Granduncle Mark's Genealogy Parlor

Christmas
with the Martins
in 1913 Pennsylvania

Christmas Happiness

By: Elda Elizabeth (Routh) Eddleman
(1910 - 1999)

MAMA, NANNIE (MARTIN) ROUTH
and, me (the baby), with my sister:
ELDA ELIZABETH ROUTH
and VELVA DELILAH 'JEAN' ROUTH

One never forgets the happier times of one's life however old one becomes! You see, my father didn't believe in Christmas, or so he claimed, and this was such a sadness for Mama. Mama's family celebrated Christ's Birthday, and their Christmas was a wonderfully happy time with six girls and one boy; it was also a very exciting time! They loved going with their father to the forest to get a Christmas tree, and always they found 'a just right one' -- well formed and so beautifully green. Mama's father always firmed its base in a container so he could add some water each day to keep the tree alive.

Mama missed her family so very much and craved to see them and be with them to visit. It was quite a distance from Danville, Illinois, where we lived, to where her father lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her mother had died soon after she was married, and her sisters were all married with families in other towns and cities in Pennsylvania. Especially so at Christmas time, her loneliness almost consumed her, and that was the reason she had been asking our father to go to Pennsylvania to be with her father and sisters. Then, too, she wanted to visit with her close friends whom she called 'school chums.' She told my father that she wanted to be in Pennsylvania about three months as it would take that long to get about and satisfy her loneliness. She had asked my father before, but always he declined. This time he surprisingly agreed -- guess he could feel her loneliness as we did.

Mama seemed to be 'floating on air' as she packed our suitcases! Though Sis and I were young -- I being not four years of age and Sis a bit past six years of age -- we could barely restrain ourselves. You see, our brother was about nine months old, so he wasn't able to understand or be blessed with memory of all the happiness that awaited us, but he was a very happy and good baby and seldom cried.

It was early December when we were to leave. Our father took us to the depot and helped Mama get us on the train. It was a long journey from Danville, Illinois to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but Mama wanted to spend two weeks with Aunt Sarah and her family before we went to Grandpa's in Harrisburg. We would then go after Christmas to her other sisters and then to visit her 'school chums.'

Oh, we had so much to look forward to that we felt like 'birds out of a cage.' and Mama was so light of spirit that she just seemed to glow with a loveliness that made her look younger than she was.

The conductor would stop and talk to Sis and me from time to time, and he told us we were two pretty little girls, as did many of the other passengers.

Mama had us to sit in the middle of the train so that when the train was winding around the oval part of the Horse Shoe Bend, we could see the engine and the caboose at the same time. She wanted us at that moment to look down in a giant-sized cavity; it was scary but fascinating as it was quite scenic because there were various kinds of trees and bushes scattered about the ravine. Though it had been snowing, Mama reminded us that in the summer wild flowers grew there, and it was a colorfully pretty sight as she had seen it numerous times in warm weather. She didn't want us to miss anything worth seeing and remembering.

AUNT SARAH (MARTIN) SCHUEY.

When the conductor announced that we were nearing Pittsburgh, we were so happy to hear that! Aunt Sarah and her daughter, Elizabeth, met us at the station. Mama's and Aunt Sarah's greeting was very tearful as they hadn't seen each other for so long. How grateful we were when we arrived at their home. It was a lovely big brick house, and because of having six children, they needed a large home.

Our cousins were so happy to see us and were so lovingly attentive to Sis and me, and they loved our baby brother. It so happened that Aunt Sarah had stored a play pen from her youngest child when he had grown out of babyhood, so she had gotten it ready for Mama to put baby Lawrence in, and what a relief that was for Mama!

Since it was dinner time shortly after we arrived, a banquet of a meal had been prepared, and we all gathered in the spacious dining room and were seated at a long dining table. The children had helped their mother with the meal's preparation and in bringing it to the table. Uncle Oscar then said the blessing. Though we were so tired, we ate quite well as the food was so delicious. We went to bed early after our baths, and the night's rest left us feeling fine and so happy that we were with our cousins. The younger ones were quite a bit older than Sis and me, and those older enjoyed being with us, too. Elizabeth, the oldest, was sixteen and so attractive and a very loveable person. Our cousins brought out a number of games to play with,and it didn't take Sis and me long to understand how to play the games, and what fun we had!

Elizabeth played the piano so beautifully, and we loved to listen to the melodies she played. It was fascinating to watch her fingers glide over the keys as she played so gracefully. During the time we were there, we often asked her to play the piano.

