{Evangelical Lutheran Seminary of Canada Waterloo, Ontario Canada} Dec. 27, 1925
Dear Mother:
Christmas is over again, and a very enjoyable Christmas it was at our house. Thanks to you and Clarence and Bikle the children all received their usual number of presents and were all well-satisfied and quite happy. I musn’t forget also Pearl’s contribution for each one, which was daintily gotten up and appropriate. The children all enjoyed her presents except Arthur who merely remarked “Huh, Aunt Pearl must think I’m dirty”, though I really think his present was a most useful one. But boys generally look upon a wash as at best a necessary evil. Arthur is the most generous fellow I have. He gave me a $2.50 box of cigars and gave a present to his mother and to each one of his brothers and sisters – all bought out of his paper money. He also gave 25₵ to old lady Lilly down in the next house. And even so he had about $7 to put in the bank. Carolus has been making $1.00 a day since school closed, working in the German bakery, but he never saves a cent, spending it nearly all on his girl taking her to shows etc. But one thing is to his credit: He is just as happy when he doesn’t have a cent in his pocket as when he has a dollar, which is about the highest amount he has at any one time. He bought me five 10₵ cigars and Bonnie bought me a nice new pipe, which
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will doubtless last me till next Christmas. So you see, I was well provided with smokes. As I had a tooth pulled on Christmas morning, that was about all I could do comfortably except drink for which latter I drew largely upon my cider. I killed and plucked the six hens that Arthur had provided – all of which we had for our Christmas dinner, and I think they were enjoyed quite as much as a goose would have been. They were nice and tender and roasted to the perfection of which my good wife is capable. We had, I think, the nicest and most symmetrical tree we ever had. Robert provided some new trimmings of which he was very proud. Otherwise we used the old ones, but had them tastefully arranged. So we were all quite proud of our tree. We lighted it up and distributed the presents on Christmas Eve. On the afternoon of Christmas day we all went down to the Waterloo Community tree at the town hall. It was a great affair and thousands of people were out on the streets. The procession was fine – the best they have ever had I think – and the marching of about 2000 children together was an impressive sight. Moving pictures of them were taken and will be shown from coast to coast in Canada. They gave out some 2200 stockings filled with candy, fruits, and nuts, besides distributing baskets of food, clothing and shoes to the poor. It is an event in which the whole community takes deep interest. We had service in our Church – German–English – at 8 o’clock on Christmas morning, which I attended. The childrens service was held in the evening, but neither myself nor Bonnie attended it. I couldn’t be present as I had to hold a service at Bridgeport that night and she couldn’t go as she had to stay with Catharine. At Bridgeport I got a bag of candy and received
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$2.75 for my services, which wasn’t bad, seeing I didn’t have much to do beyond making a short address. The children there all did very nicely and the service was enjoyable. We have been having real Christmas weather, plenty of snow and very cold. The last two nights the thermometer has been down around 15° below zero, and, if anything, it is colder to-night as I don’t think the thermometer reached zero all day. Bonnie received a large number of presents, among them, if I am not mistaken, a fine linen handkerchief from Mabel; but I am no authority on this subject and will let her tell some time of her own presents. The children all had great quantities of nuts and candies and those that haven’t gone to bed or to church are still cracking and eating. I think we received over 50 Christmas cards from various sources. I took Catharine and Ruth down to the barbershop just before Christmas and had their hair bobbed. A man sitting in the barbershop remarked “My! What a contrast, and they are both sisters!” Little Catharine doesn’t look so babyish since she is bobbed; but I think it is becoming to her. She is such a sweet-dispositioned little child that she beams happiness all of the time. She even sings over her troubles. Yesterday she lost her mittens and went around the house singing “I lost my mittens; I lost my mittens to-day.” She makes up words as she goes and can put them to any tune she knows. She thinks, as you know, a great deal of her father and calls me her dear little father. The children did well in the public schools – the girls standing 8th
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in their rooms and the boys 4th. Eileen made 100 in arithmetic, but perhaps I told you this in my last letter and was advanced to 1st class in her room. She received as a present Grimm’s Fairy Tales from Mrs. Bockelmann and can read the stories real well. She read “Little Red Riding Hood to-night. Two new cases of small pox broke out among the boys after they went home and the Provincial Health authorities pounced down on the Waterloo Health authorities for it. In consequence no student will be admitted after Christmas who has not been successfully vaccinated or who has not had the small pox. The Board of Governors met last Tuesday and accepted Dr. Hoffmann’s resignation as President and elected Dr. Zinck in his place. They also raised the tuition to $75 a year and put a rental of $1000 a year on the Students’ Boarding Club. These new regulations, however, will not go into effect until after this scholastic year. Dr. Zinck, however, will at once enter upon the presidency. I think he will prove a good man. I wouldn’t mind having the extra $200, but it is hardly worth the responsibility that the position involves. I am going to ask them to give me more money for my work as bursar next year. Well, I must close. Wishing you all a happy New Year and God’s richest blessings, I am
Most Sincerely yours,
[signed] Carroll H. Little.
