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Show First Christmas I brings surprises ! By MABLE JONES We never heard about Christmas or Thanksgiving on the Porter Rockwell Ranch, owned by my randmother. At least we didn't jjntjl I was five years old. That was Ihe year the foreman, Grandma's oldest son, went to Lehi for a few days and brought back a lovely bride. ...... It was she who decided we were to have Christmas, complete with a Christmas tree. So as Dec. 25 approached, ap-proached, one day she sent her new husband into the hills to find the perfect tree. He brought back a big cedar and stood it by the house, where my four-year-old sister and I admired it. Then one morning, a few days later, the tree was gone. That same morning we woke up to find that the doors to our large living room had been locked, and we would have to stay out, although no one would tell us why. Then one morning, when the foreman had decided to go hunting, we lined up outside the living room door and got ready to go in. My mother was crippled, and she had to be carried into the room. We beauty. I was filing sorry that Ihe foreman had gone ' ; , couklntseetbe beautiful tree an said sotothe new bride. Bu, she 3?" wh"labig "oise outside, and in came Santa (:1.1US wilh bj ' cow,bdluieachha,landasackon his back. Now my sisier and 1 had "ever heard of Santa ('laus. So when Uns Santa went over and kissed Ihe new bnde 1 hurried to her rescue and kicked him hard on the ankle Santa opened his pack and inside there were big sacks of candy and nuts for us all. Under the tree were our presents, wrapped in (he I wo long boxes, a brown-cved doll for me and a blue-eyed, blonde doll for my sister. Then we all sat around the tree while the bride told us the story of the Three Wise Men and the little Baby Jesus. This was the first time we had heard Ihe Christmas story. Since thai time I have had many Uinstmases and many Christmas trees. But 1 have never forgotten mv first of each. ' I . . followed and, when inside, I saw the j most beautiful sight I had seen in all 1 my five years. For in the center of the room stood that big cedar tree. The tree was adorned with ropes of popcorn, and tiny candles, held by metal clips, burned brightly from every branch. We used coal oil lamps to light the home, because we didn't have any electricity at the ranch. A cowboy stood on either side of the tree, both holding a pail of water I to put out any fire the candles might ; make. Underneath the tree was an iron stove, a frying pan and a kettle, a little cradle and two long boxes. I've never forgotten the tree's |
