Past meets present in these creative writing pieces about old-fashioned Christmas gifts - inspired by a visit to Lang Pioneer Village Museum by two local students.
December
25, 1931
Dear Margaret,
It is
Christmas day and I wish you were with us! Mummy and Daddy were missing you
too, I could tell by the way they were talking about you. We made sure to pray
for you and your new life in Toronto. How is Charles doing? Are you still as in
love as you told me you were when you married him in June? There is this new
boy at school, his name is James. He is really kind and really loves soccer,
but since it is snowing outside he goes out skating on the pond by our house! I
often stay by the window and watch him play hockey with the other boys. I
always become very keen to clean the stove whenever he is out on the pond
because that means I get to stay by the window! I think Mummy is starting to figure
out why! One day after school I was walking by the pond and James came up to me
and asked me if I wanted to skate. I had to say no because I do not have
skates, but James said that I could wear his! They were really big on me so we
stuck some fabric in the front and then they fit. He walked in front of me
while holding my hands so I could be pulled along on the skates.
This morning I
was so excited to wake up and find that Father Christmas had come with presents
for me! In my stocking, I found an orange and some hair ribbons! Under the tree
mummy had wrapped a big gift for me in brown paper. I opened it and it was a
baby carriage for my dolly! It is a Gendron carriage, have you heard of them
Margaret? I have been pushing my dolly, baby Jane, all around the house in it.
She likes it very much. We got together with Grandma and Grandpa and had
Christmas dinner, I was so excited to have turkey!
I must go now, Mummy wants me to help her clean up the
kitchen.
Hope to hear from you!
Love,
Helen
January 2, 1932
Dear Margaret,
I was glad to
receive your letter. I am happy to know that you are enjoying your time with Charles
in Toronto. That is fantastic that you get to go see moving pictures at the
theatre! When are you going to come and visit us? I miss you. Could I come and
visit you in Toronto one time? I would love to see the city. It sounds fantastic!
I am excited
to celebrate my 13th birthday next week. I wish you could be here
for it though. I invited many of my friends, and I even invited James! Mummy
said I could invite my friends over to have a picnic for my birthday. I am very
excited! I hope James will be able to come to the party. I love getting to
spend time with him. School is going great, I got an A- on my English
assignment.
I have been
enjoying playing with my Christmas presents. I have been pushing baby Jane
around in my new baby carriage. Mummy has started to make me leave her in the
main room because she keeps tripping over the carriage.
I hope all is well. Hope to hear from you soon.
Love,
Helen
Written by Jaden, a grade 12 student at Trinity College School.
December
27, 1925
Dearest Alice,
How are
you? It has been so long since I heard from you, I thought I would write you a
letter. How is everyone? How was your Christmas? I wish we could have come down
and spent it with you. It was strange, this year, since it was the first year without
you here. Father’s new job does not let him leave though - he got promoted, as
you probably heard from mother. He was working over Christmas Eve! Mother was
very upset about it, but backed down a little when he reassured her he would
not work over Christmas day.
Anyways,
New York is gorgeous at Christmas. I wish you could have been with us. It was
Macy’s second year doing the Christmas Parade - oh, Alice, it was absolutely
breathtaking. Just how we imagined it would be! And seeing the tree! Jean and I
begged father to get one just like it, and so we all tried our best to decorate
our tree to be a replica. I think it looks stunning, I will have to show you
pictures when you come in June. I cannot wait until you come thoug- it feels so
far away. I am counting down the days! Everything is set up, father’s trip has
been confirmed so he will not even know you have come. He will be away beginning
two days before, and come back a week after you leave. I wish it did not have
to be this way, but at least I will get to see you!
Christmas
day, we were all woken by Marie, who was desperate to know what Father
Christmas had brought her. We had told her the night before not to open
anything until we were all awake. I pretended to be asleep until I thought she
would actually explode, it was hilarious. Then, we all got up and went into the
living room. We all had presents under the tree, but Marie was by far the most
excited. She had asked for a Raggedy Ann doll, and of course, Father Christmas
provided, resulting in many squeals throughout the morning. Jean got that yoyo
she has been wanting for forever, so she no longer has to borrow mine - thank
goodness! She seems to want it every time I do, and mother and father tell me I
need to be good and let her have it, since I am the older one. Ridiculous, I
say, but there is no arguing with father - you, of all people, know that.
