The Gift Received Around the Campfire

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In 1857 the San Bernardino, California Saints were called home to Utah Territory in the wake of the United States army dispatched to the Salt Lake Valley. Some of the California Saints left December 24^th, 1857. That evening, after a long day of traveling, the children received their gifts. What gift did they receive?

a.                  Apples

b.                  Oranges

c.                   Candy

d.                  Snow

Yesterday’s answer:

A.                  Theirs was more expensive

From the life of Mary Jane Mount Tanner:   Monday, Dec. 24.   I have been very busy all day. I took the buggy about noon and drove around giving a few invitations for dinner tomorrow. I called at the Hall where the Christmas tree was being arranged but as my assistance was not needed Sister Harding and I went to the Second Ward Assembly Rooms to look at their Christmas Tree. It was very pretty but not so expensive as ours. I came home and helped to prepare supper as Maria was busy cooking and churning. We all went to the Exhibition in the evening. The tree was very nice and proved a success. All the children had nice presents. My little girls had shell boxes. Bertrand had a pocket book and knife, and Lewis a horse on wheels. 

   Tuesday Dec. 25.  Christmas is over at last. The day so eagerly anticipated by the little folks. Owing to the decoration of the tree Santa Claus had but little for their stockings. There were some cakes and apples and little prize boxes, and some trifles that Bessie had made for her brothers and sisters. Bessie had a nice wax doll and Bertrand a pair of skates. I sent the buggy for Mother Billings and Sisters Tyrel and Merit, some of those invited to dinner. I did not care to invite those who had friends and good cheer at home, but remembered the poor friends and the lonely. About ten o’clock the band serenaded us. It commenced snowing about that time and the snow fell all day. The children were disappointed for they wanted a run, but they made their playhouse upstairs. We had a nice dinner and enjoyed ourselves until night when we sent the old people home with a covered carriage it was snowing so fast. I went with Myron to a ball at the Academy Hall. We enjoyed the music and dancing until eleven o’clock when we came home thoroughly tired, and glad to close the day and sleep until the beams of another day should call us to life and action.

Women’s Voices-An Untold History of The Latter-day Saints 1830-1900 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1982), 312-313.