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Page THE HERALD Wednesday December 1990 The Squires Christmas party This firsthand account of a Christmas event at the turn of the century was written by Gilbert English who lives at Speyside Ontario Mr English was born in Torquay Devon England in He moved to Speyside from Erin Mills in where he- con to write his memories With his kind permission this one is presented for our en just as he wrote it Allan Scully A CHRISTMAS PARTY HELD AT THE ESTATE OF A LEE ESQUIRE HAMPSHIRE ENGLAND IN THE YEARS 1904 It was the Squire custom to give a party at Christmas to workers on the estate and their families It was held in the main hall at the big house Then a big supper served by the cook and kitchen staff of the big house in a large building at the back It was the estate carpenters workshop A few days before the Teddy Evans the carpenter given the help of little Benny Har wood the estate Jack of all Trades to clean out the room Work benches heavy equipment and tools were moved outside dust chips and sawdust were swept up and burned and long trestle tables and benches put together Some of the maid ser vants from the big house would put up some decorations and streamers later not forgetting a big bunch of mistletoe For several weeks we used to look forward to the main event of the year for us The Christmas party up at the Big House think of the good things we would have to eat and speculating on what kind of toy Father Christmas would give us this year The Squire gave a party every year to all employees on estate On the afternoon of the about three clock all the families on the estate gathered in the main hall at the big house where the Christmas tree was set up and were entertained for an hour or so by the Squire family and house guests with songs stories piano music and little comic skits One year the Squire engaged a conjurer and ventnlo qidst for a change Just when the younger children were beginning to get restless the Squire who was buiit like a real Santa without any padding came HO HO HOing down the wide stair case carrying a sack saying he t get down the chimney so he got in a window Then with help from the family and house guests gave to each child under 14 a bag of sweets an orange and a toy and to the men a jacket or a cardigan and those who worked outdoors 1 gamekeeper and his ass a thick muffler and Us and to the women the younger ones got a fancy blouse the older ones a good woolen shawl and scarf When everyone had received something we all sang God Save the Queen and then went outside to the workshop for the feast which was all prepared in the big house kit chen and there were plenty of helpers to carry it out Then the feast and what a feast it was hot roast beef with potatoes browned in the gravy plus other vegetables followed by plum pudding and sauce mince pies several different col jellies blanc mange iced cakes and biscuits ginger beer for the children and ale for the adults We dldn t have stomachs big enough to eat all we liked When everyone was satisfied and were able to move what was left of the cakes pies and biscuits were set aside for later in the evening All the remains and dishes were taken back to the house kitchen and some stayed to wash up The trestle tables were dismantled and put outside the benches pushed to the sides of the room in preparation for dancing Wax candles were shaved on the floor and we boys were given the job of scuffing and sliding it into the boards When all was ready word was sent to the house and the whole house party came out to start the dance Sid Merrltt the cow man and George Woods locally pro nounced Oods a gardener had their accordions ready The Squire led off the Grand March with the cook the butler took the Lady of the House the gentlemen of the house took the house maids the kitchen maids the parlour maids and the single men from the gardens and the grooms to the ladies of the house party the mamed men were left with their wives and they all around the room several times to the music of Sid and Some attempted to dance but appeared too awkward The Squire and the cook were both too portly so they just walked That being over the house party went back to the house and their own dinner and celebrations Sid took charge of the evenings entertainment in the workshop which consisted of dances mostly waltz s and polkas interspersed with songs and stones Anyone could con tribute what they liked Old Bill Holder sang Good King WencesJas a jerky hollow tuneless voice He sang the same song in the same way every year Home for Christmas HOME FOR CHRISTMAS I want to go home for Christmas I have been away so long When I left home from my family I was young and full of song I came with my Uncle to this country Over ten years or so ago A tradesman we built a business Which grew very very slow I would like to return to my family For a real Christmas surprise To tell them of this great coun try And wonders Ive seen with eyes When I got home to my family I met a girl I used to know Her eyes held beauty and adventure Love at first sight it was so As bride and groom Oh what a great trip to share It was his very best Christmas With his family all merril there Benny sang a song in which the chorus came O she promised for to marry me upon the first of May and she left me with a bunch of water creeses meaning water cresses One of the house maids sang a song and the way she pronounced some words she must have come from London it was certainly not the Hampshire dialect Are we to part like this Bill Are we to part this w Who s it to be er or me don t be afndetosy Which ever your choose between us don t ever pass me by For you and me still friends can be For the side of the d ys gone by All unattached persons were allowed to invite a friend and one of the maids brought in her boyfriend who turned out to be an Irishman in the Navy and under took to sing and us boys got a few more giggles out of his strange speech as we did of the London girl His song went like this my I drame of younoightandday You re always wid me though thousands of moils away We laughed about the Irishman for some time after By ten o clock most of the babies and younger children were either asleep or getting cranky so the party began to break up They all had to walk to their different homes on the estate and the unmarried ones djd not live on estate and had a walk of a couple of miles to the village Eleven o clock at night was LATE for country people to be out AND SO ENDED ANOTHER CHRISTMAS PARTY Christmas will be hue My bride is loved by mj side We now find progress and friendship As we travel the world over wide by Albert Brooks HANGING A STOCKING almost as big o be It lad according to trowing humorous caption Is on a chance to Santa generoa ly By the renowned illustrator Tbomai Nasi the drawing is one of many tie en for Harper Weekly in the latter half of the 19th century vSriaal ONE DAY ONLY VTHURS DECEMBER 27 BEGINNING 900 A M SHARP SHOP TIL YOU DROP SAVINGS Up To OFF 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