Bio: Stettler, Adelle - Christmas Recollections (1981)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson
Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Stettler, Schaefer

---Marshfield News-Herald (17 December 1981)

The largest room in our brick farmhouse was an unfinished upstairs room over the kitchen which was known as "the kitchenpart."

The walls were 2x4"s, the ceiling open 2x8's and the floor rough boards. In the center, a brick chimney rose from the floor and towered on up to the peak of the roof. There were two windows on one end that allowed some light to filter in among the many things stored there.

We children loved to explore among the remnants of bygone days. There was the old cream separator whose handle we loved to turn, setting the whole thing in motion. The old butter churn was there, as well as Grandma's old trunk which we all knew came across the ocean with her as a young girl.

Grandpa's old rifle hung high above our reach on two large spikes, and we were warned never to touch it. Old clothes, outgrown or out-of-style, filled many boxes stacked along one side of the room and old furniture took up another corner. From the ceiling, on heavy wires, hung two large swinging shelves which Dad kept seed corn, grass seed and other things to be kept out of the reach of children.

Our old games and toys were also in "the kitchenpart," so my brother and I often went up there to play on rainy summer days or in winter. So it was there we were about two weeks before Christmas when I was six and he a year younger.

We were poking around looking at things when an old pink blanket right next to Grandma's trunk took our eye.

We raised one corner, and lo and behold, we saw a lovely little table with two spindle-back chairs. they were of light colored wood and varnished to a high shine. Our eyes grew wide with surprise at such a magnificent sight among all the old "junk." We could hardly believe our good fortune as we ran our hands over the smooth table top. To us, it was a shining star, made more brilliant by its poor surroundings.

Then, suddenly, we both had the same idea. We ran down the steps as fast as we could, calling for Mom as soon as we hit the bottom step. We tumbled into the kitchen and both talking at once, told of our marvelous discovery. I remember Mom wasn't nearly as excited as we were and I couldn't understand why. She carefully explained that Santa was not able to bring such a large gift on Christmas Eve and so it had arrived early. It didn't spoil Christmas for us one bit as we were so happy to see the table and chairs again under the tree on Christmas morning.

My brother and I spent many happy hours with that table set, and I still have it after all four of my children have used it. But none of them experienced the joy of my brother and me on that day we discovered our "Christmas Star" under the old pink blanket.

Adelle Stettler and her husband, Lawrence live on Route 1 Abbotsford. He id the elementary principal at Abbotsford. They are the parents of three teenage daughters and have one married daughter. Mrs. Stettler enjoys being a homemaker, likes to sew, make quilts and do any kind of craft work. Sharing in this memory are her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Reinhold Schaefer of Route 1, Abbostford.