So you ask for the Christmas of our childhood days? My, it seems only yesterday that we were romping, happy, carefree youngsters, eagerly waiting for Christmas Day to come; we roamed the nearby hills, gathering holly berries and mistletoe to help decorate the house; and it was sweet and homey.

Today everything is made to order - artificial and beautiful - you just buy and put them up - glittering and gorgeous, but I wonder if children today get the real thrill that was ours with the simple homemade garlands?

Sonora was just a sweet little country town then, everybody knew everybody - everybody knew how many beaus Mary had - and who was going to get married and who was going to have a baby - and all were interested; people visited neighbors and friends - now they are too busy so they telephone; today the world is too busy - we do not have time to see the ones we know and love. Why - it seems to me we used to accomplish so much and still had time to do the thoughtful, friendly acts.

Mundorf's was another fascinating place at Christmas - and lighted with just flickering oil lamps - they seemed so bright to us; and the drug store windows with huge round jars or bottles - red, blue and green - so colorful; I have never known the significance of these in the drug store windows or what was in them.

I remember on Christmas Day all the old bachelor miners would come into town - they would sit on the benches along the street and perhaps have dinner at a hotel or restaurant - and too, they hoped to be treated to a Christmas drink - Tom and Jerry. I recall so many of those lonely old men I knew from childhood who lived along Wood's Creek and on Bald Mountain; on this day were dressed in their best clothes- wearing often a nugget watch chain.

And we do not forget those delicious home cooked Christmas dinners - everything homemade - no cans or packaged goods in those days - and no one could prepare and season things like Mother.

Yes - we all love to think of those carefree days when the whole world smiled because it was Christmas - the happy family circle still unbroken - no vacant chairs. I am glad I knew these simple Christmases, but I will join with my family and kiddies in a modern Christmas celebration and like it.