The Lansdowne Letters: Christmas Without My Father, 1960

Christmas 1960 was the only time during my childhood
that our whole family did not celebrate the holiday together.

Santa in Lansdowne House

with Mrs. Mitchell, the Wife of the Hudson's Bay Company Manager, 1960

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

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My father joined friends in Lansdowne House in Northern Ontario,
while my mother and we five children spent Christmas together
at our Grandmother MacDonald's home in Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia.

Dad's mother, our Nana MacBeath, traveled from Charlottetown,
Prince Edward Island, to spend the holiday with us.

On Monday, December 26, 1960 
My mother wrote to her mother and sister:

Dear Mother and Louise:
It was so good to talk to you all, 
and I wish I could have sent you all something nice for Christmas, but I was really going around here in circles.

Mom (Sara/Sally)
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

A Letter from Sara

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

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However I was able to get Muriel to come in a few days 
this week before Christmas, and she was a great help.  
Stella did a lot of cooking for me.

The children all had a wonderful Christmas.  
They received the gifts I wrote you about.  
Louise also received ski pants, ski sock slippers, and books from Don’s mother, 
Roy pants, ski sock skippers, socks, and books, 
Donnie jeans, ski sock slippers, and books from same.

Roy and Me (Louise) on Grammie's Front Steps

Smith's Cove, Likely Summer 1954

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

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She (Nana) brought me a nice dressy sweater
and chocolates and panties from Aunt Maude.  

Cynith sent a dollar for the children’s socks,
and Miss Cummings sent a book and I think $2.00.  
I felt terrible because she can’t afford to do this.  
The only thing I can think to do is buy 
a couple of Tom’s books of poems.  

Josephine came home, and she brought over candy
and coloring books and crayons for the children.
It is very warm here.

Barbie on Grammie's Front Lawn

Smith's Cove, Likely Summer 1960

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

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I certainly missed Don putting up the tree,
decorating it, and filling the children’s’ stockings.  

He is as bad as the children and was up every Christmas morning
before they were, dragging me reluctantly from bed.  
It just didn’t seem like Christmas.  

Don’s mother seems to be enjoying herself.  
We are getting along fine.  
Muriel was in today helping me.

Thanks for all the money you sent.
The children loved their gifts.  

The baby fell in love
with the iron and ironing board.

Well I must close now and put out the dog and milk bottle.



Baby Bertie in Her Cousin Dawn's Home 
Montreal,  Winter 1961
© Photo by Dawn MacDonald White

We don’t know for certain if we will be going North.  
I didn’t say anything in case we wouldn’t go, 
and I knew you would worry. 

I am enclosing a letter from Maureen.   
If we go, do you want me to try and rent the house?
Love and kisses, 
Sara.

I sent Tom and Miss Cummings two-pint jars of jam, 
and Cynith two small jars of jam.

Roy and Donnie

Atholville, New Brunswick, Likely Summer 1957

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

When I read my mother's words,
I am struck by the kindness and generosity of our neighbors 
who gave us gifts when they had little themselves.
Cynith and Miss Cummings were lifelong friends of my Grandmother Ella,
and Josephine, I think, was Grammie's cousin.
They understood the difficult time our family was experiencing.

Her words also remind me of many in the Cove
who worked hard to earn a bit of extra money however they could:
Muriel Robinson who did housekeeping chores for my mother,
Tom Cummings who published small books of poetry,
and Stella who baked cookies, doughnuts, and other goods.

And those same neighbors bought my Christmas cards,
stationery, and other small things so I could buy 
Christmas gifts for my family for the first time.

There were no Christmas photographs of us that year.
My mother could have borrowed a camera,
but whether for lack of money, time, or exhaustion,
she took no photos.

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue



Boars Head Lighthouse
Tiverton, Long Island, Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Links to Earlier Posts:

TLL: Traffic Jam

TLL: Freeze-up Worries


Notes:  

1.  Tom and Miss Adelaide Cummings:
          Tom and his sister Adelaide lived next door to my grandmother.
          Adelaide devoted her life to caring for her brother Tom who was handicapped from birth.
          By Christmas 1960, Tom was mostly bedridden.
          In December 1960, Miss Cummings was 81, but I don't know what Tom's age was.
          My brother Roy and his wife Susan currently own the land the Cummings home was on.

          In her book "Down Nova Scotia Way", the author Hazel M. Clayton spelled their last
          name as Cuming, but my mother always referred to them Cummings.

          I obtained a copy of Clayton's book from the Smith's Cove Museum.  It has no publisher,
          publication date, or copyright listed.  The Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia in its
          library records indicates that it was self-published by Hazel M. Clayton in 1964.

          Following is a previously unpublished poem by Tom Cummings in Clayton's book.

         My Sister
       There is a little Lady,
       Aged four score years today,
       Her name is Adelaide Beatrice;
       A princess!  Well, I'll say.

       A diadem of white she wears,
       More beautiful than snow,
       But once it shone like burnished gold,
       So many years ago.

       To be a friend to everyone
       Has always been her aim;
       A kindly word, a helping deed,
       That's how she plays the game.

        My sister!  And she is the best
        A man was ever given,
        For all she ever had she gave
        To keep me with the livin'.

        And toil she has for fifty years,
        That I might happy be;
        Success is hers, as can be seen,
        Whene'er you call on me.

        by Thomas G. A. Cuming
        November 17, 1959
        (p. 90 "Down Nova Scotia Way")
        
Note:  Any additional information from my siblings or extended family would be
                        greatly appreciated.


2.  Cynith Thomas:
     I spent many hours after school visiting Miss Thomas during the fall of 1960.
     Cynith lived next door to Grammie's, but her home further back from the main road.
     I remember the bright flowers around her home, the beautiful antiques inside,
     but most of all the wonderful stories she told me while she rested in her bed.
     Sure wish I remembered the content of those stories today!
   
     In her 60s at the time, Miss Thomas was the unmarried great great granddaughter
     of Loyalist Joseph Smith for whom Smith's Cove was named.
     He acquired his Smith's Cove land in 1783 from Joseph Potter
     in exchange for his original land grant in nearby Upper Clements.
     (p. 101 "Down Nova Scotia Way")
      
     The author of "Down Nova Scotia Way" spelled Cynith's name as Ceneth
     in various places.
   

3.  My apology for not getting around to your blogs this week.
     I think I'm finally on the mend.


For Map Lovers Like Me:

Smith's Cove in Nova Scotia

Wikimedia

Location of Grammie's House

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

Grammie's House Today

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia