We Did the Best That We Could

December 21, 1989

By Isabel Morse Maresh

Christmas is a mystical, magical time of year, and a time of miracles. Everyone has fond memories of Christmas here in Maine. It is also a time of heartache for those who are not as fortunate as others.

In the back part of Northport, in my early days, we got excited about Christmas about the first of December. We got dressed up and got out in the woods and dragged in a tree. We would put Janette's star on the top and trim it with homemade decorations. When the tree started to droop, one of us would have spotted one that we thought was better, and so we'd drag in another and redecorate. My mother had great patience.

The gifts on our tree were not plenteous by today's standards. We went through our prized possessions, wrapped them in wallpaper or catalog pages, and gave them to each other. We would get coloring books, crayons, and maybe a book of paper dolls, and a pair of home knit mittens from Aunt Mildred. If we needed boots, they would be under the tree. Mamma would make flannel nightgowns, pajamas, cut down a wool coat, or make a one-piece wool snowsuit.

Christmas dinner was plenteous, of venison, pork roast from the pig raised each year, and freshly dressed chickens from the flock, with biscuit stuffing, vegetables, and a variety of pies.

I remember one Christmas that I got a doll. I ran to the kitchen to show mamma what Santa had brought. She acted so surprisedly. no doll was ever loved more. It was a composition baby doll. She fell one day and broke her head at the seam. I made her a bonnet, stuffed it with rags, and she was still loved. I forgot and left her outside one time, and the dog chewed her up.

Annie saw Santa come once, and we heard his reindeers' hooves on the roof. She had us convinced. Perhaps that was the year that she opened all the gifts and switched the tags.

It was sometimes hard to understand why Santa left so much at our cousins' homes, but we didn't think on it long.

Christmas, as our seven children were growing up in Searsmont and Belmont, was not an easy time on a laborer's wages. There seemed to be no extra money, especially at the holiday time of the year. cooking, sewing and making do, but it truly is a time of miracles. One Christmas I had wanted a turkey for Christmas dinner and it just didn't fit into the budget. A relative brought in a large frozen turkey, which had apparently fallen from a truck. God abundantly provides.

When I told Julie there wouldn't be much for Christmas, she said, "Mamma, do you know how many times you've told us that, and we've always had Christmas!" I can truly say that as a mother, for my own mother in keeping up traditions, and mothers all over Waldo County, "We did the best that we could!"

The commercialism of Christmas has taken away the real meaning of giving. If you know of a young family struggling to have a merry Christmas or an older person who will be alone, reach out to them. Take them a holiday dinner, gifts for the children. I just heard of a young family who has no furniture, only the basic warn-out kind. They could use a little help. There are a lot of such families in Waldo county. A mother can feel depressed and heartsick knowing that her children will not receive all of the toys that are promised in the media.

It is more blessed to give than to receive, and to give to those who need to receive, and not just to those "who have everything."

May the joy found in god's promises bless you this Christmas and forevermore.