First Christmas exercise in Marion County
The following letter was copied from the 1902 microfilm file of the Marion Record. According to the file, it was received among those which were written at the solicitation of Mr. A.E. Case to be read to the Presbyterian Sunday school. Because of its historical interest as well as its literary merit we are glad to publish it. Marion county, at the time of which the letter relates comprised the southwest fourth of the State:
Dec. 16, 1902
Mr. A.E. Case — Dear Friend:
When I wrote you a day or two ago, did not expect a letter from you, and as it has thrilled me with such pleasant recollections of my childhood days in Marion, I cannot refrain from telling you some of my earliest experiences in the dear old home town. You mentioned some of the Christmas exercises to be held in the Presbyterian church.
Do you recall how the good people of Marion used to congregate in the old court house many, many years ago and have Sunday school? When I was a very small child, that old building was used as a court house, school house, and church. How well I remember the first big Christmas tree I ever saw. It was a public tree and the arrangements were made by the Sunday school and church workers. In those days all denominations worked together and there was but one preacher for all people.
The Christmas tree was one about the size of one of those cedars in front of the old home place and I think they sent men to get it down on the Doyle, for it was to be a great affair. I recall how we little "tads" talked of the big Christmas tree and how willing I was to care for my baby brother Newton so that mamma could go and help decorate the tree and "church." When she was gone I kept running in and out of the house to see if I could discover anything that was going on at the court house. We then lived near the old Cottonwood bridge and, once, while out on this inquisitive business I heard the baby and Minnie with a loud wail. I ran back in haste and dear me! what I time I had. I had given Minnie the baby to hold while I took another look and she had put him into the cradle and then tried to climb in herself and the rock a by had turned over with them. My troubles were so great that I sent Minnie for mamma. Of course Minnie got to see the tree and told me all about it. My, oh, my I could hardly wait until Kris Kringle should come.
The tree was placed on the platform in the center of the west end of the lower room of the court house. We went very early to get a good seat and sat in the third seat back from the front and just back of the first window on the east side. The night was an ideal one for Kris Kringle. The pure white mantle that covered the earth sparkled in the moonlight and the cold, brisk breeze was just sharp enough to make old Kris' reindeer, Prancer, Dancer and Dashaway, travel with speed.
Oh, my! But that tree was grand. I can now recall the beautiful dolls, big horns, pretty boxes, books, bracelets, red sleds, tops, whistles, whips, guns, rings, balls and just everything. It seemed to me there could be nothing left to hang on that tree.
My heart thumped with joy, and my eyes were set by the glitter and dazzle of that beautiful Christmas tree. I hoped that old Kris would bless me with almost everything upon it.
As I gazed upon and longed for those beautiful gifts there was sounded the noisy jingle of sleigh bells; and, with a sudden commotion at the window nearest us, in jumped old Kris with a whoop and a yell that frightened all of us little folks. He puffed and blew his breath, shook himself off and brushed the snow off his great fur coat and then told us what a dreadful time he had getting to Marion from Chase county. He said that his reindeer upset his sleigh several times and he had to get out into drifts waist deep to gather up the toys and gifts He must have had a trying trip for he was covered with snow from head to foot. Then he said: "Come on somebody and help me give these gifts for I must get off. Hurry up! hurry up! for my reindeer won't stand long." All the time the jingle, jingle went on outside. Of course, this jingle of sleigh bells was caused by the reindeer shaking themselves. We tried to see them, but he must have tied them outside the stone wall that was then around the court house.
Well, things were pulled off that tree in such a hurry that it made those who were helping old Kris hustle about at a great rate. I remember he called one name and then said, "Oh don't give that to him I just heard that he sassed his ma and he can't have anything." After nearly everything was given from that tree he disappeared almost as suddenly as he had come. Kris was good to me that year and I shall never forget — The First Big Christmas Tree.
Out here in Washington we have most beautiful evergreen trees scattered everywhere and as I looked out my window just now I thought, What if old Kris would send some of his fairies to hang beautiful things upon some of these trees as they did upon that Big tree of long ago and then place placards everywhere saying: "To the children of Washington — enough for all — help yourselves." My! Would there not be some happy children? If I were a Kris with millions to spend I believe I would do some thing like that to Washington; and in Kansas where there are not so many evergreen trees I would load such trees as those elms by the stone arch bridge so abundantly so that you would not notice that they had cast aside their green garments.
I often wish I could step into the dear old church in Marion and exchange greetings to the children at Christmas time.
Give them all my Christmas greetings and remember me to all my dear old Marion friends.
With friendship and esteem, I am,
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Belle McLean
