Depression-era Christmas time was the usual excitement it brings to children although we were happy doing with much less than the involvement of today. Christmas eve was special because as a church group of kids we would bundle up and go caroling. The community was expecting us and would have goodies for us as we were invited in at various places. I recall the year I wanted a manicure set more than anything else for Christmas, but they cost 251t. I got the set – it was the only gift I received, but I was happy and hadn’t expected anything else. Girls I would chum with, and I, had no problem amusing ourselves with whatever we found available to use as a pastime – a favorite was taking the out-of-season catalogs and cutting out paper dolls and then finding the favorite dresses to fit them before the book found its way to the outhouse to do its duty there.
Mabel F. Nyland
Norton, Kansas
Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.