How are
you doing, by the way? Has father been in contact at all? I do wish he would
let up. I mean, you were just living your life! I think you were brilliant, and
I would up and join you if I had the guts. I mean, partying and dancing was bad
enough, but when you cut your hair…I am so proud of you, Al. You finally stood
up for what was right. Father was way overreacting, I think. He was barely
affected by it! It was only his reputation he was worried about, and I do believe
that is rather shallow of him. Plus, I miss you. I need you here, with all your
big sisterly advice! I am currently running my social and love lives all by my
lonesome. Dorothy is not really much help, she mostly just tells me to go for
it, even if there is absolutely no chance they like me back. Even if they have
a girlfriend! I have stopped taking her advice, you will be glad to note. I
need your reality checks in my life again, Al. I mention you coming back every
day to father, so hopefully I can wear him down one of these days.
Anyways,
I am afraid I have gone off on the biggest tangent, I was telling you about
Christmas morning. We continued to open presents. I got this game from mother
and father, called The Author Game. It really is the cat’s pyjamas, Al. You and
I would have a blast playing it - and do not fear, I mentioned that when I
figured out what it was. Father got really mad and asked me what I thought I
was playing at, mentioning my sister on Christmas morning. So I took my game
and went to see Dorothy and Shirley. We played it for hours, it is so much fun.
Basically, it is a card game, but with authors’ names and books. The goal of
the game is to get as many books as you can, by asking other people whether
they have the authors you need. It is like the writer’s version of Go Fish. It
is so much fun, you and I need to play it when you come. I am undefeated in it
so far, and I am getting so good I think I may be able to beat you as well! I
know you will prove a challenge though, so I am preparing. Let this be your
warning, dearest sister!
After
that, Robert and John came and joined us. I think you will remember Robert? My
devastatingly handsome best friend who I am hopelessly in love with, but is -
or so I thought - involved with another girl? John is his best friend. They
played a couple rounds with us, and then Robert asked me if I would like to go
for a walk with him. I accepted, and as we walked he told me he had a
confession and a question. He seemed a little nervous, it was adorable. He
explained that he was not with this girl, that she was obsessed with him and
that was why she had told me that. He told me he had been in love with me since
we were children! Imagine that. I know you always told me not to give up hope,
but he never showed any sign, so I could not help it! He asked me to go on a
date with him then. I accepted, of course. Told mother later, and she was very
happy for me. She said not to mention it to father though, he may get upset.
Why is he like this? I really do wish he was not, and that he would recognize
that the world is changing. Yes, Robert can ask me out if he wants to. And yes,
I can accept! I am an independent young woman, and nothing is wrong with
dating. Right?
Anyways,
mother is calling for dinner, so I best be off. I will talk to you soon, dear
sister. Please write back soon! I am dying to hear from you. I want to know all
about Ireland, and how you have been doing! And, what you have been doing. I
heard about the baby from Auntie Irene - how is she? You must send pictures if
you can. What is life like as a rebellious flapper girl in Ireland? I bet they
do not care what you do there, not like they do here at least. Betty
O’Shriller, you remember her? She suffered the same fate as you did, and was
disowned from her family as well. The only other Irish immigrant family in our
town other than us, too. I think it’s no coincidence that Mr. O’Shriller and
father are best friends. They share the same values, and probably encourage
each other too.
Mother’s
call is getting more impatient, so I am actually going to go now. Please write
back soon. I need to know that you are okay. Miss you so much, Al. I have never
looked forward to June so much in my life. I love you to the moon and back,
dearest sister. Talk soon.
Love
your favourite sister,
Ruth
O’Callaghan
Written by Noor, a grade 12 student at Trinity College School
