THE GARMAN-GILL FAMILIES, Elizabeth Garman Gill, January 1971.
And the wonderful sledriding! Every family had two or three good sleds and the fields were filled with kids of all ages. There were sled load parties for the older people with fast horses and a good driver. The sled bed had a bench around the outside and the bed was filled with straw and warm woolen blankets, which were used for the horses. A party of 20 or 30 young people all bundled up to their eyes were snug and warm, singing song after song, shouting and laughing, the horses flying and the sleighbells jingling. We would ride for miles, stop to eat at some designated spot, reload and sang the whole way home.
When were in school and a blizzard blew up during the day, Father hitched up the horses to the sled and at about a quarter of four, just when school was to dismiss, the horses with jingling bells, tore down over the school yard and came to a sudden stop at the command of Father's "Whoa!" Every kid who lived along the road and all the Steal Corner kids plus all of Father's own, climbed in. Some hitched their sleds to the back and had a fine ride. When some one yelled, "Whoa," Father stopped to discharge his passenger.
Christmas was a glorious time. Everyone of us believed in Santa Clause as long as possible. We were afraid not to for when the stockings were hung up in a row, instead of oranges, popcorn and candy, the one who did not believe received a lump of coal in his stocking. Our gifts were books, games, skates, warm mittens, scarves, etc.
And the wonderful sledriding! Every family had two or three good sleds and the fields were filled with kids of all ages. There were sled load parties for the older people with fast horses and a good driver. The sled bed had a bench around the outside and the bed was filled with straw and warm woolen blankets, which were used for the horses. A party of 20 or 30 young people all bundled up to their eyes were snug and warm, singing song after song, shouting and laughing, the horses flying and the sleighbells jingling. We would ride for miles, stop to eat at some designated spot, reload and sang the whole way home.
When were in school and a blizzard blew up during the day, Father hitched up the horses to the sled and at about a quarter of four, just when school was to dismiss, the horses with jingling bells, tore down over the school yard and came to a sudden stop at the command of Father's "Whoa!" Every kid who lived along the road and all the Steal Corner kids plus all of Father's own, climbed in. Some hitched their sleds to the back and had a fine ride. When some one yelled, "Whoa," Father stopped to discharge his passenger.
Christmas was a glorious time. Everyone of us believed in Santa Clause as long as possible. We were afraid not to for when the stockings were hung up in a row, instead of oranges, popcorn and candy, the one who did not believe received a lump of coal in his stocking. Our gifts were books, games, skates, warm mittens, scarves, etc.
