By Linda Ibbitson Hurd
Special to The Express

Asa Wallace was the father of four children. His oldest daughter Ceara was 19, attended a local college and earned money babysitting. His second oldest, Ben, was 17, then Joel, 14. Both boys had after school jobs two days a week which they alternated at the market in their small town. The youngest, Cassy who was twelve, was just starting to babysit.
Asa was short on communication and sensitivity and long on gruffness, but he loved his family and was a good provider. He wished his job in construction paid more but with the help of his wife Jane who drove a school bus and was very good at managing their finances, they managed. Where Asa was gruff, Jane was the heart of their home.
Summer had ended and the Fall season was in full swing. Asa had seen an advertisement in Yankee magazine for a build -it-yourself grandfather clock that came with plans and all the parts. The ad showed a picture of what the clock would look like all put together and the cost was affordable. Jane had always wanted one and he was thinking about it for Christmas. Asa started saving money. He was sure he could put it together and have it ready for Christmas and his parents who lived nearby offered to let him use their garage to work on it. Very unlike him, he even showed the ad to his son Ben who thought it was a nice idea.
Ben told his sister Ceara what their father had planned to do for their mother for Christmas. She was surprised her dad told Ben but was excited and thought it a great idea. She knew how long her mother had wanted a grandfather clock and how much she would love it.
Asa picked up a part-time job on Saturdays operating a backhoe at a sand pit loading dump trucks so he would not have to take money out of his paycheck to save for the clock. He had to send for the plans in October to have the clock finished and ready by Christmas. The third week into October the weather turned very cold and there was a heavy snow storm. All the work at the sand pit came to a halt and it wasn’t sure when they would be back up and running. He was $80 short and could not send for the clock.
His family noticed he seemed more short-tempered than usual but it happened from time to time and they steered clear of him. Jane was used to his moods and didn’t think too much of it. Then he took Joel to task saying a C was too low a grade to get on one of his tests. He also got angry at Ceara’s boyfriend saying 11 o’clock was too late to get home from a party. Then he got upset at Cassy and told her she shouldn’t take phone calls after seven at night. He was upsetting the entire household and Jane and the kids were upset.
Jane tried to talk with him to see if there was something wrong and he became very argumentative. She told him he was turning his kids against him with his behavior by getting on them about every little thing.
Asa went down cellar after Jane told him he better do something about himself. He started working on a lamp that needed fixing when Ben came down to see if he could find out what was troubling his father. “Hey dad, looks like you’re in the dog house.” Asa just grunted. Ben tried again. “How’s it going with the clock?” “Not too good!” “How’s that?”, asked Ben. In his gruff way Asa came back with, “Well, I lost my Saturday job!”, he yelled. “You mean that’s how you were paying for the clock?” “Well ya, what’ya think!” “Well, said Ben, “I didn’t realize that’s why you took the job, you just said they needed you.” “They don’t need me now!,” exclaimed Asa. “Well, maybe some other place might need some part time help?” Ben suggested. “Extra work’s hard enough to find right now with such cold temperatures and all the snow and ice.” Ben looked at his father, “How much do you need?” “I’m $80 short, I’ll have to wait until next year”, Asa said looking down at the floor. “You better get your homework done Ben, I have to finish up down here.” “Okay dad.” Ben went upstairs to look for Ceara.
Ben told her what happened. “So that’s what’s been going on! Why doesn’t he ever tell us anything?” Ceara sighed, saying “He makes you so mad you just don’t even want to care.” “True”, said Ben, “but we do care, he’s really in a spot.” Just then Joel came looking for Ceara to get some help with his homework and Cassy came bounding into Ceara’s room as well. “How come everyone’s in here?” Cassy wanted to know. Ben looked at Ceara, “We might as well tell them, dad’s never going to.” Ceara nodded and they told Joel and Cassy why their dad had been in such a bad mood. “ It’s hard to feel sorry for him” said Cassy, “He gets so awful sometimes,” “Tell me about it”, said Joel. Ben said, “I know but he also works really hard and this is something he really wanted to do for mom and if it were us that needed help, he’d help us.” “Ya, after he yelled at us!”, said Cassy. After a good laugh they tried to figure out how to help.
Asa came up from the cellar late that night. Jane had kept his supper warm in the oven and she and the kids had gone to bed. Asa was feeling pretty miserable about not having enough money to get the clock and also about upsetting his family. After he ate he got ready for bed. Jane was sleeping soundly as he started to get into bed and he was careful not to wake her. He noticed something sticking out from under his pillow. He pulled out a long white envelope and walked down the hall to the bathroom to open it so he wouldn’t disturb Jane. He turned on the bathroom light and opened the envelope. It was full of paper money and change. There was a note with it that read, Merry Christmas Dad, love Ben, Ceara, Joel and Cassy. When Asa counted it there was $80. A tear rolled down his cheek and his heart burst with love and pride as he realized what his children had done for him.
The clock came out beautifully and Mom loved it. It’s still in our family to this day. It lives in my brother’s house still happily telling the hours as it chimes away. Dad was never one to say he was sorry but we knew he was by the better way he treated us.

Linda Hurd is a Halifax resident who grew up in Hanson. We are delighted to print her delightful musings of gentler days gone by.

