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B Th Acton Dc conditions in early Humble Christmas surroundings wen Mirk In iUlton Iaeri of Ihe le I written many timet of the crude IMnR conditions of early In of Inn cabin built on a hast IK cleared tract of land of the lack of neighbors and of transportation Such conditions were during the um mer months but Inter added much to Ihe difficulties of the pioneer and would scarcity be conducive to any form of gal What then w mild I lw like amid such urroundins No gay colorful Christmas cards no from the home folk no church IwIIh ringing their sage across Ihe frosty I was still a for survival were Impossible Christmas would mar only as date on the calendar pioneers would undoubtedly remember it as the dnv on which the Christ child was born and It might be lo their com fort In recall the humble surroundings of the Infant Jesus In Nome of the rude Ion cabins a mother her little ones around her would sit before a pine log fir No Santa 1u Tin children would listen eagerly as told them the story of the Nativity And she would lell them stories of as she remembered it In land of her birth of the little village church tht Sunday School concert the Rood food and exchange of famih Christmas Sifts Santa Onus would not he a part of her as would remember that Santa did have Ihe ihlldrcn of the pio neers on his Christmas list Ihnslmns dinner what would it be Willi luck It might be wild turkey or although It was more likely to be of the pioneer diet- potatoes corn salt pork flour or Hemlock tea and burned Indian com would suffice as substitutes for tea and coffee Fortunate Indeed was family who a cow to pro ide milk for the child letters describing pioneer life refer to barrelled beef and turnips as luxuries re scued or guests and for such great Christmas and New day Hit middle of ihe Ifllh lions hud hanged considerably was for Immigrants and second Ren era I ion they could afford It lo live off the of the land Officers and their faml lies in garrison towns inioytd comparative luxury Whiskey flowed freely In farm families tables Christmas time groaned the weight of good food fare As the years progressed had been replaced by plenty The pioneers had learnt ways of drvlng native fruits for inter use bo Iherc was more variety In round Mrs Anna Jamie son who in visited in the Gore of which was a part speaks well food served at that time Our table she wrote is pretty well supplied Beef is tolerable but lean Mutton bad scarte and dearer than pork pork is excellent being fattened principally on In mm Fish Is delicious During the whole winter hove had black bass and caught in holes in the ice and down the Indians Vcnsion garni and wild fowl arc always to be had taught in immense numbers near Toronto are most delicate eating the ilassis of people are supplied with provisions from thiir own lands and farms or icrlaln they know and cm pi rnisL poultry and vegetables for own table As the years passed tht of is took on definite shape and form Treasured from tht land of their became part of Ihe Canadian I mas Introduced by Incoming As the population Increased family Ings bet ante the main feature of Ihe mas celt bra I ions We have been given several first hand aetounts of way back In mother lime Hero Is one thai Is typical We always went to it for Christmas Mary and Aunt I Iz would be busy for weeks past getting ready for Christmas The down collar was really something to seel Jellies pre strves honey mlncemeal and shortbread And then as Ihrlslmus drew near pies takes biscuits ding and a crock of dairy and homo cheese meal Inert was savory stuffed roast duck goose and limit r sweet home cured ham As soon as the chores ere done Christmas morning each branch of Iho family would load up Ihe sleigh and head for grandmother a place Hells would Jingle merrily as l ho prancing horses carried each party swlflly over the glistening snow we had to bat lie ton snowdrifts and occasionally would be an upset and some of us would land in a snowbank Hut eventually we would all the farm and grandfather would lell us to hurry and bed the horses before all I tiles at the house got eaten up child wire old lo keen of the way and amuse ourselves until we were calico And that I be long because the women folk had dinner on the table In short order irandfathir asked Gods Messing on the food we were about lo eat and then we all to Homemade presents The days that 1 recall best there were generally about of us lo dinnersome at long table in Ihe dining room and some I remembcronellme year old Jimmy was lost and we hunted everywhere for him finally found him asleep under the kitchen table a spoon in one hand a bowl in the other Afler dinner we opened our presents They were mostly Useful like knitted scar mitts and socks Maybe stuffed rag dolls and basket cradles for girls sleighs and homemade pull loys for the boys At supper time was another big meat and then everyone went home chores During the evening there might be an other family gathering at one of the lions There be square dancing and maybe a bit of sparking on side I remember how well Cousin George played Ihe harmonica for Myrtles step- dancing And oh brother could she dance that wns one way of spreading Christmas that became Increasingly with the passing years And yet strange lo say in some families Christmas was hardly celebrated at all rather suspect this nan observance was handed down as result of the sparse living conditions that some of the early could never for get A busy day Thus In a diary written by the grand mother of Mrs Robert Lyons Nelson Township we find Ihe following entry for December Mopped floors baked in morning made bread fried cakes churned went over to John on a visit Worked on mv dress trimming and had tight for breakfast But whether we observe it or not there is one celebration common to us all from the pioneers to the present day the anniversary of the Birth of Christ tor long grateful for our fine friends and At especially happy to our greetings thanks and good wishes MANAGEMENT AND STAFF IGA FOODS Cree Indian crafts in town mnrikmt with him iym earn foul that Is mil Ihi am an In ig I mini In loin jtml being re fly plum ii illy A Jin r llntL A Hi Inklftll Ihi In Ij I fill i find Inn Hill la a till I tin In mint Ii IrixH On Ira bund Mil him u In aver a of Tor liny rum I my to or Mrs lriliintift might Ihmigh tin girls an gnu Mis Itrllllngir hill lartons of units sills to tin artists A tally is nuuli I mbioidi red mix slim and for tin si slu BEADED BEAVER and are held by ln Margaret and Joey rlK imH tiiree in supply of i hill Mis ItrlUhmn In In fori moving with hit kit lioint Inn km 1 ill op to llulr nisi wilt liny all In mm Hit lingm Iniiiati giila for jmdltatid wild Hum liny goviriimtnt fin lllly and fatiu wmt in Jin hniiht Ifillun llonrrl of In ol tit iitntivis on I duciitltm Id Hi faiillty IIiiiIh liny and Itig Aullii Education offices to stay on Guelph Line found iiy down Aulliurlly night whin Urn Hoard I nutation plans fin ItHliuui In Tin board tot mil by In In dim dm slay tint woul I that Id facilities villi tin mm I lite A linn however Itn to lay In Mill in Hie itn eon Idind tin it an In In tuitit tin r wjn flli ralliix lhaii an Into a ttu 1 fudllty iMiardofflus in Mlll i on Ihe lint hlmt Ifull Hi glim rvuliori I i difiniii j Good news rum In arc a purl I tin holiday isr I I hi know of nil sling this BOXING DAY SUNDAY GOOD DEALS ARE FACT HWY No 25JUST NORTH OF HWY NO MONEY DOWNFAST FREE DELIVERY COLOR TV CLEAROUTS Color Portable OHIONH only STEREO CLEAROUTS COMPONENT PACI 26 Color Console ONE ONLY QUADRAPHONIC CHANNEL wn wood SPEAKERS ml CLEAROUTS no IIP matching chiirs I Dinette Table- Matching Leaf Only DINETTE SET LIVING ROOM CHESTERFIELD SET Vftft LIVING ROOM TABLE SET I BEDDING for BEDROOM Ctcktiil or Coffee Tables 1 End Tibles Squire 94 ft 49 BEDROOM SETS MS All for clearance All to be Cleared off the floor DINING ROOM SETS or SoW Wood to from All