Grandpa's house made the holiday perfect

One day in early December 2002, I went on a plane and went to Mt. Morris, New York. I had a Christmas dinner in a big house almost like a mansion. It was the house of my great-great-great-great-great grandfather and grandmother, William A. Mills and Susanna Mills. The house was built in 1838.

When we had our Christmas dinner at the Mills Mansion, it had no electricity, so we ate by candlelight. I went with my grandma, Elaine. Some of the cousins there, I never even knew existed.

We ate chicken and vegetables, and lots of dessert. I was the youngest relative of General Mills, so I had my picture in the newspaper.

The house was decorated with pine boughs from my uncle's woods, and other dried flowers and fruit, just like it would be in 1838. Their tree was amazing. It had dried cranberries and hydrangeas, and one thing that was amazing was candles clipped on to a real tree. So, never try this at home because you know things can get a little messy.

Later that same visit, I helped my friend Terry, who was a school teacher, teach a fourth-grade class about an old-fashioned Christmas. Terry wore a long dress, and we both had caps on our heads. Terry showed them old-fashioned toys of the 1800s. I made popcorn over an open fire, and then passed it around to all of the fourth-grade students.

I will always remember this old-fashioned Christmas, especially because it was in my own grandfather's home.

Rachel Shulman
Lodi
Age 8