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‘Look at her pretty drawers!’ ”
Ann’s family never had a Christmas tree. Instead, the whole house was decorated with garlands of evergreens and sprays of boxwood. And in place of presents under the tree, the children found their gifts in stockings hung by the chimney with care. Not just one chimney but at all the chimneys in the homes of relatives visited during a round of family dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Orange: \ id Figs
Ann’s husband Aubrey grew up in Gid Brown Hollow, one of ten Keyser children. His family had a tree. “But we didn’t get the presents children get today. We were lucky if we had one orange apiece, a few nuts, some raisins and figs - we always got figs for Christmas. And it was the only time we had them. We grew up believing that Christmas was the only time you could get figs.”
Christmas was also the only time the Keyser family had oysters. “My father always bought five gallons every Christmas — for $2.50, I think. Course, $2.50 was a lot more money then than it is today,” said Mr. Keyser, who now counts his years in the 70’s.
Oysters play a prominent role in one of Ann Keyser’s favorite holiday •> stories. “People enjoyed giving presents in the old days. They gave presents but they
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