THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE
JUDY ALLEN
Many, many years ago a young man named Jim Allen came from the East to make a fortune in the gold fields of California. He was a very large fellow and also very adventurous. Soon he found a young lady with whom he fell in love and later married. Her name was India. With her he was very happy but the urge to move on again came over him.
Having heard of lands still not settled in Oregon, Jim and India formed a band of people and prepared to migrate to these new lands. For some time they gathered together the livestock, foods and seeds they would use to make their new homes and farms or ranches.
India would have liked to stay in California but she knew she would cheerfully go with her husband and do the best she could in the venture they were undertaking. Unlike the other women she put in flower seeds and, unknown to anyone, a few orange seeds.
Soon they left, and, after several weeks, arrived in
a little valley high in the Blue Mountains which was still unsettled. There were still many Indians, who were friendly, around that part of the country. Great herds of wild animals were still to be found, so no-one went without food.
Some homesteaded the land; others cut timber that would make the homes they needed. Jim and India settled the part of the valley we now know as Fox and built a general store and a home across the road from it. Farther up the road the people built a church, and out in the valley, where all the children could use it, they built a small schoolhouse. This small building is now in the center of the cemetery, 'tho the school they used has been moved.
The men farmed, or raised cattle and the women made the homes with the materials they had. Each fall the Indians came in large caravans, moving to warmer climates for the winter. When India saw them coming she would start making baking powder biscuits, pan after pan. When they were done she placed them on the back porch with plenty of jam, and the Indians would
eat biscuits and jam until they were full. When they were ready to leave they would pile gifts on her porch and leave them there though not a word of thanks or greeting had been spoken. India would pack the gifts, which were beaded moccasins, gloves and many other things in boxes, which she sent to a store in New York which paid her money for them.
Not forgetting her orange seeds, India knew they would not grow outside like the other seeds she had brought, so she planted them in a big wooden tub in the house. After several years had passed the tree was quite large — large enough in fact to bear fruit.
Since all the folks gathered in the little church to celebrate Christ's birthday, India planned a surprise for the children who had been born here and had never tasted an orange. On Christmas eve India gave them each a piece of orange, dividing them carefully since there were not enough oranges to go around, and every child got a fair share. In that way she was able to share a little of her beloved California with the children she also loved. Many years later these people still remember that Christmas and the small piece of golden orange, which seemed to them more precious than gold! India Allen is now a very old lady and still lives in Oregon, though she has moved to Salem, She, too, still remembers that Christmas!
Note — The above essay was written in 1955 by Judy Allen, at the time living in Fox, Oregon but going to school in Long Creek. The present Fox store and Chet and LaVern Borns' home are the original buildings Jim and India built. The Military Road went between the home and the store; Jim and India Allen were related to Tom Ledgerwood.
JUDY ALLEN
Many, many years ago a young man named Jim Allen came from the East to make a fortune in the gold fields of California. He was a very large fellow and also very adventurous. Soon he found a young lady with whom he fell in love and later married. Her name was India. With her he was very happy but the urge to move on again came over him.
Having heard of lands still not settled in Oregon, Jim and India formed a band of people and prepared to migrate to these new lands. For some time they gathered together the livestock, foods and seeds they would use to make their new homes and farms or ranches.
India would have liked to stay in California but she knew she would cheerfully go with her husband and do the best she could in the venture they were undertaking. Unlike the other women she put in flower seeds and, unknown to anyone, a few orange seeds.
Soon they left, and, after several weeks, arrived in
a little valley high in the Blue Mountains which was still unsettled. There were still many Indians, who were friendly, around that part of the country. Great herds of wild animals were still to be found, so no-one went without food.
Some homesteaded the land; others cut timber that would make the homes they needed. Jim and India settled the part of the valley we now know as Fox and built a general store and a home across the road from it. Farther up the road the people built a church, and out in the valley, where all the children could use it, they built a small schoolhouse. This small building is now in the center of the cemetery, 'tho the school they used has been moved.
The men farmed, or raised cattle and the women made the homes with the materials they had. Each fall the Indians came in large caravans, moving to warmer climates for the winter. When India saw them coming she would start making baking powder biscuits, pan after pan. When they were done she placed them on the back porch with plenty of jam, and the Indians would
eat biscuits and jam until they were full. When they were ready to leave they would pile gifts on her porch and leave them there though not a word of thanks or greeting had been spoken. India would pack the gifts, which were beaded moccasins, gloves and many other things in boxes, which she sent to a store in New York which paid her money for them.
Not forgetting her orange seeds, India knew they would not grow outside like the other seeds she had brought, so she planted them in a big wooden tub in the house. After several years had passed the tree was quite large — large enough in fact to bear fruit.
Since all the folks gathered in the little church to celebrate Christ's birthday, India planned a surprise for the children who had been born here and had never tasted an orange. On Christmas eve India gave them each a piece of orange, dividing them carefully since there were not enough oranges to go around, and every child got a fair share. In that way she was able to share a little of her beloved California with the children she also loved. Many years later these people still remember that Christmas and the small piece of golden orange, which seemed to them more precious than gold! India Allen is now a very old lady and still lives in Oregon, though she has moved to Salem, She, too, still remembers that Christmas!
Note — The above essay was written in 1955 by Judy Allen, at the time living in Fox, Oregon but going to school in Long Creek. The present Fox store and Chet and LaVern Borns' home are the original buildings Jim and India built. The Military Road went between the home and the store; Jim and India Allen were related to Tom Ledgerwood.
