunt Bertha were living together in a little cabin down in the draw. We didn’t have a tree or gifts. It was enough that we were starting a new life in this place. And Aunt Ida and Uncle Ed lived nearby, together with my ma and pa. Uncle Ed didn’t like the homesteading way of life, so he sold his farm in 1901 and moved his family to Drain, Oregon. Ma and Pa left with them.”

“But you did like it here, didn’t you Gram?” asked Sadie.

“Yes, your grandpa and I loved this place and wanted to stay,” Ina assured her. And then, not wanting the child to see how much it hurt when they left, Ina quickly announced that bedtime had come once again. KW

DAY 2 -- ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS WITH INA

 Weather is bright and cold, the ground frozen hard. It is making water scarce and we need lots more moisture but we do enjoy the bright days, for we had so much fog and frost and gloom for a while. – Ina

Artist's rendition of original fireplace

“Gram, would you please read Aunt Ida’s letter about her Christmas memories,” Sadie asked Ina. Ina and Ethel nodded to each other in approval of Sadie’s interest in family history. The import of this was much more than just a frivolous Christmas story. Ina’s sister Ida, six years her elder, was the family historian. Ina removed the well-worn letter from the old oak box. Reading and re-reading old family letters was a favorite pastime here at the farm.

Ina and Ethel coaxed the old settee closer to the fireplace and the three of them snuggled under the brightly-colored new quilt that Ina had finished this year.

Ida Patchen, her daughter, Vance, Ina, Pearl, & Jack, 1942

“Patchen House [Drain, OR]

March 5^th, 1922 – Sunday,” . . . Ina began.

“My dear old Ina Rose,

“We are in the midst of another storm. Snow covered our Drain Hills this morning – also yesterday morning – so we find the fireplace and its cheery blaze a comfortable place to abide by.”

Picturing the snow, the three involuntarily shivered and snuggled more closely under the cover.

“In hunting for something not long ago, I found the letter you girls put on the first Christmas tree we had in the schoolhouse over at Ben’s,” – yes, the very same schoolhouse as today, Ina explained – “. . .telling me Santa had been delayed with his gift to me but it would come later. That letter and an orange from Mrs. Ladd was all I got that time. The gift, a small purse, is over on the organ right now – as good as ever – although it has had years of real service. But still, it’s a treasure of old time that I’m guarding jealously.

Charlie Wiley & daughter

No, I think I’ve never had a Christmas that someone didn’t remember me. Even if t’was only a small gift, the love that prompted it was big. I’ll never forget one Christmas in old Iowa when all our little Ma had for her expectant brood was a 10-cent package of candy divided between and given out wrapped up in newspaper. We sat on Pa’s tool chest like so many hungry crows and I tried not to see the hurt in Ma’s face and to keep out of my own all I could for her sake, too. I think I was 11 years old. But do as we could, it didn’t seem like Christmas. However, God put it into the heart of Charley Wiley to save the day by slipping in on us with a big breezy “Merry Christmas” and giving me that wonderful candy apple and something in candy of smaller fruit to you and Bertha, too. My, didn’t our spirits come up, though, and the happy, relieved look on Ma’s face alone would have repaid him did he only know the whole circumstance. (Silly ain’t I, but I’m crying.)”

 

“To be continued,” announced Ina abruptly as the old clock on the mantel struck 8:00. Sadie began to protest, but Ina and Ethel were firm. Tomorrow was a school day, and the chores would have to be done early. But Ina promised faithfully to read more of the letter tomorrow night.

DAY 1 -- ANOTHER SKIMPY CHRISTMAS WITH INA

The Dobson Homeplace today -- much the same as yesterday

Christmas helps to pass the winter. People can do simple things like this if they want to. No use to let everything go because of hard times. Ina

Ethel Dobson Robinson & Shirley Jean

Ina stood in her kitchen staring at the last page of her 1934 wall calendar. When the breakfast dishes were done, daughter Ethel pulled on a warm coat and went outside to watch her husband Ernest dig a cistern at the back door. Granddaughter Sadie, Ethel and Ernest’s daughter, had gone to the barn with her Grandpa Jack. Much as she loved them all, Ina cherished this quiet moment.

Where had the year gone? Christmas Eve was little more than three weeks away, and as usual, she had much to do to get ready. Before her was the little lidless teapot in which she stashed her egg and cream money. There wasn’t much, but Ina was undaunted. Christmas simply wouldn’t cost very much. It never did. Her theme was always, “a skimpy Christmas,” and she took it as a challenge to make a wonderful Christmas for family and friends on a shoestring.

It promised to be a wonderful holiday – before, during, and after. Ethel and Ernest were staying until he received a new job assignment. Ethel had enrolled Sadie in the one-room Dickson School, which she herself had attended through eighth grade. One-room country schools were disappearing, Ethel said, and she wanted Sadie to experience it.

And of course, Ina’s youngest daughter, Shirley, now 24, working and rooming in town, would be home for Christmas, perhaps even several times beforehand. And daughter Lynn (a.k.a. Myrtle) would arrive from Portland the weekend prior to Christmas. That would make six of them in all – Ina and Jack, Ethel and Sadie, Lynn and Shirley. Yes, six. (What about Ernest, you ask, but he doesn’t count as “one of them.” In Ina’s mind, grandchildren might be added to the family but not spouses. It doesn’t mean he was left out – just that he didn’t count as “family” in Ina’s mind.)

It would be a wonderful Christmas. and having a child in the house would make it extra special. But all thoughts of Christmas must be laid aside for now. Today she must do some baking – cookies, bread, and an apple pie for dessert. Having extra people was a lot more work but fun, too, especially when she had Ethel’s help and Sadie’s enthusiasm.

Ina put the little teapot back on the pantry shelf and started a fresh pot of coffee and hot chocolate for Sadie. Just then, Jack came in, little Sadie close behind him, and said that he could “feel in his bones” that a cold spell was coming. Ernest was skeptical, but Ina knew better than to question Jack’s “bones.” At any rate, it was better to be safe than sorry. They would get ready – bring extra wood to the house and prepare warm clothing and blankets. No need to worry about the plumbing because they had none. And that’s where Ina had the last laugh on her descendants. KW

[In real time, a cold snap is predicted for next week, so Mike, Bess, and I went to the farm today to turn off the water. There wasn’t much to it because the water hasn’t been in use.]