Two wonderful weeks we stayed with Uncle Oscar, Aunt Sarah and our cousins, and while it was sad to leave, it was time we went to Grandpa's. So, Aunt Sarah and Elizabeth took us to the train station. We would be seeing them again before we left for our home in Danville, so saying goodbye to them wasn't as hurtful.

GRANDPA, JAMES FREDERICK MARTIN
and, AUNT JESSIE (MARTIN) THALBO

Once again we were traveling on a train, and this time headed for Harrisburg where Grandpa and Aunt Jessie lived. The trip wasn't as lengthy as our first one, and we enjoyed it. Grandpa and Aunt Jessie met us at the station, and their greeting was very tearful, too, because of our living so far away. Sis and I were hugged lovingly.

How happy we were to at last see our dear Grandpa whom Mama had told us so much about as well as her dear Mother whom she would miss so much. Mama had so much love for her five sisters and for her brother, John, who was now married and living in California. Mama had told us about her wonderful family many, many times so that Sis and I felt close to them when first we met.

We were so happy when we finally arrived at Grandpa's home, and Aunt Jessie's home was right next door. She had helped Grandpa get ready for our visit, and his home was so neat and cozy that we weren't there but a short time until we felt at home. Aunt Jessie took us all through the house and showed us our rooms. Later, she told us that she would help Mama put our clothes in the clothes closet and our other clothing in dresser drawers.

She left for her home next door to bring Mary, her eight-year old daughter, over as Mary was so anxious to meet us. Though quite a snow had fallen, the sidewalk between the two houses had been cleaned off. Soon Jessie was over with Mary. Mary was very pretty, and looked quite frail, but she was a very cheerful girl and wanted us to come with her to meet her father who had just come home from his office, so we ran over with her. He was in his study, and we had to go up a spiral stairway to meet her father. He was busy at his desk with work he had brought home. Mary got his attention and happily introduced us, her cousins. He was very nice and a very nice looking man, but being a business man, he was too occupied to really talk to us then. So, Mary took us about their home which was spacious. Her room was like a fairy land, but we would enjoy playing in her room later, because we wanted to go back to Grandpa's home to be near him. Mary, of course, went with us, and for all of our stay at Grandpa's, we were together most of the time.

Grandpa wanted the Christmas tree put in the dining room as it was a very roomy one, and they had it decorated so beautifully. Aunt Jessie told Sis and me that they left decorations off of the lower limbs for us to put decorations on, and she said she would show us the right places to fasten them. Helping to decorate our first Christmas tree was so exciting, and it was so much fun. We gleefully finished decorating the tree.

After our evening meal was over, while Mama and Aunt Jessie were washing dishes, Aunt Jessie was telling Mama about the Christmas program she was helping with, and that she wanted to give Sis and me a part in the program, but Mama was fearful we couldn't remember our lines or that we might be frightened at such a crowd of people, but Aunt Jessie said to leave it up to her.

Aunt Jessie took us to the rehearsals, and Mary, of course, had a part in the program also. The church was just in the next block, and it was a lovely big one. Because of having a part in the Christmas program, Sis and I felt special -- sort of important.

Finally, it was the night of the Christmas program, and Sis and I knew we would make Mama proud of us. Grandpa and Mama were seated where they could enjoy the program. The play was an interesting and beautiful one. When we looked at Aunt Jessie, she looked so pleased that everything was going so well, and then she motioned to Sis that she was to go on stage. Sis sat in a rocker holding a doll to represent baby Jesus and she sang 'Away in a Manger.' Aunt Jessie played the piano for Sis, and Sis sang beautifully; everyone loved listening to her. Then, it was my turn; Aunt Jessie was back in the wings with me, and she said, 'You'll do beautifully, too,' and I walked out and stood in the middle of the stage saying these lines with gesticulations:

Hands and feet
to work and run;
Errands glad to do.
Make a gift the Savior loves,
and he will use them, too.
After I had said my lines, I bowed! I had spoken them loud and clear as Aunt Jessie had taught me, and there was much clapping for both Sis and me. It was then that I looked to where Mama and Grandpa sitting, and Mama was beaming happily, and Grandpa looked so pleased. Aunt Jessie and Mary came when Sis and I went to Mama and Grandpa, and we were hugged so lovingly.

In a very few days it was Christmas Eve, and we had to go to bed early so that Santa could have a chance to fill our stockings and put gifts under the tree. We were so excited that it was hard to go to sleep, but finally we did.

On Christmas morning, I was awakened by my sister, Velva Jean, saying, 'Sissie, Sissie, wake up. Santa Claus came last night.' And, she was jumping up and down with such joy! I, very sleepily, crawled from under the covers, and she took my hand and hurried me into the dining room. What a magical sight it was as our stockings were spilling over with gifts, and under the tree were beautifully wrapped gifts. Our little hearts all but burst with the happiness we were realizing!

