"My First Christmas Tree"
Below is the short story written by Ada Barnett Stough, my oldest aunt on my mother’s side. The story was set in 1909 when Ada was six years old. It was published in the 1980’s.
My First Christmas Tree
It was the day before Christmas. I was six, and the youngest child in the one-room school called “Awl Holler.” In those days, that was the way West Virginians said “Owl Hollow’ meaning that narrow valley at the foot of high hills where owls at night are very vocal. The school was a mile from our family farm, down a long steep hill. One teacher taught all 20 pupils of differing ages and grades.
We all realized a raging blizzard was fast approaching when we opened our boxes to eat our cold lunches at noon. Wind was howling around the creaking windows, and snow was sweeping down from the hills. The teacher threw more chucks of coal into the pot-bellied stove, and I began to worry how I, a little girl, would get home.
A sharp knock on the door came quickly, and my father shook the snow from his clothes. Standing outside was our big bay mare, Bess. Soon, I was hoisted onto the horse behind my father in my own winter garb.
The driving snow was blinding, but old Bess knew the way, and finally, we were home.
We rode up to the porch, and as Dad was lifting me down. I saw the front window, and there it was - my first Christmas tree!
It was a freshly cut, Fragrant cedar. Twinded around it were ropes and ropes of white popcorn interspersed with red and green paper chains. Here and there, tucked between the needles, were bits of shiny tin foil. No twinkling lights - no electricity. No cranberries - never had seen one. Only cedar, popcorn, paper, and foil - but it was the most beautiful creation I had ever seen!
Note: A graduate of Point Pleasant High School and West Virginia University, Ada Barnett Stough had a long career in Washington, DC;
Public Relations Secretary (1945-51), National Office, League of Women Voters of the U.S., Washington DC.
Executive Director of the American Parents' Committee (1952-1957). A publisher of Parents' magazine founded the Committee.
Liaison Officer, Office of Aging, Welfare Administration of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (1961 to 68)
While retiring, she wrote this story during her creative writing class.
"To learn to know one's self, to pursue the avenues of self-development, that's what I call creative aging." - Ada Barnett Stough.