THE CHRISTMAS ORANGE
JUDY ALLEN
Many, many years ago a young man named Jim Allen came from the East to make a fortune in the gold fields of California. He was a very large fellow and also very adventurous. Soon he found a young lady with whom he fell in love and later married. Her name was India. With her he was very happy but the urge to move on again came over him.
Having heard of lands still not settled in Oregon, Jim and India formed a band of people and prepared to migrate to these new lands. For some time they gathered together the livestock, foods and seeds they would use to make their new homes and farms or ranches.
India would have liked to stay in California but she knew she would cheerfully go with her husband and do the best she could in the venture they were undertaking. Unlike the other women she put in flower seeds and, unknown to anyone, a few orange seeds.
Soon they left, and, after several weeks, arrived in
a little valley high in the Blue Mountains which was still unsettled. There were still many Indians, who were friendly, around that part of the country. Great herds of wild animals were still to be found, so no-one went without food.
Some homesteaded the land; others cut timber that would make the homes they needed. Jim and India settled the part of the valley we now know as Fox and built a general store and a home across the road from it. Farther up the road the people built a church, and out in the valley, where all the children could use it, they built a small schoolhouse. This small building is now in the center of the cemetery, 'tho the school they used has been moved.
The men farmed, or raised cattle and the women made the homes with the materials they had. Each fall the Indians came in large caravans, moving to warmer climates for the winter. When India saw them coming she would start making baking powder biscuits, pan after pan. When they were done she placed them on the back porch with plenty of jam, and the Indians would
eat biscuits and jam until they were full. When they were ready to leave they would pile gifts on her porch and leave them there though not a word of thanks or greeting had been spoken. India would pack the gifts, which were beaded moccasins, gloves and many other things in boxes, which she sent to a store in New York which paid her money for them.
Not forgetting her orange seeds, India knew they would not grow outside like the other seeds she had brought, so she planted them in a big wooden tub in the house. After several years had passed the tree was quite large — large enough in fact to bear fruit.
Since all the folks gathered in the little church to celebrate Christ's birthday, India planned a surprise for the children who had been born here and had never tasted an orange. On Christmas eve India gave them each a piece of orange, dividing them carefully since there were not enough oranges to go around, and every child got a fair share. In that way she was able to share a little of her beloved California with the children she also loved. Many years later these people still remember that Christmas and the small piece of golden orange, which seemed to them more precious than gold! India Allen is now a very old lady and still lives in Oregon, though she has moved to Salem, She, too, still remembers that Christmas!
Note — The above essay was written in 1955 by Judy Allen, at the time living in Fox, Oregon but going to school in Long Creek. The present Fox store and Chet and LaVern Borns' home are the original buildings Jim and India built. The Military Road went between the home and the store; Jim and India Allen were related to Tom Ledgerwood.
JUDY ALLEN
Many, many years ago a young man named Jim Allen came from the East to make a fortune in the gold fields of California. He was a very large fellow and also very adventurous. Soon he found a young lady with whom he fell in love and later married. Her name was India. With her he was very happy but the urge to move on again came over him.
Having heard of lands still not settled in Oregon, Jim and India formed a band of people and prepared to migrate to these new lands. For some time they gathered together the livestock, foods and seeds they would use to make their new homes and farms or ranches.
India would have liked to stay in California but she knew she would cheerfully go with her husband and do the best she could in the venture they were undertaking. Unlike the other women she put in flower seeds and, unknown to anyone, a few orange seeds.
Soon they left, and, after several weeks, arrived in
a little valley high in the Blue Mountains which was still unsettled. There were still many Indians, who were friendly, around that part of the country. Great herds of wild animals were still to be found, so no-one went without food.
Some homesteaded the land; others cut timber that would make the homes they needed. Jim and India settled the part of the valley we now know as Fox and built a general store and a home across the road from it. Farther up the road the people built a church, and out in the valley, where all the children could use it, they built a small schoolhouse. This small building is now in the center of the cemetery, 'tho the school they used has been moved.
The men farmed, or raised cattle and the women made the homes with the materials they had. Each fall the Indians came in large caravans, moving to warmer climates for the winter. When India saw them coming she would start making baking powder biscuits, pan after pan. When they were done she placed them on the back porch with plenty of jam, and the Indians would
eat biscuits and jam until they were full. When they were ready to leave they would pile gifts on her porch and leave them there though not a word of thanks or greeting had been spoken. India would pack the gifts, which were beaded moccasins, gloves and many other things in boxes, which she sent to a store in New York which paid her money for them.
Not forgetting her orange seeds, India knew they would not grow outside like the other seeds she had brought, so she planted them in a big wooden tub in the house. After several years had passed the tree was quite large — large enough in fact to bear fruit.
Since all the folks gathered in the little church to celebrate Christ's birthday, India planned a surprise for the children who had been born here and had never tasted an orange. On Christmas eve India gave them each a piece of orange, dividing them carefully since there were not enough oranges to go around, and every child got a fair share. In that way she was able to share a little of her beloved California with the children she also loved. Many years later these people still remember that Christmas and the small piece of golden orange, which seemed to them more precious than gold! India Allen is now a very old lady and still lives in Oregon, though she has moved to Salem, She, too, still remembers that Christmas!
Note — The above essay was written in 1955 by Judy Allen, at the time living in Fox, Oregon but going to school in Long Creek. The present Fox store and Chet and LaVern Borns' home are the original buildings Jim and India built. The Military Road went between the home and the store; Jim and India Allen were related to Tom Ledgerwood.
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