{Lutheran Theological Seminary and Waterloo College
Waterloo Ontario}
Dec. 24, 1922.
Dear Mother:
“Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin – Mother and Child, Holy Infant
So tender and mild” This describes the situation
I am in to-night – on this holy Christmas–eve commemorating the birth of our Saviour, as I sit down to begin my weekly letter to you, the best of mothers. Bonnie and the children have gone down to Church to the Sunday School Christmas concert. Little Ruth is in bed asleep and the house is very still, only the noise of the new kitchen clock that I bought yesterday being audible. Your kind letter with its generous enclosure was received a day or two ago and helped out greatly in securing for the children the things they desired. Permit me to thank you heartily for your generosity. I gave $2.00 of it to Bonnie which she is going to spend for the Ladies’ Home Journal for herself. Her ex-stepmother did not renew this subscription, but sent her a handkerchief instead, and as she has had the Journal for the past 14 years from her father she was loath to give it up. Bonnie had some nice pictures of herself made like the one we sent you of Eileen. I would have been glad if she had sent you one but she sent it to her former step-mother instead. She had only 4 or 5 made and she sent one to Meda, one to Don, one to Max and kept the last one to put on the Christmas tree tonight for me. Don sent her a couple of Turkish towels and me a dozen cigars. Meda sent her a $10 bill. Pearl’s galax leaves arrived yesterday after long delay. We immediately put them in water and they are now as beautiful and fresh as they ever were. Tender Pearl our hearty thanks for them. I can’t tell you the presents the children are getting to-night, but they are as well remembered I think as usual. Mrs. Bockelmann gave Eileen a fine pair of patent leather shoes and white stockings, a dress and a doll. Mrs. Hoffmann did quite as much for Ruth and added some candy besides. “Santa Claus” in the person of Mr. [H?] came around this afternoon and delivered toys and candies to all the the children. This was a great surprise and most of them followed him around wherever he went. Yesterday
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Waterloo had its great Community Christmas tree and more than 1500 children received stockings filled with candies, nuts, oranges, etc. The band was out and played and pretty nearly the whole 6000 people of our town were at the gathering. The weather is mild with just enough snow for good sleighing and everybody appears to be happy and in the Christmas spirit. Bonnie took Ruth down in her little white sleigh and she enjoyed it very much. She greeted everybody we met with “Hello”. I had Dr. Hoffmann and his son Paul of Toronto, over this afternoon to sample my golden cider. They enjoyed it very much and pronounced it excellent. We will have our Christmas tree to-night after Bonnie and the children get home from Church and our Christmas dinner – Roast goose – to-morrow. We got a 13 ¾ lb. goose and got it very cheap, 22₵ a lb., but it was only half picked and gave both Bonnie and me an enormous amount of trouble to get it ready for the oven. However, as the Germans say Ende gut, alles gut. It is now about half roasted and looks delicious and issues a very agreeable odor. The children finished their school term Friday and are all on vacation now. Carolus stood second in a class of 67 and was only 3 or 4 points behind the highest. Herman stood 8th and Arthur second and Marion about the middle in their respective rooms. Pastor Bockelmann tells me Carolus is also by far the best in the Confirmation Class which numbers over 30. We are not worrying as yet over the coal situation, which is more or less serious. I have a half ton of hard coal and nearly a ton of coke on hand yet, though the Mayor told us last night at the public meeting that the fuel controller was instructed to give out no more than a ¼ of a ton to only one party at a time, whatever the requirements of the house may be, and he strongly advised the citizens to us substitutes whenever possible. I have so far received Christmas cards from all the Geschwister except Blanche. I haven’t heard from her. I am glad to say that Bonnie isn’t troubled much any more from nausea though she and some of the children are still bothered with colds. We were interested in what you had to say of Hermine. Well, wishing you all the joys of this happy season, I am with much love, Sincerely yours,
[signed] Carroll H.Little.
