the box. It was without doubt the largest one there and when the auctioneer picked it up, he said, "This looks like something you could pick potatoes in." I took it as an insult and felt really embarrassed. The feeling was for my mother because I thought that she would feel the same way as I did. I did not even mention it to her afterwards so I just suffered it out alone. It probably did not bother her a bit. My dad bought the basket because he knew the quality and quantity it contained. There were house panics now and then with lots of fiddling, dancing, piano music and singing. Young and old gathered. Everyone enjoyed himself or herself and hated when it was time to leave. Christmascs in those years were really times to remember. It was a joy to watch the making of cakes and pudding. These were done early and not left to the last minute. The fruit smelled and looked so good as it was being cut up. I always relate early Christmascs with the smell of apples and oranges as these were the only times when we could have such choice fruits in the house. The first couple of Christmascs I remember, we went to bed fairly early believing that Santa would come after we were asleep. Mom and dad then brought in the tree and trimmed it. I shall never forget the magic of that first Christmas morning, which I can remember, to come downstairs early and find a beautifully trimmed tree in the comer of the dining room. It was overwhelming. That sight was almost enough in itself. There were gifts too-not like the gifts of today but I think that they were appreciated more. Margaret and I got our first and only dolls for Christmas. My aunt sent them from Boston. They were large china dolls with movable limbs and sleeping eyes. Mine was dressed in pale blue and Margaret's in pale pink. They had black patent shoes and white stockings. We spent many happy hours playing with them over the next two or three years. Another event which I must tell about is the visit of my aunt who belonged to the Sisters of St. Ann . She had joined the order at an early age and this was her first trip back to the Island. At that time the sisters were not permitted to travel alone. Her travelling companion was another sister about her own age. I think that they were allowed about ten days to visit. Because we lived so far from a convent or the Chariottctown Hospital, they were given special permission to stay with us for the duration of their holidays. They enjoyed it very much. They liked to stroll through the fields and pick wild flowers. My dad rented a double seated buggy to drive them around. As children we were terribly excited when we saw this very classy looking carriage come into our yard. It had square candle lamps on both sides and leather curtains with small windows of isinglass that could be rolled down in case of rain. I am certain that those sisters enjoyed it as much as we did. The sisters particularly liked the shore below the house. There was a flat bottomed row boat anchored there and when the tide was in they liked to sit in it and do their praying and meditating and just ride around ink.