Some sixty years ago, starting a week before Christmas, Father (Nelson Banting) read aloud to us the wonderful “Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. He read one chapter a night from the unabridged copy of the book. That was all the time available each night. Father shed a few tears in the sad parts and always made the excuse that he must have a slight cold.
On Christmas Eve, everyone went into town (Alliston) for last-minute shopping. The stores were open until midnight. That was the perfect time for everyone to visit friends in the friendly town atmosphere. Coming home late, as very young children, I remember hurrying into the living room where a huge old pot-bellied stove that burned coal, gave an eerie light through its dozens of tiny mica windows. This made the tinsel on our Christmas tree sparkle and we could see our empty stockings. Of course, we always hoped Santa had come while we were in town. I still have a hard-backed book Santa brought me. It had four or five coloured illustrations; it cost 5 cents and was called Winkie Bunny Tale.
Upstairs where the stove pipe came through the floor, was a round drum. It was hot from the coal stove below and kept us warm while we got ready for bed.
Christmas Day was wonderful with bells ringing in the Town (Alliston) What a magical sound that was up on our hill. Then there were Santa’s gifts and candy, nuts, and an orange in each stocking. When chores were done, we went on a cutter ride behind Father’s beautiful horse, Paddy, with harness bells jingling. We went to Grandma Drennan’s house, where there were lots of aunts and uncle’s. Such happy shouts of “Merry Christmas” as we drove back into the farm yard! What a wonderful aroma of sage and onions and cooking fowl. All home grown, of course. There were mincemeat pies, Christmas pudding and all the goodies of Christmas. As we went through our kitchen into the dining room my younger brother, Alan (Alan Douglas Banting 1912 -1977) and I usually sat with Grampa (William Thompson Banting (1849-1928) in a corner behind the huge old stove until dinner was served. I can hear all the happy laughter yet. About the only time it was quiet was while Grampa said the blessing.
The huge Christmas tree always had a prominent place. It was decorated by a master hand. My Uncle J.J. (Drennan) was exceptionally good at it and it was piled high and around the base with gifts. As I look back, the happy voices and loving arms were more important than the gifts. Then the music; singing Carols around the old piano was a very important part of Christmas.
Of course, there were Christmas dinners at the Banting Homestead farm home too. Here were the younger cousins. One, Helen Banting (Helen Gertrude Banting 1911- 2002) was just a little younger than I and we were great chums until married life parted us. Helen was the only member of our wedding party to attend our 40th wedding anniversary. My brothers, sister and Gordon’s brother have passed on.
Now a Christmas story about Sir Frederick Banting, Father’s youngest brother uncle Fred was very anxious to buy a gift for his Mother, so Grandpa gave him 5 cents, took him to town so he could buy his own gift. He put his gift in the top of the trunk where his clothes were kept. He bought a little cup and saucer and it was such a nice gift he couldn’t wait for Christmas to show it to her. Well, he took his mother up to his room and told her where she was to look for her gift. He opened his trunk and dropped the lid very quickly. He was satisfied and was able to wait until the proper time to give it to her.
Grandma Banting (Margaret née Grant Banting 1884 – 1940) was having trouble to get her woodbox filled. She gave Father (Nelson) something red to put on and he slid out one kitchen door just as his younger brothers were coming in another, of course, they thought it was Santa checking on them. The boys turned pale and the wood box was filled in record time.
New Years Day all the relatives came to our farmhouse. That was a very happy time also. After dinner, for as many as 35. Sometimes, everyone but the oldsters went sleigh riding or tobogganing on our hills. The Banting boys always had a great deal of fun teasing the Drennan girls.
The Sunday School Concert was a very outstanding event. Our family always took part as Father and Mother always helped a great deal at this time. Father kept order while Mother and the other teachers trained the children. My brother, Alan was a boy soprano and often sang in these concerts. Brother Angus ( Edward Angus Banting 1908 1965) and I sang ‘Dear Little Stranger’ when I was three and Angus was five. We just stood and clapped with the audience until Mother called us. There were always plays and recitations, and choruses. The concert usually ended with the Manger Scene and the Christmas story. Then Santa came and gifts from the tree and bags of candy for the children brought a close to a wonderful evening
Jean Webster (Margaret Jean Banting 1909-1999) was the daughter of Nelson Banting (Angus Nelson Banting 1881- 1941). Nelson was married to Margaret Elizabeth Drennan (1886 – 1954). He was the oldest brother of Frederick Banting. Jean married Gordon Webster (Francis Gordon Webster 1905 -1988) and recorded these memories for her niece Helen née Emmett Hargrave in 1983. Nelson Banting farmed on the Scotch Line of Essa Township a mile north of Alliston Ontario. He could see the farm to the east where he grew up, from his hilltop farm.