Angelkeep Christmas evolved over the years to become a mishmash of today’s vibe, heavily laden with the past.
Angelkeep’s Christmas tree mirrors its centenary season. Modern LED lights cast a glow on many snowflake ornaments crocheted by the hands of Grandma Tracey Wolf. One hand-made ornament, unlike Grandma Tracey’s, depicted one of E.B. Williamson’s passions from over a century ago. That iris ornament, created by E.B.’s great granddaughter, is but a babe of two months.
More old than new permeates Angelkeep Christmas. After all, the two human inhabitants entered in their final quarter of any potential century of living. They’ve seen a thing or two, have Gwen and Alan. They know the past. Read it. Lived it. They relish it.
Prior to Christmas of 1900, E.B. netted dragonflies and possibly pondered over a planted pot of iris seeds. A precursor of today’s LEDs then lighted up a Bluffton newspaper:
“An electric light outfit for a Christmas tree has a suitable battery which is enclosed in a box placed at the foot of the tree, from which two main wires run up the tree trunk,” an article shared.
“The bulbs of the little incandescent lamps, which are made in the shape of a candle flame, and in white glass of various other colors, screw each into a little socket that is like a little cup, with a tiny spike projecting from its underside. By means of this spike the lamp can be placed anywhere in the tree; on any branch with body enough to permit thrusting the point of the spike into it. From a cup at the base of the bulb there are two wires of sufficient length to reach the main wires along the tree trunk with which they are connected. The lights of this equipment would keep going for twenty hours, but it is not, of course, intended to run them continuously for that time. They can be turned on and off at will.”
How ridiculous it would seem to a 1900 tree-lighter to hear that Angelkeep lights its Christmas tree 24/7 from soon after Halloween to Valentine’s Day. Christ light.
Grandma Wolf annually hung a plastic sprig of mistletoe (old school) at the top of the archway between her dining and living rooms. Angelkeep has mastered holiday kisses sans greenery décor. Mr. Greene (a true poet’s name in 1900) wrote “A Bit of Deception.”
“She stood beneath no chandelier
Entwined with mistletoe;
I glanced the hall-length far and near,
I looked both high and low;
No license for a kiss was hung,
‘Twas near a failure flat,
When lo, I spied a spring among
The feathers on her hat.”
Angelkeep loves old newspapers. Angelkeep loves old books. That’s old-school, so we’re told. Without them the story of “burning the Christmas candle” would have been lost well over a century ago.
New England’s Puritan children found entertainment near the yule log beside a burning candle:
“This taper was a home-made affair and differed from other tallow dips only in being larger and having the wick divided at the lower end to form three legs, while at its heart was concealed a quill well filled with gunpowder. On Christmas Eve it was lighted, and the quaint little Puritan folk sat around telling stories and riddles until suddenly the candle went off with a tremendous explosion, making a delightful excitement and giving the children of the colonies their only taste of uproarious holiday fun.”
They lived simpler times, unlike the harried holiday of today. That phrase has been repeated by every generation since a pilgrim lit their cabin’s Christmas candle.
1900’s “Christmas Counsel” should be read and adhered to yet today:
“Do not work so hard, getting ready for the feast of the day that you have no strength left to enjoy the good things you have prepared. Do not strain your eyes over that piece of embroidery. Oculists’ prices are high. Do not fancy yourself generous because you have spent every cent you can—foolish fits the case better.”
Kiss significant others now. Tomorrow’s not promised. The older you get, the more you’ll understand. You’re on the right track. You “read” this, in a “newspaper.”
Merry Christmas from Angelkeep.
Mr. Daugherty is a Wells County resident who, along with his wife Gwen, enjoy their backyard and have named it “Angelkeep.”
