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Joanne: What were Christmases like when you were younger? Mrs. E: Oh, it was wonderful. Every class had to do something. I had recited--oh, and all the Sunday School had a big chorus. Our Christmases were wonderful. The men went up two or three days before and built a big platform and they went down to a cedar swamp and cut two cedar trees. Now to me, cedar is Christmas, not pines or anything. They'd cut two cedar trees and they'd reach just to the roof--they'd cut big ones. The minute you opened that church door you'd small that cedar and you knew it was Christmas. We had driven up lots of times in a bob-sleigh. We'd cover with straw and buffalo robes over that and we'd sit on that and then buffalo robes over us to keep us dry. The horses had bells on-- they jingled all up. Oh, it was an exciting time. Everybody did their bit. Inevitably they tell me--and I can just faintly remember the first time I tried to recite something. It started with, "Dear Mary," and that's as far as I got. That's the first I remember. My father was there and I ran over to him and he said, "Oh, never mind." Everybody laughed anyway. (laughter) I was always in the singing bit. I would be in the chorus and maybe sing a solo by myself. And sometimes they'd put on little plays. The classes would get together and put on plays. Joanne: How did you celebrate Christmas at home with your family? Mrs. E: Well, my mother never cooked a turkey. She never knew how but we had lots of chickens. One of my grandmothers was always there but our house was very small. This was before we were to the Eddy's place. We always had chicken, a Christmas cake and a pudding and--that was our Christmas. I was very fortunate. My father and mother had an organ and my one brother sang tenor and the other bass and my father bass and my mother alto. And believe it or not, I could keep up with them with the soprano. It's too bad you people haven't the memories that I have because, we'd sing and sing and sing until our hearts were raw. I don't suppose you can see that lamp at the very end. Anyway, it never had a cover on it and my dad used to hold that so my mother could see to play the organ. He got so excited one night or so enthusia¬stic he tipped it and the chimney dropped off. But we didn't have a fire or anything. And then I remember, I used to have an awfully bad throat. I had tonsillitis many times and I'd be in bed. My father would read to us. My big brothers--oh, they were in their late teens then and they would all come to the bedroom and father would read his story to us. Life was very simple but very wholesome. Joanne: Did you exchange gifts at Christmas time?