Come Visit Christmas Past ~

Hitch your horse and carriage near our barn,

Embark with me upon our Christmas yarn . . .

Footfalls crunching through freshly fallen snow,

We journey to Christmas cheer of long ago . . .

The year is 1845,

a modest time to be alive . . .

Along the brickened path we walk,

Perhaps we pause a moment with friends and we talk . . .

Daniel Dove Collins lives here,

With lovely bride, Elizabeth, such a dear . . .

A porch candle lights our way,

The greens outside upon display . . .

The scent of pine is upon the air,

As we climb the steps, a small tree does appear . . .

Nestled with sprays of garland all around,

With wreath of greens, the door is crowned . . .

Smaller wreaths dance as the wind does blow,

Tied with ribbon on each frosty window . . .

Enter now do we,

Into the home of our dear friend, mister D.D. . . .

His greeting shows us the way,

To many Christmas trees on display . . .

The first is from time of his day,

A feather tree, rather sparse in comparison to today . . .

A candle here, a candle there,

A few baubles suspended on branches near bare . . .

Now a tree, with more candles do I see,

With garlands of popcorn and many a red berry . . .

Bits of ribbon dangle, too,

Making this tree more festive, it's true . . .

Next we see a time capsule of sorts,

A glorious tree fills the living room parlor court . . .

It dazzles of the next period of time,

Of the glorious Victorian Age it does chime . . .

Gloriously hung with garlands of gold,

Glass orbs of beauty glimmer of this time of old . . .

Upon the mantle, the décor is grand,

Candles aglow and pines gathered from our homeland . . .

Who is that near the fire in the rocking chair?

Why it’s Sandee Kane, she’s tatting there . . .

Traditions of old, she’s dressed the part,

Displaying what’s fast become a lost art . . .

Hello, Elizabeth, your décor is so fine,

What is that I see with a crystalline shine?. . .

A glass ornament, so very old,

Topped with a hanger of all things, cardboard . . .

And on display, what do I spy?

An heirloom of Christmases long gone by . . .

Our thanks to the Hellige family, to be sure,

Sharing an antique of Santa amidst pines and a church . . .

Next, to the kitchen of holiday fare,

Oh my, what a shiny tree we have here . . .

Modern day, well somewhat,

One of mid-20th century aluminum shines near the chestnut . . .

So part must we, back to the snow,

We bid farewell to D.D. and his family, yes, we must go . . .

A cup of hot cocoa along for the ride,

Climb into our carriage back to the time where we bide.

Please be sure to stop in and see,

our wonderland of Christmas past and many a tree!

Thanks be to Lois Metzer for photos taken during the Second Christmas Gathering on December 2nd, 2017.