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Show These Are My Christmas Gifts The unexpected delights of a Louisiana yuletide cause this famous novelist to take stock of the valuable presents _ we often overlook By FRANCES PARKINSON KEYES ‘Author of “Dinner at-Antoine’s;"-"“Steamboat Gothic,” “"Victorine,”” “The Explo: 1, the King,” “Tongues of Fire,’ ete. tons but that had fallen into disfrom five to 10 miles a day for the I had a few anxious moment, f - guest, and we were both invited to repair. I restored it and spent some mere pleasure of doing so. I also but lollipops and toys and shiny a wonderful Christmas dinner by of the happiest and most fruitful loved to ride, swim, and dance.‘ new 50-cent pieces held out to the a new friend who lived nearby. years of mylife there. But so far, 1 have managed to go end, even though the more substanThere was no snow; but there were Now in my declining years—are wherever my work has taken me tial offerings of the morning were camellias and poinsettias and yuthey really declining?—I have hiseven with my handicap—and my gone. When they had departed, pon, and the Cottage was aglow toric Beauregard House in New work has taken me over a large seemingly well satisfied, I settled with them. There was no chicken Orleans,in the restoration of which part of the world. I expect to go on down to “view” the Christmas tree pie, but a turtle unwisely straying . I have been able to help. Here are traveling at intervals as long as I over the yard furnished the wheremyself in the light of what had assembled many of my numerous live, but also have a home of my happened. withal for a succulent stew, and treasures—old maps, fans, dolls, own as the chosen haven at the end fruit hanging on the trees outside Thad rather dreaded that Christcostumes, crucifixes, and veilleuses, of every trip. mas. I was a long way from my the kitchen door was transformed which are antique lamps that also As a matter of fact, there are into kumquat- preserves. home in New Hampshire, and none serve as food warmers. two houses which I can call home, of my large family had been able There were no carols, but that I have the gift of fellowship. My so in that respect I am doubly to join me. I knew I was going to chorus of children’s voices chantwork has given me new friends in blessed: the Oxbow in Newberry, miss the tall tree, chosen with care ing “Christmas gif?” (as if they ‘Vt.,-which-was-my- mother’s ancesmany parts of the world, and I have ‘were confident they had only to-ask beforehand, cut in our own woods, kept the old friends‘who have been tral home, and Pine Grove Farm, and well trimmed by all hands and for them in order to receive) was mine since childhood. My family is across the river at Haverhill, N.H., the cook. like a gift to me. It made me more a large one. I had no daughters of which was my husband’s ancestral__ conscious than I had ever been beI knew I was going to miss the ~my—own,—but—Ihave—three~sons,— home, Both have sheltered ourf: row of ‘red stockings hung expecfore—of my own many benefits Now there are seven granddaughilies~ for- generations. which are God-given. They are still tantly during the. evening by the ters as well as three grandsons, 50 And in counting my benefits, I mine, and I am more grateful for big fireplace in the living room at I have reason to hope that in time should not forget the other beauthem than ever. Pine Grove Farm and the noisy there will be great-grandchildren, tiful houses in which I have lived, I have the gift of work. From excitement when these stockings too, and that among my descendso many of which have had a sigwere opened the next morning. earliest childhood I wanted to be a ants some of them will live at nificant bearing upon my life and I was going to miss the chicken writer. I wrote 17 books before I the Oxbow. and-Pine Grove Farm work. I was born in James Monpie for the traditional New Engachieved a best seller. Some of the among the many descendants of my roe’s house at the University of progress was hard going, but I was land Christmas breakfast; the anold friends. Virginia, then assigned to my facestral china only used on such able eventually to be self-supportUhave the gift of faith. Faith in ther, who was head of the Greek ing. I am happy to say that at 81 great occasions as this; the long myself that I may persevere whatDepartment. Tam still writing, and two books festoons of laurel draped from one ever happens; faith in the essenAs a child, I spent a golden auhave been published this last year, end to the other of the entrance tial goodness of most human betumn in France at Fontainebleau bringing the total number up to 49. _hall;_the snow glistening on the inthe house~opposite-the—palace,— —ings;—faith_in-a_future_where one __valley andits encircling mountains; ~ Texpecttogo on writingas long as —_once_a_ dependenceof Madame de ____door will always open as another I live. — the carols so long since leaked by closes; faith in Divine Providence— Thave the gift of health. My-eyePompadour..As_a_mature writer, I heart that no hymnals were needed by whatever name that we choose have kept house in points as diverfor reference as they were sung. sight, my hearing, and my digesto call it. gent as Chile and Spain, and to tion are all good. To be sure, I am Christmas with all these things live and work in sight of Avila’s St. Paul tells us5 that faith, like very lame. I cannot walk without had become an integral part of my ancient walls is surely a God-given hope, “abides” with charity, which the support of two canes. For dislife, and I knew that they would be experience. he considers the greatest of all, and tances I have to use a wheel chair. missing that year. But there is an he was.a very wise man. But someMy love of Virginia has been Besides being disabling, this old Spanish saying to the effect times I think faith leads all the lifelong. When Alexandria became lameness, caused by arthritis, is that each time a door is closed,-anrest, and I am thankful that this readily ‘accessible to Washington, painful. If anyone had told me opens, has been one of my Christmas gifts. then my working center, I bought, when I was a girl that I would have For, contrary to my expectations, I am sure that, with the others, I for the proverbial song, a house I had a fine Christmas. An old to live withoutwalking,I-wouldfor have found my-gold-and-frankin-—————— friend, far _ hhave-said-that-I-would_ratherdie. __that_in_itsheyday beentthe home of both Lees T loved to walk and often covered home as I, came to me as a house Family Weekly, December 18, 1966 |