Christmas at 9 James Street
Memoir # 8
CHRISTMAS
AT 9 JAMES STREET
by R.V.H.
Barbé - April 4, 1998
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Christmas preparations began weeks ahead at 9 James as a large
boxes had to be prepared to send to the Law family in Thamesville
and the Barbé's in Hamilton. Mom and her sister, my Aunt
Bea, always exchanged gifts and cooking at Christmas. Mom made
Christmas pudding and Aunt Bea made Christmas cake. Each made
enough for both families and more.
So began the Christmas pudding cooking binge. Mom added
ingredients to the bowl as I mixed and stirred. When one batch
was done another would be started. The wood burning cook stove
would be covered with pots and pans, all half full of water with
the bowls full of pudding inside, gently simmering hour after
hour. What a wonderful aroma! Looking back it seems as if this
process went on day after day for many days. It's hard to put it
into perspective.
Then came the time to prepare the boxes to mail. Dad would bring
large heavy duty cardboard boxes home from the store. Into the
bottom, well padded, went the puddings. Then the gifts that had
been wrapped, each into its own little nook, were carefully added
to the parcel. When the box was filled, then came the securing of
the box. Dad had brought home a spool of butcher cord as well and
he would systematically tie the cord tightly about the box. Each
knot was kept taut with a well placed finger as the rest of it
was tied. When I was little, I remember feeling grown up to be
helping by putting my finger on the knot. Then the address was
put on in large bold letters. For some reason I was greatly
impressed because the letters had to be so large and bold on
these very special boxes.
A week or so later, boxes would arrive from Thamesville and
Hamilton. When they were opened, there would be great speculation
about what might be in each of the gifts. Aunt Bea's Christmas
cakes would be in there too.
Although some decorations might be put around the house, or snow
stencils might be sprayed on the windows, the Christmas tree that
had been bought would not be brought in until Christmas eve. When
I was little, this was done after I was in bed.
Christmas morning, for this child, was an extra special occasion.
It seemed as though I was the only one in the world excited
though. I would be up early, and there hanging from my door knob
would be my stocking, filled to the brim. I would grab it and run
into Mom and Dad's room, where I could spread out the goodies on
their bed as each was extracted from the stocking. Mom & Dad
would open theirs too. Mom would get some nice things, but Dad
would get coal and potatoes and such. Then he would make a
comment about trying to behave better the next year.
I remember sitting at the top of the stairs, impatiently waiting
for the others so that we could go downstairs to see all the
Christmas presents and the tree. From my perch at the top of the
stairs, I could just see a couple of tantalising branches of the
tree. When we finally arrived downstairs, I can remember being
almost awe-struck at how beautiful this tree, that had spent the
last few days stuck in a snowdrift outside, now looked with its
lights and balls and tinsel and all. And then the presents, piled
under the tree, for all the family. Doreen and Marj and their
families, as they came along, would all be there for the opening
of the presents.
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Christmas at 9 James Street
WebAuthor
Ron Barbé
RR# 1, Codrington,
ON, Canada
K0K 1R0
[email protected].
This page last updated February 12, 2001
