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Show get tha generosity and love for neighbor displayed by the people of Bingham and the surrounding communities com-munities during the long strike. A bleak Christmas wa turned into a happy one and the happiest people were those who gave of themselves the true spirit of Christmas. Merry Christmaa to everyone I Thank you for your letters and comments on my column. Cod Bless all of you I DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH JOHN J. CREEDON MERRY CHRISTMAS t J - 1 The menu ries of fifty happy Christmas seasons spent in Bingham Bing-ham pa.is in review in my mind as 1 contemplate this I960 Christmas, that may be the last one here for many of us. This happy holiday celebrating the birth of our Saviour, bringing hope to all the people of the world, is somewhat saddened by the anxiety anx-iety and uncertainty of what the future has in store for us in Bingham. Bing-ham. Surely we will not be together again for another Christmas in the Canyon. With this in mind, It is pleasant to recall some of the memorable Yuletide events. Christinas was not the highly commercialized holiday it is now, when I vas a lad. It vaa celebrated more in the manner of a Holy and Solemn event and the exchanging of gifts was emphasized for the children more than the adults. We looked forward to the opening open-ing of toyland right after Thanksgiving. Thanks-giving. There was no long period of Chriatmas shopping like today. On that opening day, we would hit for Bogan's Hardware Store, where the Union Drug now sta.ids. They had the largest display of toys in town and genial John Bogan would be on hand to display his wares. Sleds, wagons, windup trains, air rifles and erecttor sets and games were the main attractions, with dolls for the girls. Bingham Merc, and James' store would also have their toyland ready the day after Thanksgiving. The sound of sleigh bells in the crisp winter air is a sound that has been forgotten in our part of the country. To me the bells and the steam locomotive whistle are two sounds that have always thrilled me and I regret the passing of them. Nearly every team vas equipped with a set of these melodic bells. In unison with the clip-clop of the horses hoofs on the icy streets, they created a sound that transported us to far-away places and adventure. I remember my first Midnight Mass the long walk down the stairs from tho B&G with my father the glisten of a full moon on the clean white snow. The big potbellied stoves in the church glowing red, scorch ng those too near, while those in the middle were shivering with the cold. The marvelous Christmas dinners din-ners my mother would cook for the family and the boarders. To this day no fruit cake can compare with the on s she made. She never had a recipe written down, but she made those cakes the same each year. The fruit cake was wrapped in heavy brown paper and stored in a large crock and at regular intervals inter-vals brandy vas poured over the cakes to keep them moist and to impart that distinctive bouquet to them. Mother always had a tree fixed for the Carr Fork gang in the basement base-ment of our house at the B&G. She would decorate It with strings of bright red cranberries and popcorn and a string or two of tinsel. There would be cookies and candy for all the gang. Another wonderful sound missing from our town, is the sound of Christmas ons from the top of the Bingham Hospital. Dr. Paul S. Richards would have the hospital beautifully decorated with wreaths and holly and lights and the loud speakers atop the hospital would peal out Christmas carols. I shall never forget hearing them one Christmas morning before daybreak while I was working graveyard shift n the B&G yard. 1 stood there looking look-ing down on a sleeping town, while the strains of "Silent Night, Holy Night" filled the crisp clear air. It was a moment of deep reverance that has remained with me ever since. The generosity of the community was never so evident tha nat Christmas. Christ-mas. Delivery of groceries and mail was hard pressed to remain oon schedule. Most homes would have something to eat or drink for the workman and it was impossible to make all the stops or to refuse the sociability of these friendly people. I remember well two fine men who played Santa Claus for the Lions' Club, Bert Hocking and Herbert Her-bert Gust. They gave freely of their time and talents to bring cheer and hope to those less fortunate. I sat near the bedside of a boy, ill with rheumatic heart, with Bert Hocking in a Santa Claus suit, and listened to him encourage and comfort the hoy and his parents. Three months later, Bert had gone to his reward. And just last year who can for- ' ' " flatting. No. 8251 with PATT-ORAMA it In sizes 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52. Butt 38 fo 54. Size 38, 40 butt, S'4 yards of 35 inch; collar, ', yard. Needlework Pattern No. 170 Colorful Color-ful gingham "Santa" aproni easily embroidered em-broidered in crost-stitch, delight mother and daughter at holiday timat No. 170 has full direction! for "big and littte" aprons, embroidery graphs. Send 35c for each dreu pattern, 25c I tor each needlework pattern ladd 10c for soch pattern for first class mailing) to AUDREY LANE BUREAU, Dept. "NWNS," 367 West Adams Street, Chicago 6, III. A |
