CHRISTMAS AT RUTHVEN IN 1874

Transcription of a letter from the archives written to Drew and Lydia Thompson in 1952 from Susan Grant, age 86.

“I shall proceed to describe to you what may be of interest to you, our Christmas at Ruthven in 1874. Your grandmother, nee “Elizabeth Stinson” once the Belle of Hamilton invited our family to spend Christmas at Ruthven.

So after lunch on the day before Christmas, Father and Mother with us four youngsters ranging from 2 to 9 yrs. packed ourselves into the cutter under the buffalo-robes. There was plenty of snow and the going was good, we went across the river on the ice, there was no bridge then, then past the distillery and over the canal on a short bridge and up the hill through the village of Indiana, and past the Lodge, where Oxely admitted us into Ruthven Park, and so on to Ruthven Mansion, where we received the warmest of welcomes from all.

We youngsters spent a jolly time before and after supper until early bedtime. Xmas morning we rose and dressed warmly, and went about wishing all a Merry Christmas. Soon we gathered at the breakfast table. All the household servants were there to wish us a Merry Xmas, and were invited to stay for prayers which your grandfather conducted each morning.

This morning he read the portion for the day and had father lead in prayer, immediately after breakfast, all the servants, a large crowd, were called in to exchange the season’s greetings and to receive presents. When they had departed, the large tree gradually yielded its treasures to old and young alike, father received a large Bible with copious helps and useful information that he used till his death. Your grandmother received a beautiful statue for the mantle. I received a pair of skates and a pretty box of water-colours. Bessie had also received skates, our first skates.

We went to the canal after lunch, accompanied by one of the servants to try our new skates. There was a big crowd, and young men on the ice, some of them quite good skaters, some of them whom we knew helped us to screw and strap our skates on our boots; and then we began our first lessons, and continued till we were quite tired; then we dragged ourselves slowly home to enjoy a wonderful and delicious Christmas dinner with our well-whetted, youthful appetites, after, spending the evening with games in the drawing room.

That night heavy snow fell, so no more skating the next day so we older children spent part of the day very pleasantly romping in the deep snow, and the younger ones stayed indoors with our parents about the grate fire. On the following day Father and Mother packed their four children in the cutter, and sped home to a hearty welcome from our faithful servant-girl Bessie Hamilton. The memorable Xmas was past.”