Mama was sitting in a rocker holding our baby brother, and she was crying; that disturbed Sis and me because we couldn't understand anyone being sad at such a happy time. So, we would run back and forth to her trying to console her, but Grandpa assured us that Mama was crying because of happiness, and that she was alright; we believed him and went back to unwrapping gifts. In hindsight, I believe that she was crying because she had been denied that special kind of Christmas happiness.

Aunt Jessie and Mary came over, and they said Uncle Tony would be over in a little while. Aunt Jessie had prepared breakfast for Uncle Tony, but she and Mary decided they would rather share our breakfast! The dining table was set so beautifully, and besides food, there were fruits, nuts, and luscious grapes, but we were much to happy to be hungry, so we just skipped all about the dining room, and Grandpa chuckled at his highly excited and very happy grandchildren. The happiness we were realizing seemed so unreal that I felt like a fairy, and I felt that Sis did too as we flew here and there as if we had wings. We loved being with Grandpa, and Aunt Jessie was so much like Mama that we loved being with her and Mary who was so loveable. Mama told us she wanted to visit with her other sisters, and afterwards, we would be visiting some of her 'school chums.' Mama assured us we would be coming back to Grandpa's before we left for home!

AUNT EMMA (MARTIN) SWEENEY.

Mama wanted to go to Aunt Emma's and Uncle George's next because when Mama was young, and they lived on the farm, they were only six miles away, and she visited them often. It was much like her second home, so to Duncansville we went. Every greeting brought a flooding of tears, but Sis and I were getting used to them, and we knew that after the tears ceased to flow, their hearts would overflow with happiness, and that every visit was like a medicine to Mama!

Aunt Emma and Uncle George had three children -- two of our cousins were home, and one cousin was away in College. Though our cousins were in their teens, they were very loving with us, and Sis and I enjoyed being with them. We stayed a little over two weeks. Happy times always pass too quickly, but Mama said we just had to spend some time with Aunt Lizzie and Aunt Kate; so, our next trip was to Altoona.

AUNT ELIZABETH 'LIZZIE' (MARTIN)
and PETER DORMAN SCHAEFER

We went to Aunt Lizzie's and Uncle Peter's first before going to Aunt Kate's who lived quite some distance from Aunt Lizzie, but still in Altoona.

They had three children, too -- our cousin, Leo, was grown up and lived away, and our cousins, Sarah and Karen (elsewhere the daughters were said to be Violet and Olive, so perhaps like other Martin's they sometimes went by middle names), were in their late teens, but the differences in our ages didn't keep us from having a happy time as they played games with us, and we had a lot of fun with them. They were very loving and so pretty!

Uncle Peter was a dear and gentle man, and though he was very ailing, and lived with considerable pain, he spent time with us, too, and he wanted to hear about our Christmas and our visits with the other relatives. We were excitedly telling him about our Christmas, and he smiled all the time we were telling him all about what he wanted to know. He was enjoying listening to us, and he told us so! We loved him dearly and would never forget him. Aunt Lizzie was a very special lady and so loveable. Mama and she needed this visit, and their every moment together was just precious. It wasn't easy to leave, but it had been a beautiful visit -- one to cherish.

So many places to go, it was like being on a merry-go-round. Surely, Mama was tired, and Sis and I must have been, but being saturated with happiness since leaving home kept us from feeling tired.

AUNT KATHERINE 'KATE' (MARTIN) SCHOPER

Aunt Kate and Uncle Willard were very happy to see us, and since it was about noon, she had prepared a delicious meal for us. Kate was the oldest of the sisters, and she and Uncle Willard had one son, but he was married and lived in another state. Uncle Willard had had quite a damaging stroke on his left side, and it took quite a time for him to improve enough to get about. Though he had to drag his left leg, he was able to help Aunt Kate with some chores. Before we came, he had been taking threads out of the back seam of his trousers as since his bout with the stroke he had lost weight, and Kate was going to alter them so he could wear them, as she had altered his other trousers.

Later in the afternoon, Uncle Willard went back to the sewing room to finish pulling out the seam threads, and Sis and I followed him as it was interesting watching him cut threads with a razor blade, and then he would pull the threads out, which was very tedious. I guess we made him nervous watching him, and, of course, talking to him for he became a little grouchy, and we left. Aunt Kate told us not to let that bother us for he really loved us. She said he had been through so much, and life still wasn't easy for him; we felt sorry we had followed him to the sewing room.

