Christmas at the New Southern - 1940 dn english
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| The City of Jackson was bright with Christmas lights as we approached the New Southern Hotel. The year was 1940, and I was eight years old. Mother and Father had agreed to meet my brother at the train station and take the family out for Christmas dinner. Brother was stationed in South Carolina with a lot of the National Guard members from Jackson. One of the families had pulled some strings to get their son home for Christmas dinner, so all the boys that could get a ticket and a pass got to come home, if but only for a few hours. They had to be back on the train the same night to get back in time to report. We parked the car in front of the New Southern, got our bags out and Father checked us in since we were spending the night. While he did that, Mother and I walked down to Miss Ruby=s rooms to see the birds. Miss Ruby was the head housekeeper and since she would not give up her birds, the Carpenters at the New Southern had built her a nine foot Aviary to house her babies. On rare occasion she would sell her parakeets in a special cage, to a very special person. Father found us and we went up to our room. I knew in my heart Brother would be going to war soon. Even though Mother wouldn=t talk about it, I would see her cry when she listened to the radio. We got in the room and started putting all the decorations up. Mother had drawn a picture of a Christmas tree so we pinned that to the curtains and put all of brother=s presents on the floor. We finished just as Father announced it was time to go to the station. I was so busy watching everything that the train had pulled in and Brother was hugging Mother before I knew it. All the way back to the hotel everyone talked at once, but that was alright because I was sitting next to my big brother and he looked so grownup in his uniform. By the time we got back to the hotel it was time for dinner.The restaurant was all decorated for the holidays. The lady showed us to our table. The dinner was wonderful. I tried Shrimp Cocktail, Cream of Asparagus Soup, something called Prime Rib of Beef with a big stuffed baked potato and peas. For desert I got Ambrosia , Fruit Cake and Boiled Custard. We laughed and talked all through dinner, it was so wonderful! After dinner we went back to the room and Brother opened his presents. All too soon it was time to take him back to the station. Mother had a bag so Brother packed all his gifts and the homemade goodies Mother and I had made. The trip back to the train was so fast. Brother got back on the train and we stood there until the train was out of sight. I know the Christmas lights were on but I couldn=t see them through my tears. When we got back to the room, there on the table, was a beautiful birdcage with an ice blue parakeet in it. I ran over to it and saw an envelope with my name on it. I sat down to read the note, it read, ATo my beloved little sister from her big Brother.@ I cried, then I laughed. It was the best Christmas ever. This story was told by a lady who did not wish to be named. |