By Linda Ibbitson Hurd

It was a Sunday night before Christmas in 1962. I was 15 and my sister Penny was 12. We had two younger siblings, David, 9, and Barbara, 6.
We belonged to the Hanson Baptist Church and that night our family was going to a candlelight service that Penny was part of. It was not uncommon for Penny and I to be arguing or fighting over something, most anything would do and me being the older sister Penny just loved getting on my nerves. I didn’t want to go to the service and couldn’t see why they all couldn’t go without me but my mother insisted and I knew if I protested my father would get involved and that would make matters worse so I complied.
As we were getting ready, Penny and I had an argument because she took a wool pleated skirt I planned to wear and didn’t even ask. I was so angry as she always stretched the waist band in my clothes and ruined them for me. I went into her room where she was getting dressed and told her I wanted my skirt back and made a grab for it. She was bigger and taller than I and packed a mighty punch which she shared often. I pushed her and she fell between the bed and the wall. She kicked me and I knew if I had screamed that would bring dad running and it would be bad for us both. I whispered in a nasty tempered whisper for her to let go of my skirt. She grit her teeth and in a mean whisper told me she had nothing to wear and I had all the good clothes. I did a slow boil and wanted to pull her blonde pony tail but didn’t. I whispered again for her to give me my skirt. She snarled back, put it under her and sat on it. I went to find my mom.
I tried to be calm and not whine when I told mom what was going on. She said she would take care of it and told me to go to my room. She came in a few minutes later with the skirt and told me to get dressed. Penny had to go out and feed her horse, Lady, before she got ready. She opened the door to my room as she passed by and snarled that I was a no good rotten tattletale. I told her she deserved what she got. To my surprise she didn’t slam the door.
When we finally were on our way to the church, mom put my little brother and sister between Penny and me in the back seat, for which I was relieved. I noticed Penny wasn’t giving me dirty looks or hissing at me, she just looked out the window and was very quiet during the ride.
Once we were inside the Sanctuary other people came in greeting one another warmly. There was a happy, festive yet peaceful atmosphere with a very special feeling filling the church. White candles were aglow all over the room as we all sat in the cushioned pews.
As the service started and the choir sang, out walked Penny. She was wearing a white choir robe and her silky blonde hair shone as it fell around her face. Her cheeks were pink and her light green eyes filled with happiness. There was a pause and a hush as the Minister nodded to her. She began to sing ‘Silent Night’ in the most beautiful angelic voice I couldn’t believe was coming out of her. It seemed like there was a halo around her head and I reasoned it was the candles behind her that were making it look that way until I realized there were no candles directly behind her. A light seemed to radiate all around her as she sang out to the Congregation.
Much to my surprise, tears filled my eyes and my heart swelled with pride.
In that moment I began to wonder if she behaved the way she did sometimes because she wanted my attention, my approval. Maybe if she had it things might be different between us. The truth, if I was different, things might change for the better.
When the service was over I ran out to the back of the church where Penny was hanging her choir robe back up in the big closet. I told her I was proud of her and that her singing was beautiful. She said, “really?” I said “Yes”. I smiled at her and said “you’re not so bad for a sister.” She pushed me gently in the shoulder saying, “You’re not so bad either.”

Linda Ibbitson Hurd is a Halifax resident who grew up in Hanson and graduated from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in 1965. Her fond remembrances of life in a simpler time are a delight.

Plympton’s Special Town Meeting Nov. 30 saw the seven articles covering the town’s business conducted in only 28 minutes from start to finish.
The cold, rain-driven blustery night caused many to wonder if the 35-person quorum would be met, but it was met and then some, with 87 Plympton residents braving the weather.
The meeting was held at the Dennett Elementary School, 80 Crescent St., Plympton.
Town Moderator Barry DeCristofano called the meeting to order at 7 p.m., asking all to take this moment to silence their phones. Then, without ado, he began.
Article 1, asked the town to approve the purchase of substantial acreage of an area north of Maple St, east of Palmer Road, and south of Main Street. The vote was unanimous in favor of the land purchase. Turkey Swamp will be held in a conservation restriction so devopment will not be allowed.
Article 2 was approved, allowing the establishment of Tax Title Payment Plans to help citizens pay their delinquent real estate taxes over a term of five years or less, easing the burden.
Article 3 was approved to transfer $21,000.00 to the Unemployment Line in the FY 2023 budget to cover a shortfall.
Article 4 asked the town to allow the selectmen to petition the state legislature to allow the current Fire Chief Stephen Silva to continue in his position of chief for five more years until age 70, providing his health allows. Selectmen asked that the town pass over the article. The voters agreed.
Article 5 corrected an error in the Wage and Personnel Bylaw, that would allow unused sick leave to accumulate without limit. The corrected verbage would limit sick leave to accumulate up to 50 days. The article passed unanimously.
Article 6 asked the Town to transfer from the Overlay Surplus Fund $100,000.00 to help reduce the FY23 interim tax burden. The motion passed unanimously.
Article 7 asked the town to transfer up to $100,000.00 from Free Cash to repair or replace the roof on the Old Town House. The town approved the warrant article unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.