Aunt Kate was a very talented Lady, and one of her many talents was being a beautiful seamstress. While we were there, she made Sis and me each a beautiful dress, and we loved them. She still taught students to play the piano, but she had told them she needed two weeks free to enjoy every minute of our visit, and we were glad she had kept the two weeks just for us as Aunt Kate was so motherly - even with Mama! She, being the oldest of the children, helped her mother take care of those younger than she. She also did much of the cooking at home, and every meal she prepared for us was mouth-watering delicious. She surely had been a good teacher as all of our other aunts were excellent cooks, too. Leaving Aunt Kate and Uncle Willard was not easy, either. It had been a wonderfully happy two weeks, and Uncle Willard proved his love for us in many ways. We admired him so much and loved him dearly.

AUNT SARAH (MARTIN) SCHUEY.

We went from Aunt Kate's to Aunt Sarah's for a few days' visit, and in that little while, we were blessed with even more happiness to remember. Our cousins gave Sis and me some games that they had taught us how to play, and this was a happy surprise. Aunt Sarah had bought Sis and me each a lovely doll which we adored, so, we left them with overflowing hearts of joy and love.

GRANDPA, JAMES FREDERICK MARTIN
and, AUNT JESSIE (MARTIN) THALBO

But, it was wonderful to be back with Grandpa again as his warmth - just to be near him - proved the depth of his love for us. It was wonderful, too, being with Aunt Jessie and Mary, and seeing Uncle Tony again.

Plans had already been made for some visits to Mama's 'school chums,' and since, at least that area of Pennsylvania, was heavily blanketed with snow, we were put in a sleigh to be taken to the farms where they lived. Hot bricks were wrapped and put under our feet, a warm lap cover was wrapped all over us, and then a scarf was wrapped around our necks and heads, leaving just our noses and eyes visable.

The horses' harnesses had bells fastened to them, and as they skimmed us over the crusted snow, the very atmosphere was filled with musical 'jingle bells;' it was so beautiful to listen to! I remember watching the breath coming from the horses' nostrils, and it looking like white frost. It was so terribly cold, but the horses were pulling our sleigh at such a fast pace, I don't suppose they minded the cold. After going off the main road on to the farm, it seemed like magic as we appeared to be flying through meadows and lanes through woods, and then all of a sudden the horses had stopped so quickly, and what a relief it was to get unbundled. But, we had been kept nice and warm, and that was what was important.

These visits with Mama's close friends were wonderful, and their greetings were about as tearful as those with our aunts. Being with them was much like being with our relatives as they, too, were so dear and loving. Each home that we entered, the good smells of the meal which they were preparing meant that we would be enjoying another delicious meal.

Sis and I could never forget those thrilling sleigh rides or hearing the crunching snow as the sleigh's runners dug into the crusted snow. The air was filled with jingle bells which we listened to so happily, and I haven't forgotten that beautiful team of horses that gracefully pulled our sleigh over the snow-crusted lanes and roads. It was so thrilling an experience that it is lasting me my lifetime.

Sis and I had been living in a dream world, so when Mama told us that it was time to go home, we were very sad. But when Mama reminded us that our Aunts and Grandpa promised they would come to visit us, and that they would see to it that we would have a happy Christmas every year, we felt much better then because we knew they would keep their promises. Besides, Mama said our neighbors would be missing us and our other close friends, and they would be so happy to have us back home. So, Grandpa and Aunt Jessie took us to the station, and I'm sure they were sad to see us leave, but they talked very cheerfully to Sis and me to help us feel better about leaving. Of course, there were goodbye tears, but nothing like the greetings were.

Once we were on the train and settled in our seats, we felt ready to enjoy another train ride. Again, this conductor paid us a lot of attention as did the passengers, and we loved all that attention. Mama had told us while we were still on the train that our Daddy would have missed us, but he would try not to show his feelings.

DADDY, SIMON ELIAS ROUTH.

Daddy met us at the station, and though he tried to not show his feelings, we just knew he was glad to have us home, and Mama gave us a 'knowing wink' that he was!

Just as Mama had told us, the neighbors and close friends were overjoyed to have us home, and they said they had missed us so much. Mama seemed more content than we had known her to be in our home, and Sis and I were really glad to be sleeping in our own beds. Being able to play with the neighbor children again was wonderful, and we taught them how to play the games our cousins had given us, and they loved playing the games with us. We were really glad to be home.

In hindsight, while our three month visit with Mama's loved ones was happy beyond measure, it was also a time of healing. Having lived through almost eighty-eight 'milestones of life,' I have found it to be so true -- that there is truly 'no place like home!'